Asylum Seekers in Greece

18th day of hunger strike in front of UN High Commission in Athens



This video shows what Iranian political refugees have to do in order to renew their "Red Cards" in Athens [Latest Updates]. Upon arriving at Greece, Iranians who are seeking political asylum are given a Red Card. This card identifies them as someone whose application for political asylum is pending. Every six months, these cards must be renewed to keep their asylum applications current and valid. There have been reports of stampedes during these renewals. Women and men alike have been crushed and seriously injured in an attempt to reach the iron gates to deliver their papers for renewal. The Greek police regularly abuses and mistreats the refugees and openly accepts bribes to expedite the renewal process.

For years, our countrymen's applications for asylum have been pending, but the Greek government refuses to give the refugees an answer. Each time a refugee leaves Greece in search of seeking asylum from other European countries, he is returned promptly since EU's laws require a refugee to wait in the country where he has originally sought asylum. The Greek officials have openly expressed to Iranian refugees that because the Greek government has close political and economic ties with the Islamic Republic, it is unable to approve the refugees' applications for asylum. This state of limbo is no longer bearable or acceptable.

Without being recognized as political refugees, Iranians aren't permitted to attend college to better their lives and those who have college degrees aren't able to find suitable jobs. As a result, young and old are forced to perform manual and mediocre jobs and struggle to make the ends meet.

13-Aug-2010
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statira

Shame on Greece Gov

by statira on

They made Mullahs regime look humane. Let's save our Iranian friends from this hell in every possible way.


LalehGillani

44€ Per Day Per Refugee

by LalehGillani on

The Greek government receives 44€ per day from the UN for each refugee that lives on Greek soil. There are an estimated 3700 Iranian refugees in Greece and a total of 4600 refugees in all. You do the math!

The entire population of refugees in Greece has been in a state of limbo for years. The Greek government simply refuses to process their asylum application to give them an answer. Any answer! The refugees’ request is simple: “Even if the answer is no, please give us an answer.”

While other European countries distribute the funds to the refugees and provide social services to help them to better their lives, the Greek government mistreats the refugees and ignores them. The Greek police and other government officials are corrupt to the bone! Together with the bribes regularly distributed by the Islamic Republic, the funds received from the UN have become another source of income for the Greek officials.


LalehGillani

Please Sign the Petition

by LalehGillani on

بیش از ۱۸ روز از اعتراض و تحصن تعدادی از پناهجویان ایرانی‌ در مقابل دفتر سازمان ملل متحد در شهر آتن یونان می‌گذرد. بنابه گزارشات رسیده، ۲ نفر از این پناهجویان همراه تعدادی دیگر در اعتصاب غذا به سر میبرند. در این مدت تعداد دیگری از پناهجویان نیز به این تحصن پیوسته اند. وضعیت جسمانی این پناهجویان به شدت نگران کننده است و در بی‌ حقوقی مطلق به سر میبرند.

روز جمعه برابر با ۱۳ آگوست، پلیس یونان به پناهجویان متحصن حمله ور شده است و وحید فرش باف و حمید صادقی را به همراه ۳ پناهجو دیگر دستگیر کرده است. هر چند این پناهجویان ساعتی‌ پس از آن آزاد شده اند ولی‌ همچنان در بلا تکلیفی به سر میبرند و دولت یونان حاضر به پاسخگویی به هیچکدام از خواستها و مطالبات این پناهجویان نیست .

ما امضا کنندگان زیر ضمن محکومیت شدید تعرض وحشیانه پلیس یونان به پناهجویان متحصن، از خواسته‌های بر حق این عزیزان قاطعانه حمایت می‌کنیم و دولت یونان و دفتر سازمان ملل متحد در این کشور را مسئول زندگی‌ و امنیّت این پناهجویان و هر گونه اتفاق ناگوار در این راستا میدانیم.

//www.petitiononline.co.uk/petition/-/342


asadabad

why Greece?

by asadabad on

Their economy is in shambles.  Turkey or Malaysia would be better alternatives.  At least those countries have sizable Iranian expat communities who could help these guys.


i_support_khamenie

pop. control needed

by i_support_khamenie on

There have been reports of stampedes during these renewals. Women and men alike have been crushed and seriously injured in an attempt to reach the iron gates to deliver their papers for renewal.

 

.............hehehe...........i love it.......i'm sure our best and brightest are amongst them ............................NOT!!!

