Ali Panah returned to hospital

Day 49 of hunger strike

Iranian hunger striker Ali Panah was returned to hospital last night from Mt Eden Prison. He is now on Day 49 of his hunger strike and fears are rising for the state of his health.

Ali began taking liquid mineral supplements while in hospital last week on the strong advice of doctors but is refusing solid food or a drip. (The mineral supplements, while having little food value will help prevent some of the physical damage from a prolonged period without food)

Visitors earlier in the week report Ali as becoming increasingly weak but remaining strong in spirit.

We do not want to see anyone lose their life because of an inhumane government policy. GPJA continues to argue alongside Amnesty International for the government to issue a temporary visa to Ali until it is safe for him to return to Iran. Anything less is unacceptable

Government silence deafening

Meanwhile we are all waiting for a response from Minister of Immigration David Cunliffe to submissions made to him by Ali’s legal representative last week. The government claims Ali has had the full benefit of appeals to remain in New Zealand. However this ignores the fact that it is patently unsafe for him to return to Iran. Likewise return to any other country would mean swift return to Iran in any case. The government has also tried to discredit Ali by saying he is not a true Christian convert. This is McCarthyist nonsense. If New Zealand judges people based on their religious beliefs then we are reaching towards the depths of the inquisition. Ali is a committed Christian as attested by his church vicar and parishioners.

Background

Ali is an Iranian who arrived here several years ago and applied for refugee status. His application was declined and he was arrested over 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 has so far refused to use his discretion under the Immigration Act to do this.

Prison Protest

A protest will take place from 1pm to 2pm outside Auckland Hospital in Park Road this Saturday.

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