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On an outing to the zoo with his British family
Let Bahman stay!
Bahman Mohammadi was born in Iranian Kurdistan. He had to flee Iran because he was under pressure to join the Iranian Secret Police. Existing employees of the Iranian secret services were given a quota to recruit more people. Bahman, who is well built for his age, was targeted. However, he refused to join the Iranian Secret Police because of the role they play in suppressing Kurdish separatist movements in the area in which he lived. In fear of his life, he had to leave Iran.
He came to this country as an unaccompanied minor in December 2006. He was 14 years old. He was originally treated as an adult but his age was assessed and all parties agreed he was a child. His birth certificate/ID says he was born on 1-9-92, making 1-9-08 his 16th birthday but the Courts decided to disregard this and in January 2008 deemed him to be 18 years old. As a result Bahman was for 3 months denied any means of financial support and was made homeless by Bury Council in the middle of winter.
Bahman has been refused asylum in Britain. He has not been recognised as the refugee that he is. The Courts have told Bahman that Iran is a big country and he should go and live in a different area of it. But Bahman fears that, if he were returned to Iran, he would not be able to hide. And if he were found, his life, and the lives of people who helped him escape, would be in danger. A person we know who is a former officer in Iranian Intelligence tells us he is right to worry: the Iranian secret police runs a sophisticated police state.
Fear of being killed is very real: those of you who follow the news will know that there was a state-sponsored mass execution in Iran on 27 July 2008; 29 simultaneous executions took place in Evin prison in Tehran. The European Union strongly condemned the executions.
Bahman wants to stay in the United Kingdom and is making every effort to learn about Britain and British life. He is studying English at Manchester College where his teachers describe him as a hard-working student. He is very active as a volunteer in the local community: he has helped a local cancer charity and the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) raise money, he works in an Age Concern shop and he helps FC United of Manchester organise soccer activities for kids.
Bahman has found a British family who are helping him to learn English and make his way. Bahman came to live with them when he was made homeless by Bury Council. He now lives with them as part of their family and they are prepared to support him financially as he embarks upon adult life and fulfils his wish to become an active, independent member of British society. Ironically, it would cost the state less to do this than it is costing taxpayers to keep him in a limbo of benefits and uncertainty.
Unfortunately, a cloud still hangs over Bahman's future. He may still, at any time, be arrested by the Immigration and placed in detention awaiting deportation. That is why Bahman and his friends are organising the 'Let Bahman Stay Campaign'.
We are asking everybody who are willing to support the Campaign to keep Bahman in the UK to write a letter to the Rt Hon Phil Woolas, Minister of State for Borders and Immigration for the Home Office and gather signatures on a petition for Bahman.
For a model letter and petition form contact:
Let Bahman Stay Campaign
C/o 26A Church Lane
Sale
Manchester
M33 5QP
Posted: 31 October 2008
Don't send me back to Iraqi Kurdistan
I am Sarwar Gareb from Iraq. I was a member of the Worker communist party of Iraq (WCPI) and worked as a journalist in the media. Through my professional and political career I have supported women's, children's and general worker's rights. Due to these beliefs and actions, and in speaking out about these issues, I was imprisoned and tortured by the two main political parties in Kurdistan, the PUK and KDP. In fear of my life, I fled Kurdistan on 16.07.2000.
I arrived in the UK on 10.09.00 and instantly applied for asylum. However, without any consideration, my case was refused the next day on 11.09.00.
When I arrived in the UK there was a Home Office policy in place which clearly applies to my case. The Home Office policy being that any Iraqi, from any part of Iraq, that arrived between April 1991 and 20 October 2000 should be granted 4 years ELR, known under the Rashidi case August 2006.
After this first refusal I appealed for my case to be heard in the court of appeal and this appeal was accepted by the Home Office. My court of appeal only took place once Saddam's regime had collapsed, which is a long 3 years on from my date of arrival in the UK.
More importantly it also shows that the Home Office dealt with my case on what seems to be on a generic basis, i.e. that I was fleeing from Saddam, when actually I was fleeing from the PUK and KDP.
