UPDATE: FANTASTIC NEWS: Ali Mansouri’s deportation was halted by an amazing act of international solidarity. Please see here for a summary of what occurred.
PLEASE URGENTLY SEND THIS SAMPLE LETTER TO STOP THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT’S ILLEGAL DEPORTATION OF IRANIAN ACTIVIST ALI MANSOURI.
Dear friends: Ali’s illegal deportation by the government of Sweden is scheduled for Friday, 26 August 2011. We have learned that the Swedish government has already bought his tickets and his flight will go directly to Imam Khomeini airport. There is no time to lose. The Swedish government demonstrates once again, despite its illegality, that it is determined to send an Iranian activist to detention, torture, and possible execution. We have pushed the Swedish government back many times now, and working together, we will do it again for dear Ali Mansouri. Please URGENTLY use this as a sample letter to send your own letter of complaint to the Swedish government; relevant email addresses are below.
SAMPLE LETTER:
To Tobias Billström, Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy, Sweden, regarding Ali Mansouri (case no. 10-829126):
I am writing to you to demand an immediate halt to the imminent deportation of Ali Mansouri, an Iranian asylum-seeker who has sought refuge in Sweden from persecution by the Islamic Republic of Iran (case no. 10-829126).
Ali was born on 2 February 1983 in Ahwaz. As an Arab Iranian, he is a member of an ethnic group that has faced centuries of discrimination and neglect in Iran, including massacres sustained under the Islamic Republic regime that have been of such large proportion that they should constitute crimes against humanity. Atrocities and organized crimes against Arabs of Khuzistan have continued under the Islamic Republic until the present day.
In addition to being a member of a persecuted minority in Iran, he is also a member and an activist of an organization called the Republic of the Arab Nation of Ahwaz. He was among those who rioted in the impoverished Arab shantytowns in April 2005 against the regime’s plans to manipulate the ethnic composition of Khuzistan to facilitate repression of Arab Iranians. Ali was arrested at the end of the summer of 2005 by the plainclothes agents of then-President Khatami’s Ministry of Intelligence. His computer and scanner, which he used to print and disseminate flyers and anti-Islamic regime literature were discovered and confiscated.
Ali was then detained and brutally beaten and tortured for 2½ months. He was released on bail pending a court process. Ali’s lawyer later explained to him that according to the indictment, he is accused of disrupting in the system, propagating against the public opinion, and acting against the national security. These charges frequently draw the death sentence in Iran. Rather than face further torture and probable execution at the hands of the Islamic Republic, Ali fled the country and 4 years ago sought asylum in Sweden to preserve his own life.
As you well know, the Islamic Republic considers all Iranian political asylum-seekers to be criminals, deeming their quest for asylum as propagating against the regime. The Islamic Republic has on several occasions declared and applied its intent to prosecute returned political asylum-seekers, on the basis of Article 7 of the Islamic Republic’s Penal Code. Rahim Rostami, a teenaged Kurdish asylum-seeker returned to Iran by Norway and immediately imprisoned is one such example. Ali Mansouri has sought political asylum abroad and therefore, under the Islamic Republic, is subject to prosecution by the regime.
It has also been documented during the recent attempted deportation of Peyman Najafi [1] that the Islamic Republic is keeping close surveillance on individual Iranian asylum-seekers abroad, publishing the names of Iranians seeking asylum abroad and anticipating their prosection under Article 7 once they are returned to Iran by complicit governments.
Ali Mansouri is an opposition activist who, due to exercising his fundamental right to freedom of speech, is facing political charges should he be returned to Iran. He has already sustained torture at the hands of that regime, thus providing ample grounds for believing that the regime would implement torture against Mr. Mansouri again. This is in addition to the high probability of execution associated with the political charges that the Islamic Republic is pressing against Mr. Mansouri. It is illegal under international law for any country including Sweden to deport a person who has a legitimate fear of persecution in their home country. It is therefore undeniably illegal under international law for the Swedish government to participate in the crime of deporting Ali Mansouri to Iran, where he will be detained, tortured, and likely executed if he is returned to the blood-soaked hands of the Islamic Republic.
