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Iranian Queer Cause and Freedom Tax (December 29, 08)
Dear Friends, Supporters, and Iranian queer alliances,
Happy New Year!
Again, we have another Iranian queer who escaped Iran because of well-known fears of persecution on base of his sexual orientation. His name is Reza and he contacted us through his American friend a month ago. He was about to leave Greece to Britain. I requested him to change his mind about Britain. Because we have many asylum seekers in the UK who rejected by British Home Office and they are at risk of deportation. Finally he decided to go to the Netherlands. He found a passer who gave him a passport and ticket form Athena to Amsterdam. We did not have any news about him for two weeks. Where is he? Is he alive? Is he safe? What we should do if he deported to Iran? What will happen for him? These are some questions that we were concerned about. It was such a hard time for us, in the IRQR and Devin, his American friend in the US. Fortunately Reza contacted us again. He was sent to jail from Athena’s airport. He needs support and we have no way but contact our supporters. In two days we will start a New Year. It could be a new “hope” for all Iranian queer asylum seekers who are fighting for their basic rights. In one of my speeches in 2006, I said that we are paying taxes for everything that we have, but freedom. Maybe freedom is free, but NO, freedom is not free. We, Iranian queers are paying freedom’s charges. We have to leave our family, friends, school, job, and all our belonging just for freedom and safety and many people have it by birth. It would be great if you can get involve and donate to IRanian Queer Railroad in these last few days of 2008. We could call it our freedom tax. But it is not for governments, it is for a human rights cause. In 2009, we will introduce new members of IRQR board of Directors. Those who accepted to sit and set a system which we can be more effective on Iranian queer rights. In this coming year we have many plans and projects to do. Many Iranian asylum seekers are living in limbo situation. They have no legal status, no hope for future, and they need our support. We could make them happy. Please visit www . irqr . net to find more information about Reza, Iranian queer asylum seekers, and also IRQR, what we are doing and what we did in the past years. Also you can use our secure PayPal for your donations. I should thank all of our sponsors and friends who supported our campaigns for Iranian queer asylum seekers. Without their support we could not done anything. Happy New Year and we wish you all the best, much joy, success, prosperity, and good health in 2009 for all of you.
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Executive Director |
