We covered this story back in 2007. It seems to have moved to a happy ending now, in 2009.
Related Link: Hunger Strike Has Made Point
Original Post back in 2007: Iranian Hunger Striker given bail
Welcome to New Zealand, Ali Panah. It's a pity New Zealand was nearly as dangerous to your health as Iran when it comes to support for Christian beliefs. After that incredible hunger strike, freedom must taste so sweet. Congratulations.
Ali Panah was granted refugee status following a third hearing by the Refugee Status Appeals Authority.
Mr Panah has said he would have faced persecution and possibly the death penalty in Iran as a Muslim who had converted to Christianity.
He was released on bail in September 2007 after a 53-day hunger strike at Auckland remand prison.
Mr Panah sought asylum when he arrived in New Zealand and was detained for 20 months for refusing to sign documents that would lead to his deportation to Iran.I seem to recall that one aspect of this case was that a gay Iranian was treated differently - he "came out" whilst in Auckland and was subsequently given residency because it was seen as dangerous to go back to Iran having declared himself gay. Mr Panah did not appear to get the same consideration. The wheels have taken some time to turn, but they have turned.
Some politicians questioned how genuine his conversion was, but he had staunch allies in the Anglican Church, particularly from Archbishop David Moxon.
Mr Panah's lawyer Grant Illingworth told a media conference at a Christian college in Auckland today that the authority recognised that he was in greater peril in Iran because of the publicity.
"Because of the publicity that was created as a result of the fast that Ali went on, it is absolutely inevitable that the Iranian authorities would know about Ali's position."
Related Link: Hunger Strike Has Made Point
Original Post back in 2007: Iranian Hunger Striker given bail
Yes congratulations, to Iranian asylum Ali Panah, who was granted refugee status, yesterday.
ReplyDeleteThe thinking-mans refugee.
Don’t just arrive in godzone, with the same old story of ‘political persecution’ back home. The N.Z Refugee Status Appeals Authority, gets to hear that story, all the time, eh mate?
Besides authorities could also check your claims you’d face political persecution if you returned home.
Why not take a different tact, one that is beyond reproach?
Something that can not even be tested.
A scheme, that will also attract outside support, ramping-up pressure on the Refugee Status Appeals Authority.
That’s it – say you’ve suddenly converted to Christianity!
How easy is that to do?
A quick swat of The Bible, act all sincere, say God told you to come to New Zealand and not eat for prolonged periods, and you are ‘home and hosed’.
At all times keep-up appearances, by remembering that’s your new God and not the old one.
Christians get a hard-time back at home, don’t they Ali, even Kiwi’s know this. This is coming together nicely.
And the more publicity your case gets, the less likely it is you’ll be returned to Iran, so make as many headlines as possible.
So to ramp-up that publicity, undertake a 53 day hunger-strike, and then get some high-profile naive & well-meaning Kiwi’s on your side.
Go to google and type-in ‘New Zealand, largest religious denomination’ and see what turns-up.
In Christian circles in New Zealand, they don’t get any bigger, than Archbishop David Moxon from The Anglican Church, so you ‘struck gold’ getting him to back you.
Things worked-out nicely, eh buddy.
Have a good stay at my expence.
Paul.
PS: I bet you wouldn't have had the same luck if you told us, you were now an atheist, but a bright guy like you would have picked-up on that one early, one suspects.
Well, NZ has admitted all kinds of refugees from all over the world, taking many of their claims at face value aka 'faith'.
ReplyDeleteWhat gets up your nose Canterbury Atheists is that this particular claim doesn't sit with your personal ideology.
Yes, it does get up my goat Crusader, that someone can claim to be an oppressed religion and is believed of right – minus any credible test.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does get up my goat as a tax-payer, officials are sucked-in with a scam like this, whilst small-business owners like me struggle along, for leeches like Ali whats-his-father to get free legal representation and a life on the dole.
How convenient of you to say I have targeted Christianity, Crusader.
You would be the first to scream ‘blue murder’ if a Scientologist from Germany was granted N.Z refugee status claiming to be oppressed back home.
If you feel you wish to support every budger, based on the simple criteria they share your choice of superstition – then go ahead and start your own charity.
But, don’t expect me to sit-back and accept this Countries immigration policy should be based on fairy-tales and vacuous claims.
Have a good one.
Paul.
In the first place, you have no basis whatsoever for claiming that this man will have "a life on the dole."
ReplyDeleteNo, he wasn't "believed of right'.The available evidence had to be weighed and a decision made. You may not consider the evidence sufficient but that doesn't imply a right.
And I didn't say you had targeted a Christian. When I want to say that, I'll type it.
You know for a fact I'd "scream blue murder" if a Scientologist claimed he'd be oppressed in Germany? That'd be information you obtained by tapping my 'phone and intercepting my emails, apparently since I've never said any such thing in public.
I don't like supporting bludgers any more than you do and oddly enough, I don't yet have a "choice of superstition". That's not to say I may not become a zealous atheist at some time in the future though...
I coach my son’s football team, and there are 7 immigrant lads. Their families got into N.Z on the back of what they could contribute – not on the basis of their country of nationality and their religion. Nor did they go on a hunger strike, it was their merits. By the way ones word isn’t usually enough to sway immigration officials, but ones ‘claimed’ religion doesn’t come with paperwork – something this scammer knew all too well. Gotta shoot.
ReplyDeleteI applied to become a NZ citizen and there were a whole lot of questions I had to answer, without supplying supporting evidence.
ReplyDeleteSo I guess your objection is just the one on religion, eh?