Support Iranian asylum seekers

[behzad1917]

Belgian Government threatens Iranian asylum seekers

European countries are stepping up their war against asylum seekers with plans to establish a new list of safe countries. While they call this policy new, it is in fact continuation of old policies implemented step by step to further criminalize, isolate, the asylum seekers and bring about the demise of the right to asylum which had lost its usefulness after the end of the Cold War. They needed it then to show they were pro-human rights in relation to Eastern Bloc. In order to justify their policies, they play on people's real concerns about the rise of the far right in European countries. Asylum seekers are being scape-goated for EU right wing failed policies.

Many of asylum seekers are fleeing Iran. This country has been one of the major sources of refugee flow over the past two decades; in the past, many were granted asylum. Today, however, asylum seekers including Iranian asylum seekers are being called 'illegal migrants' "bogus" or "economic immigrants". The condition in Iran has not changed, even have worsened. Islamic Republic of Iran under the role of fundamentalism is the capital of the world for execution, torture and stoning to death however the rate of recognition for Iranian asylum seekers has fallen dramatically. One of the main reasons is that European countries have been expanding their economic and political relations with Islamic Republic of Iran which is one of the most notorious and repressive regimes in the world.

Expanding economic relations with Iran has impact on Iranians both inside the country and in exile. Working class in Iran is already suffering from privatization and corruption; expanding economic relations with this corrupt system exacerbate the conditions for working class in Iran. Iranian in exile suffering from this policy by being refused to enjoy political asylum.

The latest scandalous decision by EU on asylum seekers on 6th of November is that in future they give temporary permission to stay for 6 month to victims of smugglers; however this is conditional and is based on co-operation of asylum seekers with police and security forces to capture smugglers. And is based on who they will recognise as victims of smugglers!

One of the EU countries which have strong economic and political ties with Islamic Republic of Iran is Belgium. The degree of the Belgian government's ties with the Islamic regime of Iran can be seen clearly in its high number of refusal for Iranian asylum claims.

The Belgian government is negotiating with Iranian authorities to deport Iranian asylum seekers whom asylum claim has been refused; the general situation in Iran is proof enough that these asylum seekers would suffer persecution upon their return.
On 19th of September, 17 Iranians left the Petit Chateau detention centre in Brussels for the ULB (University of Brussels) after receiving orders to leave the country. Dozens of their compatriots, also hoping to be granted political asylum in Belgium, joined them until some 250 were camping out on the ULB campus. Of the protesters, 31 have been on hunger strike for the past 20 days.

They need our support urgently, because if we can win in this protest, then we can defeat other EU countries in their anti asylum policies. In solidarity we can support their protest by sending fax or calling to Belgian interior minister or Belgian Refugee Commission. You cal also sign a petiotion online to support those are in strike.

Belgian Interior Ministry, Tel: 003225048511, Fax: 003225048500
Belgian Refugee Commission, Tel: 003222055107, Fax: 003222055115
Petition online: http://www.petitiononline.com/IRSY/petition.html



Behzad Javaheri
Student in King's College University of London

[Rikbe]

Originally posted by behzad1917
Belgian Government threatens Iranian asylum seekers

European countries are stepping up their war against asylum seekers with plans to establish a new list of safe countries. While they call this policy new, it is in fact continuation of old policies implemented step by step to further criminalize, isolate, the asylum seekers and bring about the demise of the right to asylum which had lost its usefulness after the end of the Cold War. They needed it then to show they were pro-human rights in relation to Eastern Bloc. In order to justify their policies, they play on people's real concerns about the rise of the far right in European countries. Asylum seekers are being scape-goated for EU right wing failed policies.

Many of asylum seekers are fleeing Iran. This country has been one of the major sources of refugee flow over the past two decades; in the past, many were granted asylum. Today, however, asylum seekers including Iranian asylum seekers are being called 'illegal migrants' "bogus" or "economic immigrants". The condition in Iran has not changed, even have worsened. Islamic Republic of Iran under the role of fundamentalism is the capital of the world for execution, torture and stoning to death however the rate of recognition for Iranian asylum seekers has fallen dramatically. One of the main reasons is that European countries have been expanding their economic and political relations with Islamic Republic of Iran which is one of the most notorious and repressive regimes in the world.

Expanding economic relations with Iran has impact on Iranians both inside the country and in exile. Working class in Iran is already suffering from privatization and corruption; expanding economic relations with this corrupt system exacerbate the conditions for working class in Iran. Iranian in exile suffering from this policy by being refused to enjoy political asylum.

