iranian refugees in cyprus file complaint re unhcr translator

Members of the ICRIR include Action for Democracy and Human Rights in the Middle East,

International Federation for Iranian Refugees, Iranian Refugees Action Network, Iranian

Refugee Amnesty Network, and Mission Free Iran. CONTACT: [email protected]

ICRIR: Official Complaint by Iranian Asylum Seekers Against the Migration Office Translator in Cyprus (Amir Masoud Khaghani, the author of this letter, represents refugee activists in Cyprus who are collaborating with ICRIR)

To the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, We are officially demanding that Mr. Hamid Khalaj, an Iranian translator at the migration office in Cyprus, be investigated.

This is our formal group complaint because many of our translations are incorrect. For some unspecified reason, Mr. Khalaj is very hostile towards Iranians, and because of his animosity, the majority of the refugees in Cyprus believe this person’s hostility has had an influence on their negative status determination.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, ask UNHCR to investigate this problem. Meanwhile, we know that the translator has a direct relationship with the Embassy of Islamic Republic, and has provided refugees’ confidential information to the Iranian consulate in Cyprus. This is dangerous and constitutes a threat to our lives as refugees from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Thank you for your attention,

A group of Iranian refugees in Cyprus:

1) Ali Ramazani arc: 5631275 2) Amir Masoud Khaghani arc: 5570795A 3) Zinat Tajik Plasht arc: 5601979 4) Saeid Khaghani arc: 5584314 5) Daryoush Mahyaei arc: 5400813 6) Mehrdad Marouf arc: 5642669 7) Reza Sadeghi arc: 5649371 8) Amin Vadian arc: 5638653 9) Iraj Ghalami Oskouei arc: 5542357 10) Mahvash Dekhoshnam arc: 5650692 11) Mohammad Agha Rabi arc: 5650691 12) Mohammad Khorasani arc: 566951 13) Masoud Torabi arc: 5624494

14) Jalil Pahlavani arc: 550802 15) Aram Adalat arc: 550803A 16) Hossin Aghghir arc: 5650240 17) Esmaeil Maslahati Niar arc: 5647493 18) Abbas Maslahti arc: 5534213 19) Ali Reza Amini arc: 5462288 20) Hamid Reza Gohary arc: 5669136 21) Abdollah Arc: 5602704 22) Fatemeh Sheykhvand arc: 5647028 23) Sayed Kazeme Mosavi arc: 584861 24) Abbas Haji Remezan arc: 5624579 25) Behnaz Kashipaze Tehrani arc: 5624580

http://missionfreeiran.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/cyprus-map.jpg




Profiles of the Iranian Asylum-Seekers on

Hunger Strike in Cyprus A group of Iranian asylum-seekers who are illegally

detained in Cyprus, have gone on hunger strike to

demand the return of a refugee’s child who has been

illegally given to another family; the release from

detention of all asylum-seekers who are being held for

no other reason than in relation to an expired

passport or visa; and the review and correction of

their asylum-seekers’ files with the assistance of a

competent translator other than the one believed by the asylum-seekers to be collaborating with the

Islamic Republic.

These are their profiles, showing that they are victims of arbitrary and illegal detention by the

government of Cyprus. None of them has had their rights as refugees upheld, and both UNHCR and the

government of Cyprus should be held responsible.

Mohammad Khoshsorur, RCE 0547295: In January 2006, I applied for refugee status. On December 17,

2010, I was caught by the police. I have been in police custody for 5 months. I hadn’t had an interview

for 5 years; recently I was interviewed, but did not receive an answer. My file is still open, but

nevertheless I am being detained.

Nima Homayouni, RAC 5440113. I arrived in Cyprus in 2002. I was interviewed once. I did not receive

any answer, but my file has been closed. I have been in custody now for 7 months. I am married with 2

kids, one who was born here, and the other who is going to school here.

Rohola Hajipour, F0200716. I came to Cyprus illegally in 2010 to apply for asylum, but after 1 month,

the police arrested me and put me in jail for one month. After I finished my jail term, they put me in

custody. Three days later, I applied for asylum. It has been 8 months now that I am in custody. I did my

interview many days ago, and until now there is no answer. My file is open, but I am still in custody.

Mojtaba Khosravan. I came to Cyprus in 2003 and applied for asylum. I did my interview the next day. I

did not receive any answer about my case. Then suddenly in 2010 they arrested me, said my case has

been closed, and put me in custody.

We ask all concerned people worldwide to write urgently in support of their demands. Email addresses

and a sample letter appear below the demands of the asylum-seekers.

Statement and Demands of Detained Iranian Asylum-Seekers in Cyprus:

Asylum seekers are not criminals. We are not criminals, and we do not accept being treated as criminals.




Our protest against our detention has nothing to do with the staff’s inhumane treatment of us, the poor

condition of the detention facilities, or the poor quality of food, although we believe these all to be

unacceptable and subject to international investigation to determine whether in fact the government of

Cyprus is in compliance with basic standards set out in European Union and international conventions

and agreements regarding human and refugee rights. However, at this time, we, the undersigned, make

the following demands:

1- We demand the immediate release of Mr. Hossein Hossein-nejad Seresty (arc : 5506241) and his wife

Mrs. Roghayeh Hossein Nezadeh (arc : 5506240) and their immediate unification with their 3-year-old

child.

2- We demand the immediate release of all asylum seekers who have been detained on no other

grounds than not having a visa or a valid passport.

3- We demand review of our asylum applications, corrections made to our files with the help of a

reliable interpreter other than Mr. Khalaj, and new rulings on our cases based on our corrected

documents.

Addresses and sample letter in support of the demands of the Iranian asylum-seekers in Cyprus:

Please send this sample letter to the inspector general at the UNHCR, the Cypriot police, and several

offices within the International Committee of the Red Cross, including their refugee unit at the following

addresses: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],

[email protected]

To the Inspector General at UNHCR:

I am writing to you with deep concern about the conditions facing Iranian refugees in Cyprus. Refugees

report that their asylum cases have been rejected due to the bad practices of a corrupt translator. As a

result, many of them have been left in a situation where their passport and/or visa have expired, yet

they fear for their security if they are returned to Iran and the known persecution awaiting them there,

as explicitly promised by the Islamic Republic. Many are detained illegally in Cypriot prisons for no

reason other than a questionable rejection of their asylum application.

I demand that you urgently investigate the practice and conditions of illegal detention facing Iranian

refugees in Cyprus. Refugees have a right under international law to asylum and protection, and they

have the right not to be returned against their will to a place where they fear for their safety and

security. These fundamental rights of refugees must be respected and upheld.

Sincerely,

[your name]

iranian refugees in cyprus file complaint re unhcr translator

Documents