I am a good and active member of the community. I have worked as a teacher for 5 years and as a journalist and artist. I am the chair of Relive magazine and a member of many organisations such as National Union Journalist, Leicester Civil Human Rights Movement, Long Journey Home, International Federation of Iraqi Refugee, NCADC (National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns) and RAPAR (Refugee and Asylum Seeker Participatory Action Research).
Please support my campaign by:
Signing my online petition: Don't Send Me Back To Iraqi Kurdistan
http://www.gopetition.com/online/20376.html
Pass on the petition to friends and Family members, write or fax or email a letter to your local MP and Liam Byrne; Minister of State for Immigration, Home Office (email : byrnel@parliament.uk, fax no. 0121 789 7287).
Please email a copy of your letter to me @:
Posted: 9 July 2008
Urgent action needed today for the Oztupal family
33-year-old Aziz Oztopal and his wife Ayse and their two children, 11-year-old Biffen and three year old Ali, were detained late on Monday afternoon at the Home Office in Glasgow.
They have a removal notice to Turkey for tomorrow morning (Thursday 15th February) from Glasgow Airport on a British Midland flight at 6.30am. This flight will then connect with a Turkish Airlines flight from Heathrow airport at 11.45am.
We urgently need messages sent to Liam Byrne (Immigration Minister) and the airlines asking for this family not to be taken. (Details below.) Please remember to include Aziz's Home Office Reference number O1039903
Aziz, Ayse and Biffen arrived in the UK in early March 2001 from Turkey. Aziz had been active in groups campaigning for a Kurdish independent state including The People's Democracy Party (HADEP), a non-violent democratic political party that has been persecuted by the Turkish authorities. In recent years party members have been arrested, and party offices raided and closed by Turkish police.
There is currently an arrest warrant out for Aziz if he returns to Turkey.
Aziz had been arrested twice before the family left Turkey. On both occasions he was beaten and tortured. Ayse was detained for a week by the Turkish police and during her detention was beaten severely with iron bars. As a result of this she has still been receiving physiotherapy and medical treatment twice a week at a Glasgow hospital.
Both Ayse and Aziz suffer from depression and Ayse, in particular, suffers flashbacks and nightmares about her time in detention by the Turkish authorities. These have been so bad that she has been prescribed sedatives and anti-depressants. Her depression has been so severe in the past that she has been hospitalized on several occasions since coming to Glasgow.
Since being detained by the Home Office, Ayse has become increasingly ill with stress and is receiving limited medical attention.
Since coming to Glasgow, Beffin, who has lived in the UK for almost six years, has been a star pupil at her school, St Convals Primary School.
Turkey and Human Rights violations:
During the first 8 months of the year 2006, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) delivered 196 final judgments finding that Turkey had violated at least one article of the European Convention of Human Rights. From 1st September 2005 until 31 August 2006 2,100 new applications regarding Turkey were made to the ECHR. More than two thirds of the applications introduced to the ECHR refer to the right to a fair trial (Article 6) and protection of property rights (Article 1 of Protocol No 1). The right to life (Article 2) and the prohibition of torture (Article 3) are referred to in 78 and 142 cases respectively. There are 46 countries covered by the ECHR in the last 7 years 20% of all judgments were against violations by Turkey.
The [Turkish] Parliamentary Human Rights Committee continued to play an active role in collecting complaints on human rights violations and conducting fact-finding visits to the regions. The Committee received 864 applications between October 2005 and June 2006.
The human rights situation in the Southeast raises particular concerns following the violent disturbances that took place in several cities in March and April. Over 550 people were detained as a result of these events, including over 200 children. The Diyarbakir Bar Association submitted more than 70 complaints of ill treatment to the authorities. Subsequently, investigations were launched into 39 of these claims.
Cases of torture and ill treatment are still being reported, in particular outside detention centres. Source: Commission of European Communities Turkey 2006 Progress Report {COM (2006) 649 final}
Urgent action needed:
1) Fax British Midlands Airways customer services on 01332 854875 or phone them on 01332 854321 and ask them not to aid the Home Office in forcibly removing Aziz Oztopal and his family in flight BD 001 from Glasgow Airport to Heathrow Airport. Or phone their Head Office on 01332 854000.
