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Important Notice:

The Board of Directors of the Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees (IRQR) is pleased to announce the organization's federal incorporation as a non-profit group according to Canadian law. (Click Here) This structure helps support the long-time work of our organization's founder and current Executive Director, Arsham Parsi.

This represents a continuation of Arsham's previous work with the IRanian Queer Organization (IRQO) but with a greater focus on supporting Iranian queer refugees in their safe journey towards a life of freedom from discrimination and persecution.

Our organization's name is inspired by the "Underground Railroad" that existed more than a century ago. The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th century Black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and mainly to Canada with the aid of abolitionists who were sympathetic to their cause. In Canada, they found freedom.

The Board of Directors wishes to acknowledge and publicly thank Ottawa lawyer Philip MacAdam for his significant support in the incorporation process.

Biographies of IRQR Board Members and Executive Director can be found here  To make a donation to support our work, please click here. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to send an email to info@irqr.net.
 

Deeba, An Iranian MtoF Transgender, Recognized. (March 9, 10)

Deeba is 46 year-old Iranian MtoF who left Iran to England on base of her sexual orientation and she is one of IRQR refugee cases. She has been accepted as a refugee today. (Short News)

دیبا، یک دگرجنسگونه ی ایرانی، قبول شد (9مارچ 2010)

دیبا 46 سال دارد و یکی از افرادی است که از سازمان دگرباشان ایرانی (IRQR) برای پرونده ی پناهندگی اش درخواست کمک کرده است. او به دلیل مشکلات فراوانی که در نتیجه ی گرایش جنسی اش پیش آمده بود ناچار شد ایران را به سمت انگلستان ترک کند. او امروز  به عنوان پناهنده شناخته شد. (خبر کوتاه)

Nima, An Iranian Gay, Recognized. (March 3, 10)

Nima is 30 year-old Iranian gay who left Iran to Switzerland on base of his sexual orientation and he is one of IRQR refugee cases. He has been accepted as a refugee today. (Short News)

نیما، یک همجنسگرای ایرانی، قبول شد (3 مارچ 2010)

نیما 30 سال دارد و یکی از افرادی است که از سازمان دگرباشان ایرانی (IRQR) برای پرونده ی پناهندگی اش درخواست کمک کرده است. او به دلیل مشکلات فراوانی که در نتیجه ی گرایش جنسی اش پیش آمده بود ناچار شد ایران را به سمت سوئیس ترک کند. او امروز  به عنوان پناهنده شناخته شد. (خبر کوتاه)

Ardalan, An Iranian Gay, Recognized. (March 2, 10)

Ardalan is 43 year-old Iranian gay who left Iran to Canada on base of his sexual orientation and he is one of IRQR refugee cases. He has been accepted as a refugee today. (Short News)

اردلان، یک همجنسگرای ایرانی، قبول شد (2 مارچ 2010)

اردلان 43 سال دارد و یکی از افرادی است که از سازمان دگرباشان ایرانی (IRQR) برای پرونده ی پناهندگی اش درخواست کمک کرده است. او به دلیل مشکلات فراوانی که در نتیجه ی گرایش جنسی اش پیش آمده بود ناچار شد ایران را به سمت کانادا ترک کند. او امروز  به عنوان پناهنده شناخته شد. (خبر کوتاه)

Five Human Rights Groups Launch Worldwide '346 No Execution' Campaign (January 28, 10)

Today, five human rights advocacy groups in five Western nations announced the official launching of the 346 No Executions campaign, a coordinated worldwide effort to inspire at least 346 citizens in each member nation to submit letters of petition to their respective foreign ministries, specifically requesting that diplomatic pressure be applied to the government of Iran to abolish its death penalty.

پنج سازمان حقوق بشری کمپین جهانی "346 نه به اعدام" را راه اندازی کردند

پنج سازمان مدافع حقوق بشر شروع به کار کمپین "346 نه به اعدام" در پنج کشور غربی را رسماً اعلام کردند. این حرکتی هماهنگ برای تشویق دست کم 346 شهروند از کشورهای عضو برای نوشتن نامه به وزارت امور خارجه ی کشور مطبوع خود است.

2010 New Year Resolution (December 30, 09)

In these last few days of 2009, I write to thank you all for what you have done for us here at Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees (IRQR). I want to thank you for your support, your generosity, your activism, your spirit – and for your courage, which is the fuel of change.  IRQR is working on about 250 Iranian refugee cases now. In the last twelve months 36 of our asylum applicants have been recognized as refugees, with 43 of them resettled in Canada, the United States, Germany and the Netherlands. We received 32 new cases in 2009.  

Media Coverage of Iran's President on homosexuality in Iran

CNN, BBC World, BBC Persian, BBCBrasil, New York Sun, Iran Emrooz, ABC Radio Australia, Fox News, National Public Radio, SBT TV Brazile, KGO Radio San Francesco, Voice of America, New York Public Radio, Wall Street Journal, Deutsche Welle, E-Jovem, Xtra Magazine, Radio Zamaneh, Global and Mail, and ...

Queers Do Exist in Iran and need your support

At present, to give you and example, in a small two-bedroom apartment, few of our refugees live in terror as the landlord has sold the building. To move to another apartment a considerable amount of money is needed for down payments, as it is the way for renting flats in Turkey.

(a Refugee house in Turkey and Afghanistan)