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>>	Human rights issue: Asylum denied, 5 hunger striking Iranians transported to separate locations

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Human rights issue: Asylum denied, 5 hunger striking Iranians transported to separate locations

Bikash Chowdhury Barua

Five Iranians at their thirties who fled their country and sought political asylum in Holland to have a safe and better life. But their dream for a better life still remains a dream as the Dutch governmetn after scrutiny found no 'satisfactory' ground to grant them asylum and ordered their deportation to Iran. The five Iranians protested the Dutch government's decision and claimed that their lives were threatened once they were back to their land. But their claims could not break the ice and soften the Dutch attitude. The government remained adament on its decision. The five Iranians went on hunger strike and today is the 34th day of their hunger strike. They went on hunger strike in an asylum centre in a place called Ter Apel. But the Dutch authority yesterday morning separated the five Iranians from each other and sent them in separate taxies to five different asylum centres in Zweeloo, Franeker, Holten, Dongen and Emmen.

"We shall not give in", said the 29-year old Mohammad Mehdi Neshat whose physical condition was very bad due to the continuous hunger strike for the last 34 days. He further went on, "they want to break our moral, but we shall not stop." The five Iranians did not want to be seggregated and want to continue their fight to get the right to stay in Holland. However, the transportation of the striking Iranians ended without any unpleasant incident. A local newspaper quoted a Dutch Justice Ministry spokesman saying, shifting to other locations was earlier discussed with the striking people and it has been done because they (Iranians) want their family members, who are now in Holland, to be with them.

The opposition political party, Groen Links (Green Left) urged the government and the minister concerned (Verdronk) not to deport any asylum seeker at this moment. The party urged the government to stop deportion till the issue is dicussed in the next session of the parliament. But the government seems to be adament to deport the striking Iranians as the spokesman said, "there is no question of allowing them to stay in Holland. They would be deported to Iran as soon as they become physically fit to be sent back."

The five Iranians took only water and sugar during the hunger strike. They said that they have not rereceived any clear indication of their asylum process. It may be mentioned here that this is not for the first time that asylum seekers have gone on hunger strike protesting against the government's decision to deport them to their own countries. Last year, one such asylum seeker who was married to a Dutch lady stiched his two lips to protest his deportation. The Dutch authority faced immense criticism including the blame of human rights violation from home and abroad when the photo of the person was published in local newspapers. Later, on humanitarian ground he was granted politcal asylum. In another incident a couple years back another group of Turkish people who were living in Holland for more than 6 six years went on hunger strike enmasse when their applications to stay in Holland were dishonoured and ordered for deportation.

(Author is a freelance journalist writes from The Hague)
07 August,2005