The latest scandalous decision by EU on asylum seekers on 6th of November is that in future they give temporary permission to stay for 6 month to victims of smugglers; however this is conditional and is based on co-operation of asylum seekers with police and security forces to capture smugglers. And is based on who they will recognise as victims of smugglers!

One of the EU countries which have strong economic and political ties with Islamic Republic of Iran is Belgium. The degree of the Belgian government's ties with the Islamic regime of Iran can be seen clearly in its high number of refusal for Iranian asylum claims.

The Belgian government is negotiating with Iranian authorities to deport Iranian asylum seekers whom asylum claim has been refused; the general situation in Iran is proof enough that these asylum seekers would suffer persecution upon their return.
On 19th of September, 17 Iranians left the Petit Chateau detention centre in Brussels for the ULB (University of Brussels) after receiving orders to leave the country. Dozens of their compatriots, also hoping to be granted political asylum in Belgium, joined them until some 250 were camping out on the ULB campus. Of the protesters, 31 have been on hunger strike for the past 20 days.

They need our support urgently, because if we can win in this protest, then we can defeat other EU countries in their anti asylum policies. In solidarity we can support their protest by sending fax or calling to Belgian interior minister or Belgian Refugee Commission. You cal also sign a petiotion online to support those are in strike.

Belgian Interior Ministry, Tel: 003225048511, Fax: 003225048500
Belgian Refugee Commission, Tel: 003222055107, Fax: 003222055115
Petition online: http://www.petitiononline.com/IRSY/petition.html



Behzad Javaheri
Student in King's College University of London

There is a proper procedure to ask asylum. Coming into the country without proper papers is against the law. Therefore they are called "illegals".

I don't see why we should give asylum to people who's first act on Belgium territory is breaking the law.

[behzad1917]

According to the international law those are fleeing persecution are not called ileggal, the entry is illegal because there is NOT any legal way to claim asylum before entry to a safe country. I do not undrestand how do you expect some one with the fear of persecution travel legally and ask for asylum!!!. Travelling legally means no fear and therefore no reason to apply for asylum. Belgian government is one of the countries who has signed United Nations convention on refugees in 1951, therefore Belgian government should not sacrifies Human Rights for the sake of Economic Realations with the Islamic Republic of Iran who has countinously been condemnd by International community, including Belgian Government, for violating Human Rights.

I hope you would be able to defferentiate between the definition of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers by the explanation above.

[Rikbe]

Originally posted by behzad1917
According to the international law those are fleeing persecution are not called ileggal, the entry is illegal because there is NOT any legal way to claim asylum before entry to a safe country. I do not undrestand how do you expect some one with the fear of persecution travel legally and ask for asylum!!!. Travelling legally means no fear and therefore no reason to apply for asylum. Belgian government is one of the countries who has signed United Nations convention on refugees in 1951, therefore Belgian government should not sacrifies Human Rights for the sake of Economic Realations with the Islamic Republic of Iran who has countinously been condemnd by International community, including Belgian Government, for violating Human Rights.

I hope you would be able to defferentiate between the definition of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers by the explanation above.

They can always ask asylum by letter to the embassy of their country or directly to the proper service of the ministry of foreign affairs.

I have a little question: If they are only fleeing persecution, why don't they go to Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan etceteras, that are so much closer to Iran than the countries of the EU, where is a to Iran much comparable culture, language and religion.

Or do they not flee persecution but come for other reasons and with other intentions?

[behzad1917]

I am really amazed by your justification to call these people who are themselves the victims of religious idea, illegal. I think you either dont have any information about asylum process or you want to oppose refugees without any proper reasons. It seems to me that you do not know NO ONE can apply asylum to the embassy or foriegn office. You asked why these people are not going to the neigbour countries? your answer is very simple, they do not want to scape from one dictator and ask help from other dicatator. You said there is a proper procedure to apply for asylum, this is simply nnot true. I emphasize this again that there is no way that some one could apply for asylum without getting to country. Giving refuge is a basic human right which has been recognised internationally.

You also mentioned that these people are coming for other purposes. You did not mentioned for what purposes, but its clear to me that you are repeating the false allegations made by far right politician against refugees, again without any proper reasons.

According to statistic refugees are contributing to society more than their native counter part. Refugee's children are doing better that native speakers. Many of them are doctor, nurse and teachers.

European right wing politician are scapegoating refugees for THIER failed policies. I see this as my moral responsibility to clarify the situation for those who been overwhelmed by right wing media and those who are blindly repeating their inhuman propaganda.

