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November 18, 2006 10:53 AM
Ledeen on the Kamalfar Video
Pajamas Media Special Correspondent and noted Iran expert Michael Ledeen gives us some background on Iranian dissident Zahra Kamalfar and why she has been trapped in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport for 73 days. BY Michael Ledeen This video documents an all-too common tragedy: Iranian opponents of the regime wandering the world in search of a country willing to let them live in safety. In many ways, it is reminiscent of the plight of the European Jews during the Nazi period. Then, too, refugees knocked on the doors of many nations, often ending back in the Reich. Zahra Kamalfar participated in demonstrations six years ago. She and her husband were jailed in 2004, in her case for 8 months. Released for a two-day furlough so she could see her two children (Ana and Davood), she and the kids escaped to Turkey with forged Bulgarian passports (her own was held by the regime). She headed for Germany via Russia, but the Germans detected the false passports and send the three back to Moscow, where she applied for asylum. At first the family was permitted to live in an airport hotel, but then was dumped into the public area of the airport. They sleep in the open terminal, have no access to showers or baths, and use public toilets. The Russians are threatening to ship her and her children back to Iran, where she will undoubtedly receive very harsh treatment. She has appealed for refugee status to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, but to no avail. There is an online petition www.petitiononline.com/Kamalfar/petition.html to both the UNHCR and Russian immigration authorities. Time seems quite short. Ms Kamalfar is guilty of being an Iranian who wants to live in a free country. That is a felony in Ali Khamenei’s Iran, and a matter of considerable indifference to the “international community,” which neither helps people like her once they escape, nor the tens of millions of Iranians inside the country, even though their demands for freedom should be embraced and supported by all civilized countries and their peoples. ——— Comments (17)Winston :john :She made her bed and may have to lay in it, but her kids are innocent. They all should be allowed to go to Ireland, the true land of the free. Fatboy :"She made her bed" are you insane? Aryamehr :This is an OUTRAGE! I'm doing my best to raise awareness on this Iranian family's plight. I've made an entry on it on my blog as well. Jack :Mexicans my the millions--all illegal--pour over our US border, and this woman can't be given a place in America? Is anyone with political pull seeing this? How much could it possibly cost to fly to Moscow and bring her and her family here? Is there no diplomatic channel to do this? Mininana :I do so hope someone who has diplomatic authority sees this video and helps this poor family. They should remain TOGETHER and receive medical aid, shelter, and assistance. Our prayers are with her and her two beautiful children. Kit Harvard :Nobody gives a crap. We're way to busy getting the details on the TomKat wedding....now THAT's news. This lady and her kids are screwed. Traveling on forged papers, escape from prison when they were kind enough to give her a furlough. The Russians don't like people who break the rules. She'll be back in the Islamic motherland of Holy Iran soon, and then justice will be served. Actually, she'll be served up to the Imam's. What a mess. Sina :Yet another reason to prove how useless is the UN. Where is the UNHCR?? They are not only paid to pose in front of cameras you know. Could she not get assylum from Canadians? Nancy Hudson :WHERE IS THE "HELP" FOR THIS WOMAN AND HER CHILDREN????? I CAME TO THIS WEBSITE LOOKING FOR SOME WAY TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARD HELPING THEM. RoxieAmerica :What on earth is wrong with you John? "She made her bed?" Have you any idea what it is like to live under an oppressive government? Do you not believe in supporting freedom for those who do not wish to live in bondage? AND, how on earth do you think her children living in foreign nation without their mother would help the children? Ali :This woman will be deported today(Monday).Please do as much as you can to stop this process, the life of this women is in real danger in islamic regim of Iran.The sitution of her children in Iran will be worse.Please do somthing, I try my best please you do the same. Ali :This woman will be deported today(Monday).Please do as much as you can to stop this process, the life of this women is in real danger in islamic regim of Iran.The sitution of her children in Iran will be worse.Please do somthing, I try my best please you do the same. Dr.Travis J. Andersen :Can I sponsor this family for US immigration??? Cyrus :Dr. Travis J. Andersen: I believe you can, but time is running out, because the immigration process is too long. The best option to save this family is contacting by phone immediately with your Senator or congress man/woman in your constituency, and U.S Embassy in Russia to show your true interest and support to bring this family to U.S. It has been 28 years that all Iranian are taken hostage by a brutal criminal regime. Best regards,
mohamad :shame on big dictator VALADMIR PUTIN who is another khamenie Jane Tozer :I’ve signed the petition, of course, out of sympathy for the plight of the Kamalfar family. But I noticed that many signatories had used the petition as opportunity to vent their personal rage against the regimes of Russia and/or Iran. Some of them express an unfocussed general loathing of Islam, not simply its radical, violent elements. Such behaviour is self-indulgent and could be dangerously counter-productive. One’s own feelings are of no account compared to the plight of this family. Insulting the ‘bad guys’ could make matters even worse for Kamalfar. PLEASE NOTE: If you’re drafting or signing petitions or writing letters, remember that human rights organisations like Amnesty International insist that appeals should be courteous and impartial. They should never express the writer’s own opinions on issues like politics, religion, race. Instead, draw attention to such matters as breaches of international law, or instances where the offending government has reneged on treaties which it has ratified. OK, it’s not glamorous, and it doesn’t give you that smug feeling of self-righteous rage. But have some humility. Your ranting could endanger desperately vulnerable people. Nancy Hunter :To Dr Travis J Anderson Comments have been archived for this page. |
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This is really sad...
Nov 18, 2006 11:18 PM