Today is the 33rd day of Ali Panah’s hunger strike in protest at his detention without trial or charge for the past 18 months.

Green MP Keith Locke visited Ali in Auckland hospital yesterday and reported him physically weak but strong in spirit. He is refusing food or a drip and is taking water only.

Background

Ali is an Iranian who arrived here several years ago and applied for refugee status. His application was declined and he was arrested 18 months ago and detained at Mt Eden Prison to be deported. However it is not safe for him to return to Iran so he has refused to sign papers applying for an Iranian passport.

As a Christian convert (before he came to NZ) his life would be in danger. Ali has the strong support of his New Zealand employer, his Anglican vicar and fellow parishioners as well as the Iranian community in New Zealand.

Amnesty International says that in cases like this the government should issue a temporary visa until it is safe for Ali to return to Iran. Minister of Immigration David Cunliffe is refusing to use his discretion under the Immigration Act to do this.

Ministerial hypocrisy

Today also reveals the depths of personal hypocrisy in the case of Minister of Immigration David Cunliffe.

Ministry of Immigration staff claim Ali’s Christianity is not sincere. However the only Christianity in question here is surely that of the Minister of Immigration himself who claims to be an Anglican Christian but who is refusing to use his discretion to issue a temporary visa for Ali to remain in New Zealand until it is safe for him to return to Iran.

Cunliffe also proudly proclaims himself to be a member of Amnesty International but in the one case where he personally could do some good he is ignoring Amnesty’s advice and refusing to act. He is suffering the well known expedient disease of parliamentary paralysis.

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