On immediate resettlement of 9 Iranian refugee and asylum seekers from turkey to a safe third country.

We are submitting this letter in unequivocal support of 9 refugees and asylum seekers applications for refugee resettlement and refugee status in Turkey named:

1. Esmail Yari, case no. Y-1464
2. Hamid Nikbin, case no. N-2031
3. Baxtiyar Mirzaye, case no. M-6782
4. Deler Shoker Razqi, case no. S-5623

All above cases have been recognized as refugees by UNHCR both in Iraq and Turkey. WPI and IFIR call on the UNHCR to consider their cases a priority as a special and security cases and ensure their immediate resettlement to a safe third country.

5- Nazila Mohammd Hassani Zamani. Case No. M7217
6- Masoumeh Shahbazi, Case No. S5670
7- Masoud Toeyfar Case No.T-1425
8- Khosrow Afghani Case No. A-6971
9- Joutiar Ghaderyan, Case No. G-1932


Background information on:

1. Esmail Yari, case no. Y-1464
2. Hamid Nikbin, case no. N-2031
3. Baxtiyar Mirzaye, case no. M-6782
4. Deler Shoker Razqi, case no. S-5623

All of above named, are members of Worker-communist Party of Iran (WPI) and were political activists in the North of Iraq. Their refugee claims were accepted by UNHCR offices in Kurdistan of Iraq (Erbil and Sulaymanihe).
The above names forced to flee to Turkey when the office of Worker-communist Party of Iraq was attacked by patriot union of Kurdistan (PUK) under gaudiness of Iranians regime. The PUK and Islamic Republic of Irans presences threatened to their safety and remains a serious threat to them. Bear in mind that at that time PUK were killed 5 member of WPI (4 Iraqis and 1 Iranian named OMID NIKBIN).

Hamid Nikbin (brother of OMID Nikbin) and Esmail Yari were arrested by PUK and remained in the prison for months. They were threatened while in detention. They were released after an international campaign organized for their defence and PUK received Constance pressure from activists abroad.

Baxtiyar Mirzaye and Deler Shoker Razqi had to lives in hidden in Erbil and Sulaymaniye until 2001 which they forced to flee to Turkey. They all have been recognized as refugees since December 2003. Unfortunately they have got no financial and resettlements support from UNHCR and they all are still waiting for resettlement.

Iranian refugees have always faced serious threats to their lives and security in Iraqi Kurdistan. The Iranian government has an extensive surveillance and assassination machinery in that region. In addition, Iraqi Kurdistan is in the hands of factions that have committed untold atrocities and used Iranian refugees as bargaining chips. All above Iranian refugees have languished in a state of insecurity and danger long enough. The UNHCR must ensure that they are immediately resettled in a safe third country.
The WPI and the IFIR urge your office to carry out your duty in expediting their safe resettlement to a third country.
Background information on:

1. Nazila Mohammd Hassani Zamani. Case No. M7217
2. Masoumeh Shahbazi, Case No. S5670
3. Masoud Toeyfar Case No.T-1425
4. Khosrow Afghani Case No. A-6971
5. Joutiar Ghaderyan, Case No. G-1932

A summary of the cases are below. We urge your office to review of above cases and grant them refugee status:

1.Nazila Mohammd Hassani Zamani. Case No. M7217: Nazila Mohamad Hasani Zamani is a woman asylum seeker and political activist who have fled Iran in fear of persecution at the hands of the Islamic regime of Iran. She participated at a sit-in-strike in front of the UNHCR office in Ankara, Turkey in September 22, 2003. Nazila has written some articles against the Islamic regime of Iran in Hambastegi, IFIRs Persian weekly paper. She had also conducted interviews with Turkish and Persian media as well as TV and radio programs. Her activities have come to the notice of the Iranian authorities and were published in Iranian governmental media in Iran. Nazila has a well-founded fear of persecution based on her political opinion against the Iranian regime and she is well-known womens rights and refugee rights activists. The life of Nazila is in great danger.

2.Masoumeh Shahbazi, Case No. S5670: Ms. Shahbazi is a well-known political opponent of the Islamic Republic of Iran. She joined the Worker-communist Party of Iran (WPI) in early 2001 (late 1379) and was responsible for publicity and distribution of the WPI literature and recruitment of new members. She was involved in the womens movement and her activities focused in that area. She was further responsible in providing reports and analysis regarding womens situation in Iran. Ms. Shahbazi has been actively involved in the political struggle against the Iranian government and in particular her activities for womens rights are known to our organization. She has received deportation letter from Turkish inertial ministry.

3.Masoud Toeyfar Case No.T-1425: He joined WPI in 1999 (1378) in Iraq and visited a few members of Centeral Committee of WPI. His responsibilities were distributing, publicizing WPIs literature. The Islamic Republic of Iran arrested him. Mr Toeyfar was tortured for 39 days then was released on bail condition. Following his arrest, the security forces of the Islamic Republic raided his house and his party comrades house (Mr. Hosenes) and discovered political literature linking him with the WPI. Mr. Toeyfar with his party comrade had to flee Iran for fear of his life.


4.Khosrow Afghani Case No. A-6971: Khosrow Afghani is a member of the Worker-communist Party of Iran since 1991. He was forced to flee Iran when the Iranian authorities found out about his relationship with the WPI. Since he left Iran, the Islamic Republics authorities have arrested his father. Mr. Afghanis life is in danger if he is deported to Iran.

5.Joutiar Ghaderyan, Case No. G-1932: He is member of the WPI and has been active with the WPI in Turkey. He is now in sit-in strike in front of UNHCR office in Ankara with other 4 Iranian asylum seekers.

We look forward to your response in this life-threatening matter.
Sincerely,