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After 20 Years Hassan Recognized as Refugee in USA (June 1st, 09)
Unfortunately he has never had an opportunity to have his asylum claim heard by the asylum office or by an immigration judge in the U.S. as his former counsel never informed him of any of the hearing dates. Thus he was ordered removed in absentia in 1999. Two motions to have his case reopened have been denied only for procedural reasons.
IRQR informed about
Hassan’s case through his solicitor, Ms. Parastoo Zahedi in Novemner 2007.
We started a campaign to stop his removal and deportation to
Hassan was released per the immigration judge's order to grant his motion to reopen his asylum case. Hassan was ordered released on Friday December 21, 2007. His next hearing date scheduled for July 2, 2008. And they postponed it to December 12, 2008 and again his hearing date rescheduled to June 1st, 2009. This was the hearing where the judge was heard all evidence related to Hassan's claim of persecution on account of his homosexuality. IRQR submitted its full report on queer human rights violation in Islamic Republic of Iran and other documents to support his asylum claim and followed up his process very seriously. Our Executive Director, Arsham Parsi, traveled to United States twice as an expert witness and met his solicitor in order to prepare all documents. We are happy to announce that Hassan recognized as refugee today at his hearing and he can stay in United States of America. However this process take about 20 years but it is good that he won’t deport back to Iran. Hassan was on the phone today after his hearing and he asked us to tell you how grateful he is for the support and kindness of IRQR association and the hundreds of folks who supported hi and signed the petition on his behalf. We could not have achieved what we were able to do in this case without the support of Iranian queer alliances and others who signed the petition. We appreciate your generous support and are grateful that such a network exists to assist those who like Hassan have not had their voices heard or their stories told. We look forward to your support for working with other Iranian queer asylum seekers to grant them asylum and safety through our railroad. Our especial thanks should be expressed to the Ms. Parastoo Zahedi at Law Office of zahedi who is working hard on Hassan case and Doug Ireland to published Hassan’s story and asked support from people nation wide.
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Hassan
is 42 year-old Iranian gay who left Iran for United State of America when
he was 22, on base of his sexual orientation and well-known fear of
persecution.