posted April 10, 2001 17:35               

Two are to be deported tomorrow. The eleven Iranian asylum seekers were participating in a sit-in at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to protest that agency's inaction and to demand resettlement to a safe third country.

The International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) is calling on the Greek government to stop deporting the asylum seekers who will face persecution upon refoulement to Iran. IFIR calls on the UNHCR to intervene on their behalf.

IFIR is submitting a complaint against the Greek government's violation of internationally recognised refugee rights under Article 25 of the European Convention on Human Rights on behalf of the eleven to the European Commission of Human Rights. In accordance with Rule 36 of the Commission's
Rules of Procedure, IFIR advises the Greek government to cease and desist from deporting them to Iran.

IFIR holds the Greek government and UNHCR accountable for their lives and security.

IFIR calls on groups and individuals to intervene on their behalf. Please send your protest letters to the following addresses:

Greek Prime Minister's Office: mail@primeminister.gr
The Greek Mission to the UN: mission.greece@itu.ch
The UNHCR Office in Greece: great@unhcr.ch
UNHCR Headquarters: HQAO00@unhcr.ch