“Artemis Ghasemzadeh,” Christian Citizen in Danger of Deportation from Panama
“Artemis Ghasemzadeh,” a Christian citizen, after three months of residence in Panama, is at risk of deportation and return to Iran.
According to a report by the International Organization for the Support of Christians, Artemis Ghasemzadeh, an Iranian Christian citizen who has been residing in Panama for three months, has until June 7th to find a country that will accept her. Otherwise, she will be forced to return to Iran.
Asylum seekers who were transferred from the United States to Panama over the past three months, with humanitarian visas, were able to stay temporarily in Panama until their residency status was determined. Artemis is also a member of this group of asylum seekers and is now forced to search for a safe haven due to the approaching expiration of her humanitarian visa, as returning to Iran would expose her to harassment, abuse, detention, and severe government torture.
Artemis and her brother Shahin left Iran for the United States and faced many obstacles and dangers during the journey but eventually reached America. Upon arrival, they were detained in San Diego and after five days, the siblings were separated from each other. Artemis was transferred along with another group of refugees to Panama, while her brother remained in a detention facility in Houston.
Following the Trump administration’s decision in February to deport illegal immigrants from the United States, many of these migrants were transferred to Panama and temporarily housed in a hotel. Reports from the New York Times and multiple investigations into the Trump administration’s immigration policies drew public attention and reactions.
Artemis, along with two Iranian Christian families and asylum seekers from China, Vietnam, and Pakistan, now live in one room. Initially, they were given only 30 days to leave Panama, but this deadline was later extended to two months. Artemis and her brother, who had no preparation or information about the sudden changes in U.S. immigration policies, became victims of these changes.
After the situation of asylum seekers deported from the United States became public, particularly Artemis, who had repeatedly been in contact with some news agencies and Christian support organizations, Iranian police contacted her mother and inquired about her daughter’s connection to Christianity, a matter that caused Artemis concern about her mother’s safety.
Artemis stated about the conditions of Christians in Iran: “In Iran, being Christian from birth is not a problem and there are beautiful churches, but if a Muslim becomes Christian, the situation is different and the police arrest him because this is not favorable to the country.”
Some lawyers in New York, Mexico, and Colombia are trying to find a safe country for Artemis and other refugees in Panama, but have not yet found appropriate financial support for them. Artemis, aware of the circumstances and knowing what fate would await her if she returns to Iran, emphasized: “I would rather die than return to Iran.”
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights considers the principle of non-refoulement a guarantee for respect for human rights. This principle is recorded in numerous international treaties, including the Convention Against Torture; however, the United States has not signed some of these conventions, such as ICPPED.
Regarding the end of this deadline, Artemis said: “I have many nightmares. I cannot live in my homeland, I don’t have the chance to go to America, and I have no safe place to live. I don’t know what my next step is or where I should be. This is really scary and maybe I will never see my family again.”
She added, referring to a passage from the Psalms: “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. Whatever happens, good or bad, one must pray to God. I cry a lot and I am waiting for a miracle.”
