A demonstration took place in Zaventem this Monday morning once morest the expulsion of 3 Iranians. They must leave the country this Monday followingnoon. They arrived in Belgium following the start of demonstrations once morest Iranian power. The Belgian State says it has respected the procedures.
This Monday, at Zaventem airport, demonstrators are gathered to try to avoid at all costs that three Iranians are sent home. One of them, Mohsen Shekari, was due to board an 11:30 a.m. flight to Istanbul, Turkey. Because it is from Turkey, neighboring Iran, that they arrived three months ago. But the Foreigners Office has confirmed to us that “the person refused to leave” and was therefore returned to the center.
“They have also received deportation notices from Turkey. So once they arrive in Turkey, they will automatically be sent back to Iran.”laments Farnoush Edrisaraki, member of the support committee.
Two other Iranians were to be deported to Turkey on the 3:15 p.m. flight. According to our information, due to a refusal, they were not deported either and were therefore taken back to the detention center.
A few hours earlier, we had been able to reach Mohammadreza from the detention center. He admitted to having participated in demonstrations in Azali, in northern Iran. “They are really scared“, tells us a demonstrator who is in telephone communication with one of them. According to the two nationals, in Iran, they are in the process of “to execute everyone”.
The two young people, aged 22, had received a summons from the Iranian police for “disorders of public order”. But the Belgian authorities considered that they were not in the conditions to obtain refugee status. A decision upheld on appeal. “We always understand that neither Belgium nor Europe can pick up the misery of the world, but today we are talking regarding a country in the midst of a revolution”notes Said Javaherian, member of the support committee.
Iran has so far handed down 14 death sentences amid protests that have rocked the country since September. Four people have already been hanged.
