Prison Protest – Free the Iranian Five!

One released on bail yesterday

Where: Gather at the corner of Mt Eden Road and Symonds Streets, Auckland
When: At 1pm Saturday July 13, before a march to the jail.

Another protest will take place tomorrow outside Mt Eden Prison in Auckland against the detention of several Iranians being held without charge or trial.

Progress is being made on this issue. We understand that one of the five original detainees, Fardien Nouriyan was finally released on bail yesterday after almost 18 months incarceration. Fardien has a wife Leila and step-daughter Sahel (15). He has been in New Zealand for 9 years, married for 8 years.

However the longest serving remand prisoner in the history of New Zealand, Amir Mohebbi, remains locked up. He has been detained in Mt Eden for close to four years now. Amir has a New Zealand wife, Maryam, and three kiwi children and his only crime is that he refuses to put his and his family’s life in danger by signing documents agreeing to be deported to Iran.

His children are Monica (7), Milad (5) and Merila (3). Littlest Merila has never known a father who is not in jail. These kids just can’t understand and neither can we.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe wants to deport Amir and deprive these kiwi children of their father.

All these Iranians fear for their lives if they are deported to Iran – some for political and others for religious reasons. Two are Christian converts who rightly fear for their lives in Iran. Groups such as Amnesty International agree that people in this situation should be given temporary visas until it is safe for them to return to Iran. Labour refuses to consider this.

These are real people with real New Zealand lives.

Another detainee, is Ali Reza Pahan’s whose employer Bruce, strongly supports Ali’s desire to remain in New Zealand. “He is a good man and a very good worker”.

Thomas Yadegary was in a similar situation but was released on bail earlier this year. However the government is appealing against his release to the Appeal Court.

The government lacks the courage to stand up to the xenophobic policies of Winston Peters and Peter Brown of New Zealand First.

Tomorrow’s protest will call on the government to give these kiwis a fair go!

The protest will begin with a gathering on the corner of Mt Eden Road and Symonds Streets at 1pm before a march to the jail.

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