The Swedish government has repeatedly violated the rights of asylum-seekers. On September 3, 2010, in the case of R. c. v. Sweden (application no. 41827/07), the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg found that deporting an Iranian dissident to Iran would be a violation by the Swedish authorities of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, “No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Yet despite this finding, the Swedish government has continued without pause to illegally attempt to deport Iranian activists like Navid Mirpourzadih, Sanan Ashrafi, Marzieh Kamangar, Mehdi Maleki, Keivan Soufastaei, and others, all of whom are clearly and undeniably at risk not only of detention and torture by the Islamic Republic of Iran, but at unquestionable risk of execution.
We once again demand an urgent, immediate halt to Sweden’s latest attempt to illegally refoule Mr. Ali Mansouri to Iran. He is certain to be tortured and is at clear and high risk of execution if returned to the Islamic Republic. Given the the Migration Office’s blatant, repeated violations of international law regarding refugee rights, risking the lives of Iranian and other asylum-seekers, we demand that Sweden must not only immediately halt the illegal deportation of Ali Mansouri, but must immediately cease all deportations to Iran.
Sincerely,
[your name]
[1] 18 August 2011: Islamic Republic’s Media Follows Cases of Iranian Political Asylum-Seekers Abroad; Accuses Political Refugees of Propagation against the Regime (http://missionfreeiran.org/2011/08/18/islamic-republics-media-follows-cases-of-iranian-political-asylum-seekers-abroad-accuses-political-refugees-of-propagation-against-the-regime)
SEND TO:
Tobias Billström, Swedish Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy and
Press Secretary Linda Norberg
Key emails:
migrationsverket@migrationsverket.se, registrator@foreign.ministry.se, guterres@unhcr.org, swest@unhcr.org, hq@iom.int, maja.kocijancic@ec.europa.eu
Swedish media:
71000@aftonbladet.se, anita.nasberg@ltz.se, arne.lindh@folkbladet.se, bjorn.hedensjo@dn.se, chefred@svd.se, christer.sandberg@folkbladet.se, elisabet.rydell-janson@ltz.se, ettan@aftonbladet.se, gefle.dagblad@gd.se, insandare@hallandsposten.se, jonathan.falck@gp.se, kundservice@svd.se, malin.perk@folkbladet.se, marta.magnuson@gp.se, redaktion.gt@gotlandstidningar.se, redaktion@gotlandsallehanda.se, redaktion@halsingekuriren.se, redaktion@kkuriren.se, redaktionen@hallandsposten.se, redaktionen@hd.se, redaktionen@tt.se, tips@expressen.se, per-anders.broberg@expressen.se, redaktionen@gt.se, redaktionen@kvp.se
Decisionmakers:
jerzy.buzek@europarl.europa.eu, michael.spindelegger@bmeia.gv.at, kab.bz@diplobel.fed.be, info@mvp.gov.ba, iprd@mfa.government.bg, imprensa@itamaraty.gov.br, imprensa@planalto.gov.br, pm@pm.gc.ca, ministar@mvpei.hr, minforeign1@mfa.gov.cy, podatelna@mzv.cz, udenrigsministeren@um.dk, vminfo@vm.ee, umi@formin.fi, bernard.kouchner@diplomatie.gouv.fr, inform@mfa.gov.ge, guido.westerwelle@auswaertiges-amt.de, gpapandreou@parliament.gr, titkarsag.konz@kum.hu, external@utn.stjr.is, dcpf@mea.gov.in, minister@dfa.ie, gabinetto@cert.esteri.it, segreteria.frattini@esteri.it, mfa.cha@mfa.gov.lv, tonio.borg@gov.mt, secdep@mfa.md, post@mfa.no, DNZPC.Sekretariat@msz.gov.pl, pm@pm.gov.pt, msp@mfa.rs, ministry@mid.ru, miguel.moratinos@maec.es, beatriz.lorenzo@maec.es, registrator@foreign.ministry.se, info@eda.admin.ch, info@mfa.gov.tr, haguew@parliament.uk, stewartkb@state.gov
People who will lose their life and future will leave their own home for a sanctuary.
If you don’t understand it,we do.
Please let him stay or let him travel to a human nation which would save his life and future.
Unless you want people to be killed in these last days of the regime in Iran,only because they know their time is up.
Please stop these deportations, and work with the Secretary of State Mr.Clinton for arrangements.