Anyway, Iran is overpopulated...


Sahameddin Ghiassi

I wrote that I have place and work for all of them.

by Sahameddin Ghiassi on

I have a boarding school, with eight acres farm. I have work and place for them to stay, and also education possibilities for all of them. Iranian S American Language and Boarding School  in Orlando. If you want more information, I can send.


Anonymouse

It's not released n DVD yet but I saved it 4 when it's available

by Anonymouse on

Everything is sacred


Darius Kadivar

Yup

by Darius Kadivar on

That's the One !


Anonymouse

DK jaan is this the movie?

by Anonymouse on

For a Moment, Freedom  (2008).

I'll order it through Netflix. 

Everything is sacred


Red Wine

...

by Red Wine on

I sent it before, the problem is GREEK immig. system not E.U rules !


afshin

they would still be better

by afshin on

they would still be better off in iran than being spat on in athens.


masoudA

I hate to sound insensetive

by masoudA on

I hate to sound insensetive - but I have 2 comments about what makes the lives of REAL refugees difficult.  

1- All the games IP played over the years - placing their people in different countries under the name of reugees.

2- All Iranians who faked as "Political Refugees" to get residency in better countries such as USA, France, Sweden, Canada, Holland, Germany........ and after recieving their residency started traveling to Iran.   As a result westerners no longer believe the true patriots whose lives would realy be in danger if they ever go back to Iran. 


Darius Kadivar

Sent email

by Darius Kadivar on

Done !

Recommended Reading:

My Article and interview of Arash T. Riahi on his film " For a Moment: Freedom" about the predicament of Iranian refugees fleeing Iran in a bid for Freedom and the risks that involves and the dissapointments endured in their desperate attempt to find a safe haven in the so called "Democratic" West !

Pour Un Instant: LA LIBERTE! by Darius KADIVAR


Anonymouse

When you're a refugee you're a person without country & no means

by Anonymouse on

Refugees final act if their own country is to muster all they can to get out with what they have which is nothing.  They don't go and get visas and then board a plane, choose window seat and go through customs.

They just get the hell out and probably didn't pick Greece they just landed there somehow by boat or bus or perhaps even a plane with forged documents.

Once they land they're often put in prisons or camps and then not allowed to go out and they don't have any money to go to other countries.  So they seek UNHCR to help them however they can.  They're refugees, think of them as such regardless of where they are. Refugees are often not treated well be it in Iran (Iraq or Afghan refugees) Asia or Europe or Australia or USA.

Everything is sacred


afshin

Economic refugees...

by afshin on

Not sure why would someone want to take asylum in Greece anyway.  Not exactly the most prosperous country in Western Europe.  Another thing is that most of these refugees are economic asylum seekers, and don't necessarily fall in to the category requiring UNHCR help in the first place.  All the same, it's terrible they are being treated that way.  But the solution is not forcing a country that clearly doesn't want them and whose allegiance lies elsewhere to take them.  In my humble opinion most of these economic asylum seekers, would probably be better off in Iran.  I've seen quite a few here in the United States and also in Europe. Some of them are living truly miserable lives with no real education or skill. Perhaps there should be some sort of mediation with the Iranian government to take these folks back.


Anonymouse

I sent an email too and urge others as well. Text below;

by Anonymouse on

 To United Nations High Commission on Refugees (Greece)

As you know a group of Iranian refugees are seeking political asylum in Greece.  As I write this letter it is day 18 of their hunger strike to be recognized as refugees and given asylum. Without such recognition they'll be again political prisoners with no rights or means to carry on with their lives.

The Islamic Republic in Iran holds thousands of political prisoners in the notorious Evin prison where many have been tortured, forced to give TV confessions and ultimately killed for having participated in political gatherings to seek justice and human rights for their fellow political prisoners.

Please acknowledge them as refugees of a brutal regime that will harm them up to and including execution if they're deported back to Iran.

Everything is sacred


Sargord Pirouz

Acceptance of many millions

by Sargord Pirouz on

Acceptance of many millions of Afghan and Iraqi refugees from war and persecution into the Islamic Republic of Iran sure appears more forthcoming, than that compared to the dribbles of Iranian malcontents seeking alternative living in the West.

Go figure. 


Jahanshah Javid

Sent email

by Jahanshah Javid on

Thanks Laleh. I sent an email to the UNHCR in Athens with this link. I urge others as well: info@unhcr.gr