“Ali Harischi”: Those Who Have Sought Asylum for Political or Religious Reasons Cannot Return to Iran
“Ali Harischi” announced in remarks that individuals who have sought asylum for political or religious reasons have no possibility of returning to Iran.
Ali Harischi, a federal court attorney, in remarks regarding the expulsion of asylum seekers by the United States, among whom were Iranians, said: “Under the laws of the Islamic Republic, seeking asylum is not a crime; however, those who seek asylum for political or religious reasons cannot return to Iran because their lives are in danger.”
In response to a question about the legal status of migrants, given that they have not been informed about where they will be taken, he said: “As a lawyer, I am involved with ten of these asylum seekers who are Iranian and have been expelled from America, regarding the violations you mentioned. Those who enter America at the border and apply for asylum must, according to law, be given an interview so they can prove their fear of returning to their homeland and win so that asylum eligibility is granted to them and they can remain in America.
Unfortunately, those who were expelled in Panama had no opportunity to apply for asylum, and therefore their expulsion is illegal. Unfortunately, Panama too, due to lack of legal readiness, has not formally accepted them in Panama yet and has placed them in a transfer camp and does not know what legally it should do with them, and unfortunately an irregular process has been carried out.”
On the other hand, Iran’s Interests Section also does not correctly announce that they have problems returning, and some of them are considered apostates because their worship is Christian and they have no place within the framework of Iran’s laws. In fact, it is playing the game against Trump’s immigration policies. For this reason, Iran too has been placed in a political game and it is very much shown that it is upset about Iranians publicly changing religion and converting from Islam to Christianity.”
He also added in response to a question that some Iranian officials announced that seeking asylum is not a crime but in reality it is something else: “It is true that seeking asylum in itself is not a crime, but the reason for seeking asylum can be considered a crime. Because someone who seeks asylum means they have a reason, and these reasons can be religious or political issues, with which they cannot return to Iran because their freedom is in danger in Iran, and that is why they seek asylum. Even when Iran later becomes aware of their asylum application, when they return to Iran they are questioned and investigated about their reasons for asylum, and Iranian authorities are by no means indifferent to these matters. Although during the war some of these asylum seekers were for social reasons where the condition of war circumstances is a different issue, but religious and political asylum seekers who these days whether in Turkey through the United Nations or through other European countries and America who are sensitive to this issue apply for asylum, are different. It is true that these countries try to keep their information confidential, but in many embassies there are forms that asylum seekers must fill out and present their reasons for asylum to benefit from consular services.”
With regard to the law that Donald Trump has implemented, he continued: “My focus is on these ten Iranian asylum seekers, but there are other organizations that want to stop this policy and bulk expulsions. What I am doing along with two other groups regarding these ten people is filing a complaint against Panama to ensure that human rights conditions have been observed regarding them and they are not returned to Iran or countries close to Iran in any way, and on the other hand we are seeking to change the conditions so that they can again have this chance to declare their asylum in America or enter America through humanitarian visas with the support that churches provide for them.”