She is on the human Rights side.
Respectfully yours.
Posted by Max Rafii | August 23, 2011, 7:57 pmThanks for your comment, Max.
M.
Posted by missionfreeiran | August 23, 2011, 11:16 pmPeople who will lose their life and future will leave their own home for a sanctuary.
If you don’t understand it,we do.
Please let him stay or let him travel to a human nation which would save his life and future.
Unless you want people to be killed in these last days of the regime in Iran,only because they know their time is up.
Please stop these deportations, and work with the Secretary of State Mr.Clinton for arrangements.
She is on the human Rights side.
Respectfully yours.
Posted by Soheila Mousavy | August 24, 2011, 1:05 amhereby is to ask the Swedish government to take humanities actions concerning Mr. Ali Mansouri Ahwazi Activist! respecting human rights, thanks for your kind attention
Posted by siyamack sohrabmanesh | August 24, 2011, 1:30 amALI MANSOURI
Undesirable Swedish, the
Nordic brotherhood has
blood on their hands
Posted by Bjarne Kim Pedersen | August 24, 2011, 1:39 amThis is not fare at all. This is against humanity and human rights. I am asking Sweden’s government to Stop and reconsider this actions. Sending innocent peoples to death or torture is not what Swedish people desire!
Arash Vatanparast
Posted by Arash | August 25, 2011, 2:43 pmYou speak of human rights. To make it work?
Posted by mary | August 27, 2011, 10:30 amPlease stop deporting Ali Mansouri the Ahwazi Activist! respecting human rights
Posted by diba | August 25, 2011, 5:53 pmSTOP DEPORTING ALI MANSOURI
HIS LIFE IS IN DANGER
Posted by Nahid | August 25, 2011, 7:08 pmDone!
Posted by Jon-Øivind Storaker | August 25, 2011, 7:11 pmStop disporting Ali, Iran is not a safe country, do not play with people’s lives because of your benefits, Ali could be executed like others.
Posted by Davis | August 25, 2011, 8:38 pmStop Ali Ahwazi’s deportation!
Posted by Massi | August 26, 2011, 12:27 amDON’T DEPORT ALI MANSOURI TO IRAN UNLESS YOU DON’T CARE OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
Posted by SIAVASH | August 26, 2011, 12:56 amstoppa deportera Ali
Posted by jafar | August 26, 2011, 1:10 amPeople who will lose their life and future will leave their own home for a sanctuary.
If you don’t understand it,we do.
Please let him stay or let him travel to a human nation which would save his life and future.
Unless you want people to be killed in these last days of the regime in Iran,only because they know their time is up.
Please stop these deportations, and work with the Secretary of State Mr.Clinton for arrangements.
She is on the human Rights side.
Respectfully yours.
Posted by shohreh | August 26, 2011, 2:25 amPlease stop deporting Ali Mansouri the Ahwazi Activist! respecting human rights
Posted by zhaleh | August 26, 2011, 2:50 amPlease stop deporting Ali Mansouri the Ahwazi Activist! respecting human rights.
Posted by zhaleh | August 26, 2011, 2:51 amSTOP DEPORTING ALI MANSOURI, if are you human !!!!!
Posted by Max | August 26, 2011, 3:54 amstop deporting ali mansouri
Posted by ENSAN | August 26, 2011, 6:31 amWhy Sweden has started this kind of behavior ??? Stop playing with peoples lives , at least hold him on temporary basis !!
Posted by Hajir | August 26, 2011, 6:33 amfree free free
Posted by kambiz deljavan | August 26, 2011, 6:42 amWe do not want to hand over these criminals
Posted by tanha | August 26, 2011, 8:11 amplease stop deporting ali mansouri … please بخاطر آزادي خواهشمنديم از دولت سوئد كه اين كار را انجام ندهد دولتي كه به آزاديخواهي معروف است دستان دولت خود را به خون جوانان ايراني آلوده نكنيد و شما شريك مزدوران جمهوري اسلامي نشويد
Posted by ASFANDEAR | August 26, 2011, 8:58 amSTOP DEPORTING ALI MANSOURI
HIS LIFE IS IN DANGER
Posted by roger | August 26, 2011, 9:41 amplease stop deporting ali mansoori to fashist eslamic republic of iran!