2) Fax Turkish Airlines and ask them not to aid the Home Office in removing Aziz Oztopal and his family on flight TK 1980 flight to Istanbul.
Turkish airline fax: 0208-759 58 14 Or 01784 421726
Phone: 0208-897 17 31 or 0208 745 64 01 or 01784 421717
Ask to speak to the duty officer and say you want to LOG your concerns for the well being of Aziz who is being deported on flight TK 1980 Turkish Airlines, Heathrow to Ataturk airport, Istanbul, tomorrow at 11.45 hours.
3) Fax and email Liam Byrne, Minister of State for Immigration and ask for an urgent reconsideration of the family's case taking into account that the family has been in the UK for almost six years. Please remember to include Aziz's Home Office Reference number O1039903.
Fax no. - 020 7035 4745
Email - byrnel@parliament.uk
More further information ;
The Unity Centre
30 Ibrox Street
Glasgow G51 1AQ
Tel : 0141 427 7992
Email : theunitycentre@btconnect.com
Website : www.unitycentreglasgow.org
Help Cenghiz Can
Cenghiz Can is currently detained in Dungavel Removal Centre and has been given removal directions for Friday 26th January at 13.30, Turkish Airlines flight number TK1996 from Manchester Airport to Istanbul.
Cenghiz, his wife, Gultan, and 3 children were detained on the 4th of December and taken to Dungavel. For some unexplained reason his wife and 3 young sons Ferhat (8), Vadat (6) and Sorhat (3) were released from detention on the 13th of December but Cenghiz was kept in detention where he is still being held.
Cenghiz's family is still living in Glasgow and they are terrified that he will be returned to Turkey. It is unbelievable that the Home Office are have decided to split this family apart.
The family are Turkish Kurds and a warrant for Cenghiz Can's arrest has been issued in Turkey for his involvement with Halkin Demokrasi Partisi-Peoples Democracy Party, Turkey (HADEP) which is a democratic, non-violent Kurdish political party. HADEP has been persecuted in the past by the Turkish authorities because it campaigns for an independent Kurdish state. Turkey claims it has connections to the PKK. The Turkish government has a terrible human rights record, particularly against the Kurdish population.
'During the first 8 months of 2006, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) delivered 196 final judgements finding that Turkey had violated at least one article of the European Convention of Human Rights. From 1st September 2005 to 31st August 2006, 100 new applications regarding Turkey were made to the ECHR. More than two thirds of the applications introduced to the ECHR refer to the right to a fair trial (Article 6) and protection of property rights (Article 1 of Protocol No 1). The right to life (Article 2) and the prohibition of torture (Article 3) are referred to in 78 and 142 cases respectively'
The [Turkish] Parliamentary Human Rights Committee continued to play an active role in collecting complaints on human rights violations and conducting fact-finding visits to the regions. The Committee received 864 applications between October 2005 and June 2006.
The human rights situation in the Southeast raises particular concerns following the violent disturbances that took place in several cities in March and April. Over 550 people were detained as a result of these events, including over 200 children. The Diyarbakir Bar Association submitted more than 70 complaints of ill treatment to the authorities. Subsequently, investigations were launched into 39 of these claims.
Cases of torture and ill treatment are still being reported, in particular outside detention centres.
Source: Commission of European Communities Turkey 2006 Progress Report {COM (2006) 649 final}
Also under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights, Britain has an obligation to actively secure an individual's right to a private and family life. By removing Cenghiz the Home Office are breaking Cenghiz and Gultan's family apart denying them and their children their right under Article 8 to a family life.
Urgent Action Needed:
Please fax Liam Byrne at the Home Office (model letter attached please copy/amend/write your own version) asking him to cancel the removal on the grounds that it will break the Can family apart and prevent Cenghiz, Gultan and their children from enjoying a proper family life, and because Cenghiz faces a real possibility of being imprisoned and tortured. Please remember to quote Home Office reference number C1140964
Fax: 020 7035 4745 from outside the UK + 44 20 7035 4745
Liam Byrne
Minister for State for Nationality, Citizenship & Immigration
3rd Floor
Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Please fax Turkish Airlines telling them that Cenghiz is being taken against his will and faces real danger if he is returned to Turkey.
