Support Ali Panah

Amnesty International has begun a campaign in support of Ali Reza Panah and other Iranian converts to Christianity currently being denied refugee status and indefinitely detained:

Amnesty International's position is to oppose the return of proven Christian converts, as any such return would be unsafe.

Amnesty International believes any such return could see New Zealand in breach of its international human rights obligations under the Convention Against Torture and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights to which it is signatory

In cases of proven Christian converts Amnesty International recommends that individuals be provided with a "complementary form of protection", which would allow them to reside and work in New Zealand until such time as it is safe for them to return home.

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What you can do
Write to or phone the office of the Minister of Immigration, David Cunliffe. If writing copy in your local MP. See this link for contact details: http://www.labour.org.nz/labour_team/mps/mps/david_cunliffe/index.html

1. Highlight Amnesty's position on the return of Christian converts to Iran
2. Call for proven Christian converts to be offered a complementary form of protection here in New Zealand until such time as the situation in Iran improves.
3. Point out that any such return could see New Zealand in breach of its international obligations under the Torture Convention and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Additionally phone, visit or write to your local MP to raise concerns and ask for them to be forwarded to Mr Cunliffe.

If you don't know who your local MP is, Parliament has a list which you can sort by electorate here. Further information about human rights in Iran and the Iranian government's repression of religious minorities can be found here and here.