Posted by mehdi | August 26, 2011, 11:15 amSTOP DEPORTING ALI MANSOURI
Posted by sara | August 26, 2011, 11:43 amThis is against humanity and human rights specially when you know how the Islamic regime of Iran is handling the peaceful oppositions. please do not deport Ali Mansouri or any opposition to Iran .Give them at least a chance to go in some other country.
Posted by GITI | August 26, 2011, 12:04 pmPlease stop deporting Ali Mansouri
Posted by mehrshad | August 26, 2011, 1:25 pmTo Tobias Billström, Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy, Sweden, regarding Ali Mansouri (case no. 10-829126):
I am writing to you to demand an immediate halt to the imminent deportation of Ali Mansouri, an Iranian asylum-seeker who has sought refuge in Sweden from persecution by the Islamic Republic of Iran (case no. 10-829126).
Posted by behdaadjavdaan | August 26, 2011, 1:58 pmSTOP DEPORTING ALI MANSOURI
HIS LIFE IS IN DANGER
Posted by maryam hedayati | August 26, 2011, 2:33 pmomıdvaram ın azız morede zolm gharar nagırad va nesbate be dıporte ın dost eghdamate lazem sorat pazırad tavaghofe dıport hagh mosalame ın dost ast.ezatollah ghorıshı
Posted by Ezatollah Ghorishi | August 26, 2011, 3:18 pmSTOP DEPORTING ALI MANSOURI
HIS LIFE IS IN DANGER
Posted by mozhgan | August 26, 2011, 3:32 pmSTOP DEPORTING ALI MANSOURI….plzzzzz
Posted by fateme | August 26, 2011, 3:52 pmEs ist schön peinlich , das ein Asyl bewerber , abgeschoben werden konenn !!
Nieder mit der Islamischen Republik !
Posted by arez | August 26, 2011, 3:55 pmim sorry for UN
Posted by vivi | August 26, 2011, 4:36 pmPlease stop deporting Ali Mansouri
Posted by bakhtiari | August 26, 2011, 4:56 pmPlease stop deporting Ali Mansouri
Posted by Roozbeh Yazdani | August 26, 2011, 5:23 pmPlease stop deporting Ali Mansouri
Posted by siyavash | August 26, 2011, 7:53 pmfor god sake don’t deport him maybe in iran they kill him
Posted by fariba | August 27, 2011, 12:35 amwhere is human right if you deport ali to iran probably the government kill him please for god sake dont do that
Posted by fariba | August 27, 2011, 12:43 amPlease stop deporting Ali Mansouri
Posted by iasin | August 27, 2011, 1:02 amSTOP DEPORTING ALI MANSOURI
HIS LIFE IS IN DANGER
Posted by Bijan | August 27, 2011, 1:12 amPlease stop deporting Ali Mansouri
Posted by bikhoda | August 27, 2011, 1:55 amnon deportare mai e consegnare oppositori al regime iraniano .
Posted by walter | August 27, 2011, 5:26 amاز دولت سوئد خواهشمندم خودداری از این عمل نادرست که میتواند جان یک انسان را در معرض خطر قرار دهد،بکند و خود را همراه با اینگونه رژیمها که یکی پس از دیگری سرنگون میشوند،نکند تا در فردای ایران شرمنده این ملت غیور نشود. تندرستی را برای همه آن کسانی که بد هم را نمیخواهند با تمام علاقه خواستارم.
Posted by sam | August 27, 2011, 8:29 amensaniyat mordehhhhhhhhhhaminnnnnnnnnnnnn
Posted by mahsa | August 27, 2011, 4:10 pmAli Mansouri should notbe deported. Please don’t do this to him and his family
Posted by sanaz khodaverdian | August 27, 2011, 7:45 pmSTOP THE SHAMELESS ACT OF DEPORTING PEOPLE TO THE 100% DEATH CHAMBERS OF ISLAMIC REP. OF IRAN
Posted by SHAROK | August 29, 2011, 8:11 amThis action of Sweden is heinous and inhuman. Stop deporting political refugees to the barbaric government of Iran.
Posted by Bahar | August 30, 2011, 10:38 amPlease stop deporting Ali Mansouri
Posted by hans | September 11, 2011, 5:45 pm