Action against deportations from Holland
URGENT ACTION from International Federation of Iranian Refugees, IFIR
Prevent the Dutch Government from Deporting Iranian Asylum Seekers
Back to Persecution
February 12, 1999
Dear Friend,
Join the campaign against the Dutch government's inhuman treatment
of Iranian asylum seekers. Support the asylum seekers' demands that the
Dutch government:
1. Cancel the report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that effectively
deems Iran a "safe" country;
2. Cease the deportation of Iranian asylum seekers;
3. Re-open all rejected casefiles; and,
4. Recognize the undeniable right to asylum for Iranians.
As you know, on January 22, the Dutch Council of Ministers accepted
a new report on Iran from the Minister of Foreign Affairs which cites
only certain categories of persons as "still running the risk of
persecution."
In 1997 and 1995, similar attempts were defeated through the organized
struggle of Iranian asylum seekers and their supporters. In 1997, IFIR
and its Netherlands Branch organized a sit-in and mass demonstrations,
and spoke before the Dutch parliament.
The Dutch government's attempt to once again negate two decades of
terror and cruelty and deny any other form of persecution in the brutal
Islamic Republic of Iran is outrageous - especially in light of the recent
assassinations. Eager to build economic and political relations, the Dutch
government has taken the racism and deception of its previous report to
new heights. Now, the torture, execution, and gender-apartheid capital
of the world is effectively "safe" for political opponents,
workers, women, youth, and children.
It seems that in their Iran, "intellectuals, homosexuals and Baha'is"
only still run the "risk" of persecution. Presumably, most
of the 4,600 Iranians in central and regional "reception facilities"
won't face such "risks." It was our collective efforts that
forced the Dutch government to retreat in the past.
Join us to put an end to their masquerade once and for all. Support
this important struggle by organizing actions and by sending protest faxes
and letters to Dutch government officials and embassies in your countries
of residence. The Dutch government must be reminded that it cannot play
with the lives of human beings.
In Solidarity,
Maryam Namazie
International Federation of Iranian Refugees, IFIR
Deputy Director
GPO, PO Box 7051 New York, NY 10116
Tel: 212-747-1046
Fax: 212-425-7240 e-mail: ifiric@aol.com
P.S. If you do not have access to a fax or cannot fax long distance,
please send your letters to IFIR at 212-425-7260 (fax) or ifiric@aol.com
(e-mail) and we will forward them for you.
SAMPLE LETTER
Het Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Netherlands
via fax: (31) 70 348 4848
De Minister President W. Kok
The Netherlands
via fax: (31) 70 365 18 08
A. H. Korthals
Minister of Justice
M. J. Cohen State
Secretary of Justice
The Netherlands
via fax: (31) 70 370 79 37
//www.minjust.nl/
Stephen van Wersch
First Secretary
Netherlands Embassy
via fax: 202-364-4213
e-mail: wersch@oo.was.minbuza.nl
I am / my organization is outraged that the Dutch government has once
again effectively deemed Iran "safe." The Dutch government
must address the legitimate demands of Iranian asylum seekers and:
1. Cancel the new report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that effectively
deems Iran a "safe" country;
2. Cease the deportation of Iranian asylum seekers;
3. Re-open all rejected casefiles; and,
4. Recognize the undeniable right to asylum for Iranians.
I / my organization await (s) your action in this life and death matter
for countless individuals who have fled the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
Email
CC: IFIR, GPO, PO Box 7051, New York, NY 10116.
Tel: 212-747-1046.
Fax: 212-425-7260.
E-mail: ifiric@aol.com
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