Fax 0207 976 1738
Email: info@turkish-airlines.co.uk
Or in Manchester airport; Tel: 0161-4895290; Fax: 0161-4895291; email: sales@thymanchester.co.uk
Please send a copy of anything sent to:
Cenghiz Can Campaign
The Unity Centre
30 Ibrox Street
Glasgow G51 1AQ
Stop the forced removals
Detention of minors should not be allowed on the bases of immigration status. This principle has been reiterated by numerous international bodies.
(1) who called for the immediate admission of minors in the territory.
In the framework of children's rights for protection and the respect of the principle of the best interest of the child as defined by international law
(2), forced return of minors is not allowed.
However, the majority of European countries detain and remove foreign minors
(3) whether they are alone or with their family. National legislations allowing for practices of the detention and forced removal of children which have very bad consequences, are regularly denounced by NGOs and childhood professionals who point out that many alternatives to these practices are available.
Currently, EU Member States are discussing an EU directive on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals (4). The draft text allows for the detention and forced removal of minors.
The organisations below demand that if this directive is adopted, it should respect to international commitments signed by the EU Member States. We ask that the EU law rigorously prohibits the detention and forced removal of minors.
NCADC has signed this petition and encourages others to sign, and to circulate as far and wide as possible.
First signatories
Belgium: CIRE (Coordination et Initiatives pour et avec les Réfugiés et Étrangers)
Spain: APDHA (Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de Andalucía)
CEAR (Comision espanola de ayuda al refugiado)
France: ANAFE (Association Nationale d'Assistance aux Frontières pour les Etrangers)
Cimade
Italy: ARCI
Netherlands: Kerkinactie Binnenland
UK: National Coalition of Anti Deportation Campaigns
European organizations :
Coordination Européenne pour le droit de vivre en famille
Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME)
Jesuit Refugee Service Europe
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We condemn threats against Kurdish writer's life Mariwan Halabjaye
This is a call for the Internet publication (and eventual translation) of the book Sex, Sharia and Women in the History of Islam by Marywan (sp. Mariwan) Halabjaye (sp. Halabjayee, Halabjayi). The book concerns how Islam is allegedly used to oppress women. Halabjaye's book is based on an analysis of the Qur'an as well as recognized Sunnah and Hadith. "I wanted to prove how oppressed women are in Islam and that they have no rights," says Halabjaye.
This call for Internet publication is based on the belief that the best response to those who would suppress publication of a book is to increase publication, promotion and distribution of that book. The most efficient way to do that is on the Internet. This request is also based on the belief that it would be a powerful and timely lesson if the only thing accomplished by those who seek to suppress publication of the book Sex, Sharia and Women in the History of Islam is to cause it to be published to the entire world. |
Mariwan Halabjaye
Photo:NawaRadio |
The Islamic League of Kurdistan has issued a "conditional" fatwa to kill Halabjaye if he does not repent and apologize for writing the book. The "conditional" nature of the fatal fatwa is uncertain at best. Halabjaye reports that "a couple of weeks ago in Halabja, the mullahs and scholars said if I go to them and apologize they will give me 80 lashes and then refer me to the fatwa committee to decide if I am to be beheaded. They might forgive me, they might not." As a result, Halabjaye is in hiding with his pregnant wife and three children.
This request for Internet publication is also being made, in part, because the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has not offered Halabjaye any protection, much less arrested those who have solicited his murder and made threats against his life. "The Kurdish authorities have not provided any protection from threats and fatwas," says Halabjaye, "any moment I am expecting a bullet or a hand grenade to be thrown into where I live." On the contrary, in response to the Halabjaye affair the KRG Minister of Religious Issues, Dr. Mohammad Gaznayi, told protestors that, "we will give those who attack our prophets a sentence so that they can be a lesson for everyone."