[Rikbe]

Originally posted by behzad1917
I am really amazed by your justification to call these people who are themselves the victims of religious idea, illegal. I think you either dont have any information about asylum process or you want to oppose refugees without any proper reasons. It seems to me that you do not know NO ONE can apply asylum to the embassy or foriegn office.

I know personally an illegal immigrant and asylum seeker who lives now 3 years in Belgium. He has no job but lives quiet well.

You asked why these people are not going to the neigbour countries? your answer is very simple, they do not want to scape from one dictator and ask help from other dicatator.

I don't know anbout Kazakstan etc. but Russia is now more democratic than Belgium.

You said there is a proper procedure to apply for asylum, this is simply nnot true. I emphasize this again that there is no way that some one could apply for asylum without getting to country. Giving refuge is a basic human right which has been recognised internationally.

Next time I see that acquaintance I will ask him how he did.

You also mentioned that these people are coming for other purposes. You did not mentioned for what purposes, but its clear to me that you are repeating the false allegations made by far right politician against refugees, again without any proper reasons.

I do not rely on three sources: far right, far left and God.
I am more relying on reports of our National Security and the testimony of an Iranian/Belgian translator working for immigration who declared that some Iranians alylum seekers are sent by the Iranian clerics to infiltrated Belgium in order to prepare a Muslim state in Belgium.
And I rely most on what I observe myself.

According to statistic refugees are contributing to society more than their native counter part. Refugee's children are doing better that native speakers. Many of them are doctor, nurse and teachers.

I rely not much on statistics either. But even if it is true (and it is not according the immigrants I kow), there are no jobs for them. Thanks to the economic recession, due to the rise of petrol prices 2 years ago and 9/11.

So blame you fellow Muslims.

European right wing politician are scapegoating refugees for THIER failed policies. I see this as my moral responsibility to clarify the situation for those who been overwhelmed by right wing media and those who are blindly repeating their inhuman propaganda.

Muslims in Belgium blame the LEFT parties' policies of the past years. And in this, I agree: there was NO decent policy, not to integrate the immigrants, not to limit their number.

The only real far right party in Belgium is this one:
http://www.arabeuropean.org/
Even Vlamms Blok is more left than the American republicans and the Swiss right party that just won the elections.

I have nothing against a limited number of immigrants (we are already overcrowded compared to most othe EU countries) at the condition they accept our culture, learn our language and respect our laws.

BTW I married an immigrant not long ago.

[behzad1917]

quote:
I know personally an illegal immigrant and asylum seeker who lives now 3 years in Belgium. He has no job but lives quiet well.

I am really sorry that you still havent looked at your dictionary to differentiate between illegal immigrant and asylum seekers. If you try to find the definition of asylum seekers I am sure that you will come across this that asylum seekers are not scaping from hunger. They are political asylum seekers and this is nothing to do with their financial situation. By the what do you expect this unknown person to do?

quote:
I don't know anbout Kazakstan etc. but Russia is now more democratic than Belgium.

I strongly suggest you to immigrate to Russia if you feel more comfortabel and secure there. If you do not then stop recommending this toother to do the same thing which you do not do it yourself!

quote:
Next time I see that acquaintance I will ask him how he did.

You either are joking or pretending to. I suggest you to ask Belgian authority before getting advice from this unknown resources.

quote:
I do not rely on three sources: far right, far left and God. I am more relying on reports of our National Security and the testimony of an Iranian/Belgian translator working for immigration who declared that some Iranians alylum seekers are sent by the Iranian clerics to infiltrated Belgium in order to prepare a Muslim state in Belgium. And I rely most on what I observe myself.

You say that you do not rely on far right, I am not sure if you dont, but at least you are repeating what they are saying. I am opposing Iranian clerics by any possible mean, but thats is nothing to do with Iranian asylum seekers who are themselves the victims of Iranian clerics. Again who is this unknown translator who knows more than security services, I suggest you to contact Belgian security services and let them handle this situation instead of making false statements!

quote:
I rely not much on statistics either. But even if it is true (and it is not according the immigrants I kow), there are no jobs for them. Thanks to the economic recession, due to the rise of petrol prices 2 years ago and 9/11.
So blame you fellow Muslims.

