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Afshin protest halted by Home Office staff
Matt Eley
PEACEFUL protesters were removed from Immigration Service premises for demonstrating against Afshin Azizian's 10-year fight for refugee status.
The 36-year-old, who lived in West Hampstead, was joined by about 10 other protesters outside Lunar House, the Immigration Service headquarters in Croydon.
Protesters, displaying banners with phrases including "10 years of rejection is enough" and "10 years' torture by the Home Office", were asked to leave the site by security guards.
The Home Office employees even refused to allow the Ham&High to photograph the demonstration, threatening to call the police if pictures were taken.
The event, last Friday, was organised as a protest to Mr Azizian's on-going struggle for a right to remain in the UK.
He arrived in England in 1995, was belatedly told his asylum application was rejected five years later, and was evicted from his Westbere Road home in 2003.
For the last 18 months he has been homeless, unable to work legally or claim benefits.
His appeals against the refusal to allow him to stay have been rejected but the Immigration Service shows no signs of deporting him to his native Iran.
Speaking at the demonstration, he said: "We are just trying to make our point today and many people have noticed what we are doing and supported us.
"For the past 10 years I have been unable to raise my voice and again today the Home Office has tried to shut me up.
"It is great that people passing by have wished me well.
"This is not just a protest for me but a protest for justice and humanity."
The demonstration was filmed by Seed Abolghasen Alavy of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees.
It may be screened in Iran.
Mr Alavy said: "We have come here to make a protest in regard to the way the Home Office has rejected Afshin Azizian for 10 years.
"We want to cry out so loudly that in Iran there isn't any amnesty for any person who has fled from Iran."
Mr Azizian fled Iran in 1995 after being threatened for his involvement for the National Resistance Movement.
After initially fleeing to Spain, he was caught in London trying to travel illegally to Canada. Ever since he has been fighting for his status in the UK. He fears he will be executed if deported due to his involvement with the NRM and his subsequent conversion to Christianity.
Several courts have refused to grant him asylum on the grounds that he is not at risk if returned. He plans to hold another demonstration later this year outside the Houses of Parliament.
matt.eley@hamhigh.co.uk
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