Finally, the purpose of this call for Internet publication is to support Halabjaye, and to thwart those who would suppress publication of his book. As a result, this call for Internet publication is based on the assumption, and subject to the condition, that Halabjaye will agree to such publication. This request is made with respect for, and without prejudice to, Halabjaye's copyright in his book. We do not want to interfere with Halabjaye's control over his work, or to deprive him of either sales or income. Halabjaye may wish to license his book for publication on the Internet pursuant to a Creative Commons License. The decision to publish his book on the Internet is his and his alone.
Signatories at PetitionOnline
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http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?01021970
'Keep Suzanne and Nawzad Together In Britain'
Suzanne, a British citizen, and Nawzad Ashad Kader her Kurdish fiancée are campaigning to stay in Britain together. They are engaged and plan to marry, but the Home Office have refused to grant permission for Nawzad to stay in the UK. They plan to send him back to Northern Iraqi where he could face persecution and danger.
Nawzad arrived in the UK in August 2000, seeking refuge from the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), a Kurdish Group who were fighting Saddam Hussein's regime for Kurdish Independence. He was imprisoned and tortured by the KDP, and fled his country leaving his family and friends. He claimed asylum upon arrival in the UK.
Nawzad put his original asylum claim into the Home Office, but it was refused. He has appealed this decision, but on his last refusal, his firm of solicitors did not advise him that he had to make an appeal within ten days. Subsequently, Nawzad's case with the Home Office has been closed and he has been told that he has no further right to appeal.
He now faces deportation to Iraqi Kurdistan any day. Recently Kurdish people who are facing deportation have been arrested and detained, as the government now aims to deport more people per month than claim asylum. This uncertainty is extremely frightening and stressful for Suzanne and Nawzad.
Nawzad moved to Liverpool in January 2005, and met and fell in love with Suzanne, who is a British citizen. They are now engaged.
Suzanne has lived in Liverpool since 1997, where she gained a degree in Economics from Liverpool John Moores University. Suzanne currently works as a Project Manager in a Housing Consultancy based in Liverpool.
Suzanne and Nawzad have no means of obtaining a settlement visa from Iraq, as there is no facility at the British Embassy in Baghdad for issuing them. Nawzad's life would be in danger given the current climate in Iraq, and there are no guarantees that he would be able to travel safely and return to the UK to be with his fiancée.
The UNHCR have recently stated that 'the situation in Iraq is still extremely unstable and dangerous, characterised by a general lack of law and order and the erratic provision of basic services" and it's position is that "no part of Iraq can be considered safe".
The head of the Kurdish Government in Northern Iraq and leader of the KDP, Massoud Barzani has also blasted the decision by the British Government to send back Iraqi Kurds to war torn Iraq, who were refused political asylum in the UK.
Suzanne understands that if they do not obtain the settlement visa, the home office will deport Nawzad back to Iraq, and may advise her that she can join him there if she wishes, because they have done that in similar cases. This would be an astonishing statement given the current climate in Iraq. The foreign office advises against any British Citizen travelling to Iraq, due to the danger of kidnappings, criminal violence and suicide bombings.
Human Rights Watch's Middle Eastern Division have said that "at a time when the Foreign Office advises against British citizens travelling to Iraq and warns of attacks by insurgents, it is perverse to round up Iraqis to send them back against their will. Safety and security are entirely relevant in Iraq today, so this is not the time to be forcing anyone to return".
If she lived in Iraq, Suzanne would have to give up her way of life, and her current employment. Suzanne would not be able to find employment in her current field in Iraq. She is a Project Manager in a Housing Consultancy, and there is a shortage of people with Suzanne's skills in this sector.
It is uncertain what would happen to Nawzad and Suzanne given the current climate in Iraq.
Suzanne has a large and supportive family network in the UK, and Nawzad is now part of that family. Nawzad has no family left to his knowledge in Iraq, and Suzanne's family provide Nawzad with a network of support in the UK.
Suzanne and Nawzad are model citizens who are regarded in the greatest esteem by their friends and Suzanne's colleagues. All Suzanne and Nawzad ask is that they are allowed to remain together in the UK.
