Human Rights Organizations Warn Against Deportation of Refugees, Particularly Iranian Christians from America
Human rights organizations have warned against the deportation of refugees, particularly Iranian Christian citizens, from the United States.
According to a report by Christian Post, human rights advocates expressed concern over the deportation of refugees, particularly ten Iranian Christian citizens who have been deported from the United States in recent weeks.
In recent weeks, approximately 350 migrants were transferred from America to Panama by military aircraft. These migrants had immigrated to America from the countries of Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, and Uzbekistan. Of this group of 350 people, ten are Iranian Christian citizens whose fate remains unknown.
The deportation of these migrants from America has faced widespread reactions. However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that all these individuals were residing in the country illegally, and none of them had made any statements during their detention about returning to their home countries that would endanger their lives.
Jeff King, head of the International Christian Concern organization, warned about the deportation of refugees, particularly Iranian Christians, saying: “The return of these individuals to Iran could mean a death sentence for them. According to Islamic law in Iran, apostasy is punishable by death.”
Nina Shea, director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, while referring to Donald Trump’s 2020 order to “advance international religious freedom,” stated: “These deportations are contrary to policies supporting religious freedom. Iranian Christian converts should not have been deported.”
Tony Perkins, leader of the Family Research Council, despite his support for Trump’s border policies, expressed: “The United States should maintain effective refugee programs to support vulnerable individuals such as Iranian Christian converts.”
Legal experts have also stated that the deportation of Christian converts violates international conventions, including the United Nations Convention Against Torture, according to which the forced return of refugees to countries where they face torture is prohibited.
