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Hollow Offer Adds To Hunger-Striker's Confusion
Scoop News: Iranian Man Continues Hunger-Strike After Hollow Offer
Ali Reza Panah, the Iranian asylum seeker who has been held in prison awaiting his signature on documents that would see him deported back to Iran, is continuing his hunger-strike. It is now 28 days since he has taken food.
Mr Panah is in hospital but is refusing to receive intravenous fluids and food.
Immigration officials yesterday offered Mr Panah and his lawyer a deal where he would be released on bail and free from imprisonment should he sign a paper that would authorize his deportation back to the last port he had exited before arriving in New Zealand – ie; to South Korea.
There would be no guarantee that Mr Panah would then be further deported to Iran.
Mr Panah's supporters say he continues to be in a confused state and that concern for his wellbeing is heightening by the day. Mr Panah has indicated to his power of attorney (his employer in New Zealand) that the offer of release was a hollow offer.
Earlier this week Mr Panah was rushed from prison to hospital in a weak and emaciated state - his hunger strike is a protest against the government's decision to hold him in prison until he signed passport and deportation papers.
Mr Panah had been held in Mt Eden remand prison for more than 18 months.
Early this week, a bed-side court hearing was held where the judge ordered that Mr Panah be released on bail with conditions as soon as he is well enough to leave hospital. One of the conditions not realized by Mr Panah and his supporters included that he sign a paper authorizing him to be deported to the last port he was at before arriving in New Zealand.
Supporters say Mr Panah was very weak and confused. But on realising the gravity of the bail conditions he is again refusing to sign the documentation.
The Crown earlier had sought to deport Mr Panah to Iran but his future there is uncertain. He believes his future there is unsafe particularly as he converted to Christianity (to the Anglican religion) before he arrived in New Zealand.
Amnesty International has called for people in his situation to be given temporary visas until it is safe for them to return to Iran.
However the New Zealand government is seeking agreement with Iran to fast-track deportation procedures that will bypass the current legal necessity of having asylum seekers like Mr Panah sign documentation.
Mr Panah's plight was raised by Global Peace and Justice Auckland earlier this week, and followed several protests outside Mt Eden Prison.
ENDS
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