Warning about the West's agreements with Iran, the risk of ignoring human rights and the increasing wave of refugees

An Iranian-born priest living in Germany warned about the human consequences of the West's agreements with Iran and emphasized the link between ignoring human rights and the increase in the new wave of refugees to Europe.

Mohsen Kornelsen, an Iranian-American pastor of the Baptist Church in Ingolstadt and resident in Germany, warned in an open letter to the country's federal government about the humanitarian and geopolitical consequences of any possible agreement between the West and Iran, and emphasized that ignoring human rights in these processes could lead to a new wave of refugees heading to Europe.

In this letter, addressed to high-ranking German government officials, Pastor Kornerlsen expressed his concerns about the future of Iranian society and the consequences of international diplomatic decisions. Having himself experienced migration as a refugee, he is now directly connected to the realities of refugee life as a religious leader in Germany.

In parts of his letter, Kornelson referred to widespread concerns among Iranians about the process of international negotiations and agreements. He wrote: “Many people in Iran are concerned that diplomatic negotiations, instead of bringing them freedom and dignity, will only lead to the consolidation of a system that has oppressed them for decades. This would be a profound blow to their last hopes for change.”

In his view, if these types of agreements ignore the social and legal demands of the people, they could lead to the weakening of public hope within Iran; a hope that, in his view, is one of the last deterrents against a massive wave of immigration.

In the analytical section of this letter, the Iranian-born priest pointed out the direct consequences of social despair on the migration process and warned that international policies could have far-reaching consequences for Europe if they ignore the situation of the people.

He also emphasized: "If the Iranian people feel that international politics only negotiates with governments and forgets the nation, they will lose hope for living in freedom, and when hope dies, the readiness to flee increases."

According to the analysis presented in this letter, Iranian migration is not simply an individual choice, but a reaction to structural conditions, a lack of future prospects, and concerns about the future of their children. Kornerlsen warns that the continuation of such a trend could put additional pressure on European countries, especially in the areas of immigration and social policies.

Continuing his letter, the Iranian-born priest, relying on the Christian perspective on justice and peace, emphasized that no lasting peace is possible without respecting human dignity. In his view, a peace built on ignoring human rights will only be an apparent and temporary stability.

He also emphasized that political decisions regarding Iran should not be made solely based on security or diplomatic considerations, but rather should place the element of morality and human responsibility at its center.

In the final section of his letter, Kornerlsen called on the German government and other European countries to distinguish between the power structure and the people in any political interaction with Iran and not to ignore the voice of civil society.

He clarified: "The issue is not just security, stability, and diplomacy; it is a human issue. This letter is not a call for hatred and violence, but a call for responsibility and humanity, so that the freedom of the Iranian people does not become a secondary issue in the politics of the powers."

This letter was published at a time when the debate over European immigration policies and the future of Western relations with Iran remains a sensitive issue in political and human rights circles. An analysis of the content of this letter shows that the author is attempting to draw a direct connection between the three main axes of human rights, foreign policy, and immigration, and to warn of the consequences of ignoring this connection.

From an analytical perspective, this stance follows the approach of some religious and civic leaders in Europe who are trying to evaluate foreign policy from a human and moral perspective, not simply from the perspective of geopolitical interests.