Possible deportation from Turkey
International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR)
HUNDREDS OF IRANIAN REFUGEES IN TURKEY FACE POSSIBLE DEPORTATION TO
IRAN
January 31, 2000
On January 26, 2000, the Turkish police accused all Iranian refugees
residing in the border town of Agri of entering Turkey legally and with
passports though they have registered with the authorities and the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as having entered without
official documents. In Turkey, those entering without passports must
file their claims within ten days at a border town nearest where they
entered Turkey. Approximately 500 Iranian refugees live in Agri.
With this blanket and unsubstantiated accusation, the Turkish police
have demanded that all refugees hand over their alleged passports or
lose their temporary residency in Turkey, thereby facing refoulement (forcible
return) to Iran. Numerous refugees and activists of the International
Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) have confirmed the perilous situation
and the prevailing fear among refugees, including that several have fled
to other cities in Turkey in order to escape possible deportation.
IFIR condemns the Turkish authorities' attack on Iranian refugee rights.
The Turkish government is duty-bound to protect Iranians seeking refuge
and cannot threaten their lives and security with unsubstantiated and
general accusations. Nonetheless, with or without official documentation,
Iranians have the right to seek protection from persecution.
IFIR calls on all groups and individuals to demand that the Turkish
authorities respect refugee rights and cease threatening their lives and
security in Agri.
Protest letters can be sent to the following e-mails and fax numbers:
Suleyman Demirel, President, Cankaya@tccb.gov.tr;
Bulent Ecevit, Prime Minister, Ddlbsl@tccb.gov.tr;
Baki Ilkin, Ambassador to the US, turkish@erols.com;
Cahit Bayar, Minister of Interior, 011-90-312-417-2390; Ismail Cem, Minister
of Foreign Affairs, 011-90-312-419-1547 (e-mail: webmaster@mfa.gov.tr).
Send copies of your letters to the UNHCR Representative in Turkey, khanhu@unhcr.ch and IFIR, ifiric@aol.com.
SAMPLE LETTER
DATE
Suleyman Demirel
President
Email: Cankaya@tccb.gov.tr
Bulent Ecevit, Prime Minister
Email: Ddlbsl@tccb.gov.tr
Baki Ilkin, Ambassador to the US
Email: turkish@erols.com
Cahit Bayar, Minister of Interior
Fax: 011-90-312-417-2390
Ismail Cem,
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Fax: 011-90-312-419-1547,
Email: webmaster@mfa.gov.tr
On January 26, 2000, the Turkish police accused all Iranian refugees
residing in the border town of Agri of entering Turkey legally and with
passports though they have registered with the authorities and the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as having entered without
official documents. Approximately 500 Iranian refugees live in Agri.
With this blanket and unsubstantiated accusation, the Turkish police
have demanded that refugees hand over their alleged passports or lose
their temporary residency in Turkey, thereby facing refoulement (forcible
return) to Iran.
I / my organization condemn(s) the Turkish authorities' attack on Iranian
refugee rights. The Turkish government is duty-bound to protect Iranians
seeking refuge and cannot threaten their lives and security with unsubstantiated
and general accusations. Nonetheless, with or without official documentation,
Iranians have the right to seek protection from persecution.
Sincerely,
YOUR Name
YOUR Address
YOUR E-mail
CC: Mirza Hussein Khan, UNHCR Representative in Turkey, e-mail: khanhu@unhcr.ch; International Federation
of Iranian Refugees (IFIR), e-mail: ifiric@aol.com,
fax: 212-425-7260.
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