Download your letter of support for Taha and send it to:
Damien Green MP,
Minister for Immigration
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Download a Petition on behalf of Taha and send it to:
Damien Green MP,
Minister for Immigration
Download Petition >>
'Taha's Life in Prison'
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Taha Must Stay!
Destitute & seeking refuge from imprisonment and torture in Iran.
Support our campaign.
Asylum for Taha!
Taha Ghasemi is a member of the Kurdish
Democratic Party who arrived in the United
Kingdom in September 2006 following his
imprisonment and torture at the hands of the
Iranian police and the security forces. Taha now
aged 28 years was a resident of Mahabad a
predominantly Kurdish city in the northwest of
Iran otherwise known as Iranian Kurdistan.
Born and brought up in the city he owned a
clothes shop in Mahabad but Taha was also
concerned about the systematic discrimination
and repression of his fellow Kurds at the hands
of the Iranian government. He eventually joined
in the anti-government demonstrations in favour
of Kurdish self-determination. He said that, "The
people were asking for their rights. The Kurdish
people wanted their rights."
He was arrested by the military in March 2006
where he was handcuffed, beaten and kicked
before being blindfolded and driven to a prison
where he was starved (given only water), beaten,
and subjected to electrocution torture every day
for ten days and kept in a dark cell. After ten
days he was released but only to continue a
prison sentence which in all was a period of
imprisonment lasting a total period of three
months.
However, within two months of his release from
prison the Iranian police were aware that Taha
was still actively working for the Kurdish
Democratic Party and had issued a warrant
for his arrest after he had been spotted
posting pro-Kurdish leaflets in the area
around Mahabad. The consequences of being
arrested again would be dire, carrying with it
the possibilities of a long prison sentence,
more severe and extensive torture and even
death. Taha was faced with no alternative but
to flee Iran finally arriving in the UK in
September 2006.
Taha is a 'failed asylum seeker' and has been
destitute in the UK since June 2010. He lives
in fear of deportation. Documents in support
of his claim for asylum in the UK include:
*A letter of attestation of membership of the
KDPI from the UK Committee
*A summons to attend court to face charges
of breaching national security and
'propagating for the anti-Islamic groups and
organisations'.
*An arrest order which says he has been
convicted and sentenced to 10 years
imprisonment.
Taha is a pleasant and sociable man who is
settling well into the UK and the local
community. He also has the support of
Oldham Unitarian Chapel.
We ask that you support the campaign that
Taha be given leave to remain on
compassionate grounds.
