UNHCR has obligations too

June 25, 2001

IFIR
By Maryam Namazie

For the past six months, Abbas Rezai and Ghafor Zarin, two Iranian Kurdish political
activists, have been languishing in prison for ''illegal entry'' into India. They have been
beaten, shot at, wounded, and criminalized; they face a serious risk of deportation back
to persecution. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in India has
continually postponed making a decision on their claim and granting them protection.

In Iraqi Kurdistan, the UNHCR continues to refuse to address refugee living, medical,
food, protection and resettlement needs. 500 women, men and children have been
participating in a sit-in since June 3 in the hopes of pressuring the agency to finally
address their human needs and legitimate demands.

On June 20, International Refugee Day, Ruud Lubbers, the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees, addressing governments said: "Helping [refugees] and
protecting them is a moral and legal obligation, rather than an optional act of charity."
Mr. Lubbers would do well to remind his staff and offices in Northern Iraq and India of
their obligations too.

Defend Rezai and Zareen

Abbas Rezai (25 years old) and Ghafor Zarin (28 years old), two Iranian asylum seekers
born in Iranian Kurdistan were arrested and imprisoned by the Indian authorities in
Mumbai, India in February 2001. Both are former political prisoners who will face torture
and cruel and inhuman treatment and punishment should they be deported to Iran. The
two are at serious risk of deportation to Iran. IFIR calls on progressive groups and
individuals to write to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees demanding that
they be granted refugee recognition and resettlement to a safe third country and to the
Indian embassies in various countries demanding that they be released and their
deportation stopped. Office of the UNHCR Chargé de Mission in India, P.O. Box 3135,
New Delhi 110003, India, Tel: 0091 114 616 038, Fax: 0091 114 620 137, E-mail:
indne@unhcr.ch, cc: HQAO00@unhcr.ch, ifir@ukonline.co.uk.

Support Protestors in Iraqi Kurdistan

On Sunday June 3, 500 Iranian refugees began an indefinite sit-in at the office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the city of Erbil, Iraqi
Kurdistan in protest that agency''s lack of response to their needs and demands. Iranian
asylum seekers in Iraqi Kurdistan have endured years of insecurity and fear coupled
with abject poverty and deplorable living conditions. The UNHCR has continually failed to
offer protection, a decent standard of living and resettlement to a safe third country. The
sit-in has been organised to highlight their plight, expose the UNHCR''s irresponsibility,
and solicit international support. Their demands from the UNHCR are: Refer refugees to
the embassies of countries offering resettlement; facilitate their transfer to safe third
countries; and improve living and health conditions. Send your letters of protest to
UNHCR Offices in Erbil, Iraq and Geneva. UNHCR Offices in Erbil and Iraq - Email:
unhcr-erbil@un.org; irqba@unhcr.ch; Fax: +8731754271. UNHCR Office Geneva - Email:
hqpr00@unhcr.ch; Fax: +42227397353.

Sample Protest Letters

To: UNHCR Chargé de Mission in India
P.O. Box 3135
New Delhi 110003, India
Tel: 0091 114 616 038
Fax: 0091 114 620 137
E-mail: indne@unhcr.ch, hqpr00@unhcr.ch

I / My organisation am / is writing to express my/ our concern about the situation of
Abbas Rezai and Ghafor Zarin, two Iranian Kurdish asylum seeker languishing in Indian
prisons for the past six months.

I / my organisation call(s) on the UNHCR to immediately grant the two protection and
refugee recognition, facilitate their release from prison, and resettle them to a safe third
country. They are at risk of being deported to Iran where as former political prisoners
and activists they will face torture, cruel and inhuman treatment and punishment, and
persecution.

Your immediate action is requested.

cc: ifir@ukonline.co.uk

To: unhcr-erbil@un.org; irqba@unhcr.ch; Fax: +8731754271
hqpr00@unhcr.ch; Fax: +42227397353

I / My organisation am / is writing in full support of the 500 Iranian refugees who began
a sit-in at the UNHCR office in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan on June 3 and in protest to the
UNHCR''s policies and inaction.

Their demands are that the UNHCR:
1-Refer refugees to the embassies of countries offering resettlement
2-Facilitate their transfer to safe third countries
3-Improve living and health conditions.

I urge your office to immediately meet with representatives of the protestors and
address their demands.

Signed:
Name, organisation
Cc: ifir@ukonline.co.uk