“The Campaign of Iranian Political Refugees in Greece asks Iranians and supporters to stand in front of Greek embassies to show their solidarity with the hunger strikers.” To contact the Campaign, email: abtinid@yahoo.com
SIGN THE PETITION TO SUPPORT HUNGER STRIKERS IN GREECE IN GAINING ASYLUM:
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/40043/sign.html
For the past 57 days, the Iranian embassy in Greece has had to deal with the burden of Iranian asylum seekers on hunger strike and, in turn, the Greek government has felt the pressures from international organizations to take a stance on the situation. The asylum seekers endure hard conditions of wind and rain as they await action by the Greek government.
The Campaign for Iranian Political Refugees in Greece was launched almost two months ago. Its members are the Iranians hoping to gain asylum status, because returning to Iran is not an option for them. They have made it clear with chants of “down with the principle of the Supreme Leadership” that their struggle has shaped into a political one against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Over forty of the campaign members are on hunger strike for more than two weeks now. Eight of them have sewn their lips in further demonstration of resistance to the lack of action by the government of Greece.
The campaign, according to one of its members, is about Iranians around the world standing in solidarity with the hunger strikers in Greece. In a video posted on Facebook, the same member explained that the campaign’s goal is not just about attaining passports, rather, it stands against the repression of a regime that stones, executes, and tortures. One of the campaign’s statements reads that the hunger strikers hope to serve as examples for Iranians inside and outside the country.
Based on recently published internet video clips, members also aim to expose the close and friendly relationship between the Iranian regime and the Greek government: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VifI2v7Ux4k
Erfan Amir, one of the Iranian asylum seekers, told Persian2English that the campaign requests from international organizations to answer their cries, because their voices are being silenced in Greece. He stated that based on available evidence, the Iranian and the Greek police work together on refugee issues. He added that Iranians who are caught upon arrival to Greece are identified and could face deportation or risk getting issued a false charge of drug smuggling, which is used as an excuse to issue long prison sentences.
According to Amir, the victory of the campaign is for everyone. He stated, “God forbid if we fail in our struggle, the efforts of freedom lovers will be questioned. It is the duty of Iranians to get involved and come forward.”
The Campaign of Iranian Political Refugees in Greece asks Iranians and supporters to stand in front of Greek embassies to show their solidarity with the hunger strikers.
– Report by Maryam Nayeb Yazdi for Persian2English
Recent videos from the Campaign for Iranian Political Refugees in Greece:
Video 1: Greek authorities attack and yell at the Iranian asylum seekers, “This is Greece and we will do whatever we want.”
Video 2: October 17, 2010 at 6:00pm: Mandana, who is on hunger strike and who has sewn her lips shut, began to feel ill and was transferred to the hospital.
Video 3: A video clip of the tents set up by the Iranian asylum seekers.
Video 4: October 19, 2010: Supporters show their solidarity with the Iranian hunger strikers. Various Greek groups attended in support of human rights and the Campaign.
Video 5: October 20, 2010: AFP interviews one of the members of the Iranian political campaign in Athens, Greece
Video 6: October 24, 2010: University students in Greece show their solidarity and support for the Iranian asylum seekers on hunger strike.
FOR PICTURES AND MORE VIDEOS, GO TO POST: http://persian2english.com/?p=15805