What you can do to help…
The campaign has drawn up a petition and model letter attached. We are asking everyone to print these off, fill them in (on headed paper if appropriate) and get as many other people as possible to do the same. Then return them to the address below:
download model letter : NazwadMLTM.doc
download petition ; NazwadPetitionTM.doc
'Keep Suzanne and Nawzad Together In Britain'
C/O 58 Sandhurst Street
Aigburth
Liverpool
L17 7BX
Please email if you would like more information about this case or would like to offer messages of support or solidarity:
keepsuzieandnaztogether@yahoo.co.uk
Let your friends know about the 'Keep Suzanne and Nawzad Together Campaign'.
Thank you very much for your support.
Abdel Rahman Shaghouri
‘Abdel Rahman Shaghouri is one of several individuals sentenced recently to prison terms for accessing Internet sites containing political information about Syria. Internet access is carefully monitored in Syria, and authorities block access to certain websites they find objectionable, including sites that contain political or human rights information.
‘Abdel Rahman Shaghouri was arrested without warrant in February 2003. Police entered his house and confiscated his computer, fax, CDs and other computer related items. Following an unfair trial, he was convicted in June 2004 of “disseminating false information” via the Internet and sentenced to two and a half years in prison. He is currently held in Sednaya Prison on the outskirts of Damascus.
Three other men were also recently sentenced to prison terms on Internet-related charges. Muhannad Qutaysh and his brother Haytham Qutaysh, and Yahia al-Aws had reportedly been arrested for sending articles to an electronic newspaper in the United Arab Emirates. Among the charges against them were that they had allegedly written articles, using pseudonyms, about corruption, politics, economics and human rights issues in Syria. They, too, are held at Sednaya Prison.
Amnesty International considers all four men to be prisoners of conscience. You may send them messages of support via the Human Rights Association of Syria (HRAS).
Please send cards of support to:
[prisoner's name]
c/o HRAS
P.O. Box 794
Damascus
SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
Esmail Mohamadi
The Letter of Esmail Mohamadi's Family:
Political Prisoners, and all philanthropist individuals and organizations:
We, the spouse as well as the sons and daughters, are the family of Esmail Mohamadi, a Kurdish political prisoner incarcerated in the Urumia prison for the past two years on charges of co-operating with the Komala Party Iranian Kurdistan. After two painful years hard work, expressing protest against his sentence of capital punishment, and trying to have the sentence rescinded, we are now told that his sentence has been upheld by the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
We are his wife and his five sons and daughters, namely Monira, Hiro, Aako, Diako, Trooska and Treefa, and collectively implore to you all to make all and every effort to save the life of Esmail Mohamadi, our beloved father and dedicated husband.
No effort is too small and there's no time to spare, therefore, would you please not leave any stone unturned in order to save Es-
mail from the beast of death?
Yours respectfully, The Family of Esmail Mohamadi
Please forward this to your contacts.
http://www.petitiononline.com/es2012/petition.html
[Esmail hanged in prison!]
According to Iran Focus, Tehran, Iran, Sept. 07, two Iranian Kurdish activists were hanged in a prison in the town of Orumieh, northwest Iran, for their opposition to the Iranian regime, opposition websites reported on Wednesday.
Esmaeil Mohammadi, a 38-year-old father of five, was a Kurdish activist who supported the Kurdish Komala organisation and had been arrested in the western Iranian town of Boukan in 2002. Mohammadi was reported tortured while in prison.
The second political prisoner executed was Mohammad Panj-Bini who was a member of separate Kurdish group.
Several other Kurdish activists are awaiting execution in Iranian Kurdistan.
The Iranian regime has stepped up the execution of political prisoners, many of which are carried out in secret, primarily to create an atmosphere of fear among Iran’s rebellious young generation.
