Save Zahra kamalfar from violation in Iran and in Russia

We are submitting this affidavit to Ms. Zahra Kamalfarвs application for asylum. We unequivocally support Miss Zahra kamalafarвs asylum claim. She would face a serious and well-founded fear of future persecution based on her activities after she reached Russia.

Zahra Kamalfar is an Iranian citizen who had made a refugee claim, together with her two minor children, Ana (DOB 1367-11-02) and Davood (DOB 1373-3-25) through UNHCR in Russia on or about May 3, 2005.

Zahra and her husband were involved in demonstrations in Iran in 2000. In July 8 2004, Zahra arrested and held in jail. Zahra was in jail for 8 months. Then she was released on a 48 hour pass to visit her family. She immediately fled Iran with her two children on April 6 2005. She and her two children went to Turkey. False Bulgarian passport arranged by a smuggler. Zahra and her children traveled from Turkey, transiting through Russia on their way to Germany. When they arrived in Germany, the authenticity of their passports was questioned. Zahra made asylum claims but their asylum claims were refused by German immigration authorities and then they were sent back to Russia. When they returned to Russia, they were detained by the Russian authorities. Russian authorities assaulted her and her daughter. The Russian authorities want to send Zahra and her children back to Iran. Zahra is afraid to return to Iran as she believes she will be sent to jail and at risk of rape, torture and possibly death. She also fears her daughter will be at risk of being sexually assaulted and raped.

The Russian authorities now want to deport the family to Iran; something that the family is convinced will be devastating to their life and safety. The Russian authorities are imposing pressure on the family by having them stranded in the Transit hall of the Moscow International Airport for the months, denying them all access to the most basic needs, including shower, proper food, etc. Regardless of the legalities of their case, this is a clear breach of all human rights principles.

Originally, Zahra and the children were being kept at a hotel at the airport. Several months ago, they were evicted from the hotel and forced to sleep in the open terminal. They have not had access to shower facilities and are restricted to public toilets.

The situation of women in Iran is inhuman, the brutality and violence against women and girls are every day occurrences in Iran. The massacred woman committed by the Iranian Islamic regime canвt be denied or excused. Misogyny, racial apartheid is the norm of the Iranian Islamic regime that women are facing. Nothing can hide the fact that the Iranian Islamic government is anti-woman misogynist and antithetical to women's rights and autonomy.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out the rights that must be realized for children to develop their full potential, free from hunger and want, neglect and abuse. It reflects a new vision of the child. Children are neither the property of their parents nor are they helpless objects of charity. They are human beings and are the subject of their own rights. Despite the existence of rights, children suffer from poverty, homelessness, abuse, neglect, preventable diseases, and unequal access to education and justice systems that do not recognize their special needs. The Untied Nation has proclaimed that childhood is entitled to special care and assistance. The family as the fundamental group of society and the natural environment for the growth and well being of all its members and particularly children should be afforded the necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the community. For the full and harmonious development of children personality, they should grow up in a family environment in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding.

Miss Zahra Kamalfar would face a serious threat to her life and liberty should she be deported to Iran. Having fled Iran and being an activist against the Iranian regime places her life in danger. She has real reason to fear persecution for her legitimate and peaceful political activism should she be returned to Iran. By deporting Miss Zahra Kamalfar and her children to Iran, who is an activist against the Iranian Regime will in actuality be a preparation of her arrest, torture and then stoning.

Russia acceded to the 1951 Refugee Convention in 1993. As a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, Russia is responsible for carrying out the refugee status determination procedure and granting asylum to those people who are entitled to it.

We strongly urges the Russian immigration authorities and UNHCR in Russia to revisit the Miss Zahra Kamalfarвs case and grant her and her children refugee recognition based on her well-founded fear of future persecution and execution.