You do not rely on stastics, so what do you rely on? Unknown immigrant, unknown asylum seekers and unknown translator who is giving you security reports?! Do you think this is reasonable? Think before respond! and also if you were clever enough you would realise by reading my original report that I am communist and I do NOT have any religion or god. I would also blame your right wing fellow politician for the poverty and war in the world!


quote:
Muslims in Belgium blame the LEFT parties' policies of the past years. And in this, I agree: there was NO decent policy, not to integrate the immigrants, not to limit their number. The only real far right party in Belgium is this one: http://www.arabeuropean.org/
Even Vlamms Blok is more left than the American republicans and the Swiss right party that just won the elections. I have nothing against a limited number of immigrants (we are already overcrowded compared to most othe EU countries) at the condition they accept our culture, learn our language and respect our laws.
BTW I married an immigrant not long ago.

I see no differences between Hitler and Osama Ben Laden. I would therefore dont see any differences between islamic fundamentalism and christian fundamentalism. Vlams blok and islamic fundamentalism are the same things with different names. They are both capable of creating atrocities like World War 2 and septembet 11. I oppose fundamentalism in any form and shape and under any name.

[Rikbe]

Originally posted by behzad1917
quote:
I know personally an illegal immigrant and asylum seeker who lives now 3 years in Belgium. He has no job but lives quiet well.

I am really sorry that you still havent looked at your dictionary to differentiate between illegal immigrant and asylum seekers. If you try to find the definition of asylum seekers I am sure that you will come across this that asylum seekers are not scaping from hunger. They are political asylum seekers and this is nothing to do with their financial situation. By the what do you expect this unknown person to do?

That is because ALL illegal immigrant become asylum seekers. The man I talked about is not escaping from any persecution.

quote:
I don't know anbout Kazakstan etc. but Russia is now more democratic than Belgium.

I strongly suggest you to immigrate to Russia if you feel more comfortabel and secure there. If you do not then stop recommending this toother to do the same thing which you do not do it yourself!

I know the situation in RUssia fairly well and it is not impossible I move to there in the future.

quote:
Next time I see that acquaintance I will ask him how he did.

You either are joking or pretending to. I suggest you to ask Belgian authority before getting advice from this unknown resources.

As I know him personal, it is not an unknown source.

quote:
I do not rely on three sources: far right, far left and God. I am more relying on reports of our National Security and the testimony of an Iranian/Belgian translator working for immigration who declared that some Iranians alylum seekers are sent by the Iranian clerics to infiltrated Belgium in order to prepare a Muslim state in Belgium. And I rely most on what I observe myself.

You say that you do not rely on far right, I am not sure if you dont, but at least you are repeating what they are saying.

No, it was an Iranian on TV wo told this, not far right.

I am opposing Iranian clerics by any possible mean, but thats is nothing to do with Iranian asylum seekers who are themselves the victims of Iranian clerics. Again who is this unknown translator who knows more than security services, I suggest you to contact Belgian security services and let them handle this situation instead of making false statements!

BSS are handling this.

Ok, I accept that number of Iranian emigrees are opposed to the clerics and are sincere, but how can we know which are and which are not?

quote:
I rely not much on statistics either. But even if it is true (and it is not according the immigrants I kow), there are no jobs for them. Thanks to the economic recession, due to the rise of petrol prices 2 years ago and 9/11.
So blame you fellow Muslims.

You do not rely on stastics, so what do you rely on? Unknown immigrant, unknown asylum seekers and unknown translator who is giving you security reports?! Do you think this is reasonable? Think before respond! and also if you were clever enough you would realise by reading my original report that I am communist and I do NOT have any religion or god. I would also blame your right wing fellow politician for the poverty and war in the world!

Only the translator is anonymous, for obvious reasons, but his name is known by TV reporters and Security.

quote:
Muslims in Belgium blame the LEFT parties' policies of the past years. And in this, I agree: there was NO decent policy, not to integrate the immigrants, not to limit their number. The only real far right party in Belgium is this one: http://www.arabeuropean.org/
Even Vlamms Blok is more left than the American republicans and the Swiss right party that just won the elections. I have nothing against a limited number of immigrants (we are already overcrowded compared to most othe EU countries) at the condition they accept our culture, learn our language and respect our laws.
BTW I married an immigrant not long ago.

I see no differences between Hitler and Osama Ben Laden.

Hitler was smarter, he started his terror when he had the power well in hand.

I would therefore dont see any differences between islamic fundamentalism and christian fundamentalism. Vlams blok and islamic fundamentalism are the same things with different names. They are both capable of creating atrocities like World War 2 and septembet 11. I oppose fundamentalism in any form and shape and under any name.

I agree with that.
However, for the moment there are not many Christian fundamentalist that use terrorism anymore, except the IRA, while Muslim terrorism is all over the world. In reaction Christian fundamentalism is increasing in popularity in the USA and that could become more dangerous than Bin Laden and his gang.