The Letter of Human Rights Activist ( Parvin IranDoost ) To UNHCR

The Letter of Human Rights Activist ( Parvin IranDoost ) To UNHCR

Dear Mr. Papageorgiu,


As you can see below, here is the response I had from UNHCR in Greece that obviously is putting the blame on the government of Greece. Here is the exact sentence:

"The despair of the Iranian hunger strikers, as well as of other asylum seekers of other nationalities who live in a limbo situation, stems from the current shortcomings of the asylum system in Greece, in which - at present - the fair and efficient examination of their asylum applications is not ensured, with negative consequences on their every day lives."

I also need for you to know that the Greek Police have arrested the refugees who were on hunger strike. I demand for the Greek authorities to explain the reasons as according to the Greek law people are allowed to have peaceful demonstrations or is it the case that the Greek government does not consider refugees as people and does not grant any rights to them?

I will await your timely response on this issue.

Regards,
Pari Irandoost



--- On Fri, 8/13/10, Athens Greece <GREAT@unhcr.org> wrote:

From: Athens Greece <GREAT@unhcr.org>Subject: Re: Iranian Refugees in Greece - Human TragedyTo: "Democracy For Iran Now" <democracyforirannow@yahoo.com>Date: Friday, August 13, 2010, 3:35 AM


Dear Sir,

in response to your written concern, please find below the statement of UNHCR in relation to this issue.

Statement by UNHCR Greece in relation to the hunger strike in front of its premises

1. UNHCR supports the legitimate claim of the Iranian as well as other asylum seekers for a fair and efficient asylum-procedure and a final decision on their asylum-claims., especially since many have been waiting for years to have their asylum claims heard and examined, and - depending on their claims - be granted international protection, as needed.

2. The despair of the Iranian hunger strikers, as well as of other asylum seekers of other nationalities who live in a limbo situation, stems from the current shortcomings of the asylum system in Greece, in which - at present - the fair and efficient examination of their asylum applications is not ensured, with negative consequences on their every day lives.

3. UNHCR is engaged with the Greek authorities in an effort to bring about the necessary changes to the Greek asylum system with the aim of urgently addressing its long-standing deficiencies which have resulted, among others, in a backlog of over 46,000 pending asylum claims at second instance. UNHCR has also advocated for substantial reforms that will lead to the creation of a new, independent Asylum Service, as part of the currently proposed draft asylum law.

4. Ultimately, the responsibility for the adoption and implementation of these legislative changes lies with the Greek State, as the asylum procedure in Greece is a state responsibility.

5. While currently, asylum-claims can not be decided at second and final instance since the appeals committees were abolished during summer 2009, a Presidential Decree, which envisages their re-establishment, has been signed by the Minister of Citizen Protection. This is a development welcomed by UNHCR, as it is a significant step in the process of re-establishing these committees, in order to allow the asylum applications of the Iranian demonstrators as well as all applicants of other nationalities to be examined and fairly processed at second instance. While an exact time-frame for the resumption of the processing of asylum appeals is not as yet determined, UNHCR will continue advocating for and supporting the Greek authorities in effecting the necessary changes.

6. While UNHCR defends the right to a peaceful demonstration, it is concerned about the physical safety and health of refugees and asylum seekers. Methods of protest on legitimate rights should not place human lives at risk



Athens, 11 August 2010
UNHCR Athens



>>> Democracy For Iran Now <democracyforirannow@yahoo.com> 12/08/2010 15:51 >>>The Honorable President Jerzy Buzek,

I am writing to you again to urge you to take action in regards to a human disaster in regards to the Iranian Refugees in Athens , Greece .

A number of Iranian refugees have been on hunger strike in Athens since July 25, 2010. These refuges are fighting the inhumane conditions they have been forced to live under for years in Greece with the only thing they have left; their lives.

Greece is a member of the European Union and as such it is expected to live up to the human rights standards of the rest of Europe . The Iranian refugees are harassed, insulted, and treated like criminals by the Greek authorities while awaiting for the Greek government to allow the UNHCR office to take an action regarding their status. Some of the refugees have been in the waiting mode for over 10 years. The refugees are NOT asking for any more than what Greece is responsible for as a refugee host country agreed upon according to the 1951 Geneva Convention.

This situation is cruel and needs to be stopped by the Greek government. I urge you to take action now. You know that these and other Iranian refugees who have fled their home and loved ones have only done it in fear of persecution by the criminal government of Iran . We are holding the government of Greece responsible for the safety and well being of these refugees according to the 1951 Geneva Convention.

Once again, I am urging you to take action before lives of more innocent Iranians are lost.


Kind Regards,

Pari Irandoost
Human Rights Activist