Seyyedmansour Ayyoubi
Hello friends,
I am Seyyedmansour Ayyoubi, an Iranian Kurd who fled Iran to escape execution, now living in Turkey with my family. We are in grave danger since we are scheduled to be deported back to Iran. Please read the following petition which outlines the dangerous situation my family and many others face. We need several thousand signatures to be able to make an impact!
http://www.petitiononline.com/iransos1/
Please sign this petition and forward this link to others. Thank you for helping and making a difference.
Best Regards
S. Ayyobi
To: UNHCR Ankara-Turkey
Dear Sir/Madam:
We beseech the UNHCR of Turkey to consider the implications facing Iranian families that are denied protection and assistance when applying for refugee referrals through your offices.
We urge the re-assessment of the multitude of denied applications to the UNHCR. At present, we are told that applications to the UNHCR cannot be reconsidered, and we find this to be detrimental to UNHCR’s mission of preserving life and promoting the safety for refugees.
Please reconsider your verdict and stop the deportation orders regarding the following files:
Number A-7980
Filed by Miss Halimeh Azarem for herself and her children, Qomri , Molod and (surname: Rahimpoor).
Number A-6495
Filed by Mr. Ayyoubi for himself, his wife Rogheh Saiedpoor, and their daughter.
Miss Azarem, and Mr. and Mrs. Ayyoubi face imprisonment, torture and/or execution if they should be returned to Iran.
We ask you to cancel the deportation orders for these families and others that have escaped to Turkey but now face persecution and death when returned to Iran. We beseech you to reopen their files and allow them refugee status as defined by the Geneva Convention.
Respectfully
iran sos komitee
www.iransos.1colony.com
Sincerely, The Undersigned
Support the Ethnic and Geographic Federal System in Iraq as submitted by Kurdish members of the Iraqi Governing Council:
Support Kurdistan as a federal state within Iraq based on the ethnic and geographic composition including the cities of Kirkuk, Duhok, Khanaqin, Mandali, and the Kurdish areas and provinces of Mosul, Sinjar. Geographic federalism is the logical political solution for Iraq. It will ensure stability, viability, Iraq’s sovereignty and will protect the rights of all Iraq’s ethnic groups. Support the Transitional Laws submitted by the five Kurdish members of the Iraqi Governing Council. Geographic federalism was voted and endorsed by the Kurdistan Parliament.
Since the inception of modern day Iraq in 1923 the Kurds were annexed unwillingly with the understanding that the Kurdish population in Iraq are to have legal and equal rights including special ethnic and religious rights. The 1970 autonomy agreement with the government of Iraq was based on the geographic boundaries of Kurdish land. During the last 35 years of Saddam Hussein’s rule, his regime pursued the policy of Arabization, Anfal, ethnic cleansing and genocide against all Kurds including Kirkuk. Chemical weapons were used by the Iraqi government with direct orders from Saddam Hussein against Kurdish civilians in many villages in Iraqi Kurdistan. Halabja became known to the world when in one raid 5,000 men, women and children were gazed and died as a result. The environmental impact on the region is rampant. The Anfal genocide campaign of the 1980s against the Kurdish population razed to the ground over 5,000 ancestral villages and rendered over 300,000 victims. Remnants of their bodies were found in mass graves. Saddam Hussein ordered the ethnic cleansing of Kirkuk forcing over 200,000 Kurdish families out of Kirkuk and resettled Arabs from the South in their places. Despite Saddam’s efforts to displace Kurds and Arabize Kirkuk through out his rule, Kirkuk still consists mainly of Kurds. In addition to Kurds, Kirkuk has a population of Arabs, Turkmans, and Assyrians/Chaldean Christians.
Iraqis realize that Kirkuk belongs geographically to Iraqi-Kurdistan. However, Kurds are content and ready to share the governing role of the city with other ethnic groups such as Arabs, Turkmans, and Assyrians/Chaldeans. The Kurdish people are claiming Kirkuk to be a part of Kurdistan, because the city is rich with Kurdish history and the geographical borders are within Kurdistan. The proposed Kurdish Federal Region must include the four major Kurdish cities, Duhok, Erbil, Sulaimanya, Kirkuk, as well as the Kurdish areas in the provinces of Mosul, Sinjar, Khanaqin and Diyala.
www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/240596922
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