Christians back Iranian asylum seeker and appeal to Tony Blair

-17/07/06

Christians an


Christians back Iranian asylum seeker and appeal to Tony Blair

-17/07/06

Christians and church representatives are among hundreds of supporters who have signed a petition delivered to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to prevent an Iranian asylum seeker, Afshin Azizian, from being deported ñ writes Ellen Teague on Independent Catholic News, which has played a role in publicizing the case.

The petition was delivered to Downing Street at the end of last week, marking the culmination of a two-year campaign by the Hampstead-based Ham & High [Hampstead and Highgate] newspaper to seek justice for the 37-year-old. Mr Azizian faces the threat of deportation, but meanwhile is not allowed to work or to claim benefits.

More than 1,000 people put their names to the petition requesting permission for Mr Azizian, who has been living in the UK for 11 years, to stay in the country on compassionate grounds.

The package ? addressed to Tony Blair and to Immigration Minister Liam Byrne- included the petition, a personal statement by Mr Azizian and a poem written by one of his friends. Mr Azizian fled Iran in 1995, after being tortured by the regime there and fearing execution.

It took five years for the Home Office to reject his initial claim and four years of failed appeal hearings followed, says ICN. He has experienced eviction, homeless and mental trauma, and being admitted to hospital suffering from malnutrition and exhaustion.

“It has been a good day and lots more people have listened to my story” Mr Azizian said after the event. He thanked the Ham & High newspaper for supporting him; also the Columban Missionary Society, which has provided him with a home in its Hampstead house for the past year, and the congregation of St. Andrew’s United Reformed Church in Frognal.

The protest was attended by Fr Frank Nally, a Columban missionary, and the Rev Jonathan Dean of St Andrew’s URC. “When he came to us a year ago he was psychologically affected, had short term memory problems and was traumatized” said Fr Nally. “There should be an amnesty so that the Home Office can clear up the mess it has created”

“I think it is very important that an individual case like this is brought to the attention of the Prime Minister” commented Mr Dean.

He continued: “The people here today know that this is a just case and that there is no question that Afshin has been through suffering in Iran and that has continued hereÖwe are flabbergasted the people in power can’t see this”.

On the day of the protest, Liam Byrne MP, Minister for Immigration, ruled out an amnesty for illegal immigrants in the UK ñ something widely backed by church and refugee groups.

E-mail support can be sent directly to Mr Azizian or to Matt Eley of the Ham & High newspaper.

With grateful acknowledgement to Independent Catholic News.

[Also on Ekklesia: Advent call to support UK asylum seekers; Churches express solidarity with migrants and asylum seekers; UK faces protests over Zimbabwe asylum deportations; Archbishop questions sanctuary of asylum seekers at cathedral; Churches to highlight destitution of asylum seekers; Catholic church publishes asylum seekers guide; Stop using asylum seekers as political footballs, say churches; Christians to live as asylum seekers during Lent; Churches told how to offer protection to asylum seekers; Churches attack global mistreatment of migrants and asylum seekers]


Christians back Iranian asylum seeker and appeal to Tony Blair

-17/07/06

Christians and church representatives are among hundreds of supporters who have signed a petition delivered to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to prevent an Iranian asylum seeker, Afshin Azizian, from being deported ñ writes Ellen Teague on Independent Catholic News, which has played a role in publicizing the case.

The petition was delivered to Downing Street at the end of last week, marking the culmination of a two-year campaign by the Hampstead-based Ham & High [Hampstead and Highgate] newspaper to seek justice for the 37-year-old. Mr Azizian faces the threat of deportation, but meanwhile is not allowed to work or to claim benefits.

More than 1,000 people put their names to the petition requesting permission for Mr Azizian, who has been living in the UK for 11 years, to stay in the country on compassionate grounds.

The package ? addressed to Tony Blair and to Immigration Minister Liam Byrne- included the petition, a personal statement by Mr Azizian and a poem written by one of his friends. Mr Azizian fled Iran in 1995, after being tortured by the regime there and fearing execution.

It took five years for the Home Office to reject his initial claim and four years of failed appeal hearings followed, says ICN. He has experienced eviction, homeless and mental trauma, and being admitted to hospital suffering from malnutrition and exhaustion.

“It has been a good day and lots more people have listened to my story” Mr Azizian said after the event. He thanked the Ham & High newspaper for supporting him; also the Columban Missionary Society, which has provided him with a home in its Hampstead house for the past year, and the congregation of St. Andrew’s United Reformed Church in Frognal.

The protest was attended by Fr Frank Nally, a Columban missionary, and the Rev Jonathan Dean of St Andrew’s URC. “When he came to us a year ago he was psychologically affected, had short term memory problems and was traumatized” said Fr Nally. “There should be an amnesty so that the Home Office can clear up the mess it has created”

“I think it is very important that an individual case like this is brought to the attention of the Prime Minister” commented Mr Dean.

He continued: “The people here today know that this is a just case and that there is no question that Afshin has been through suffering in Iran and that has continued hereÖwe are flabbergasted the people in power can’t see this”.

On the day of the protest, Liam Byrne MP, Minister for Immigration, ruled out an amnesty for illegal immigrants in the UK ñ something widely backed by church and refugee groups.

E-mail support can be sent directly to Mr Azizian or to Matt Eley of the Ham & High newspaper.

With grateful acknowledgement to Independent Catholic News.

[Also on Ekklesia: Advent call to support UK asylum seekers; Churches express solidarity with migrants and asylum seekers; UK faces protests over Zimbabwe asylum deportations; Archbishop questions sanctuary of asylum seekers at cathedral; Churches to highlight destitution of asylum seekers; Catholic church publishes asylum seekers guide; Stop using asylum seekers as political footballs, say churches; Christians to live as asylum seekers during Lent; Churches told how to offer protection to asylum seekers; Churches attack global mistreatment of migrants and asylum seekers]