ECLJ: ECLJ Supports Iranian Converts Before the European Court of Human Rights
(Strasbourg, France) — The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) has filed an amicus brief before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in support of two applications concerning Iranian converts to Christianity who have been denied asylum by the Turkish government.
The first application concerns an Iranian converted couple, with there two children. They arrived in Turkey in 1999, as the father was a police officer, who had aided political dissidents in Iran. In 2002 the family converted to Christianity and began working in the Gedik Paşa Church and in theInternational Protestant Church in Istanbul. Also in 2002 there request for a temporary residence permit was dismissed by Turkey; but they finally obtained in April 2008 a refugee status under the mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ankara. On July 30, 2008, the family lodged an application before the ECHR while they were in the process of being deported to Iran by the Turkish government (Application n°. 36009/08,M.B. and Others v. Turkey). On August 1st, the Turkish government proceeded with the deportation, overstepping the ECHR instruction to suspend the deportation. In late August 2008, after being detained and interrogated by the Iranian police, the family succeeded, on their way to court, to escape and to re-enter the Turkish territory.
The second case concerns three Iranian nationals, born in 1985, 1987 and 1986. Two of them, who are siblings, converted to Christianity in 2004. They became leaders of a house church and of a church youth group related to 222 Ministries. Because they were under the constant surveillance of the Iranian authorities, and feared arrest on account of their “evangelizing” activities, they fled from Iran to Dubai in July 2008. The third applicant converted to Christianity in 2007 and became consequently subjected to violence by her family and threatened with being reported to the Iranian authorities. In June 2008, she also left Iran and went to Dubai. All applicants met in Dubai and on 17 July 2008 they arrived in Turkey. In August 2008 they were arrested by Turkish authorities while trying to leave Turkey illegally to seek asylum in Europe. They were then placed in a Police Station awaiting their deportation. In September 2008, the applicants were transferred to a Foreigners’ Guesthouse, while there repeated requests for asylum were refused.
On August 22, 2008 the applicants lodged an application with the ECHR Requesting the Court to stop the applicants’ deportation to Iran. (Application n°. 40270/08,R.B.G. and Others v. Turkey)
In those both cases, the applicants complain under Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention that their deportation to Iran subject them to ill-treatment and torture, and even pose a real risk to their lives.
In its amicus brief, the ECLJ submits a presentation of the plight of Muslims who have converted to Christianity in Iran, termed “apostasy”. ECLJ first presents Iran’s current constitutional and statutory provisions for religious freedom; these observations detail the provisions and ramifications of Iran’s new Penal Code Article 225, regulating apostasy. The ECLJ brief also discusses a number of recent cases involving Iranian “apostates” decided by national jurisdictions. Finally, ECLJ presents recent reports of persecution against “apostates” in Iran.
The ECLJ amicus brief was filed with the ECHR on April 13th. You can read the brief here.
The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) is an international law firm focusing on the protection of human rights and religious freedom in Europe and worldwide. The ECLJ is involved in numerous cases before national and international jurisdictions and Human Rights protection systems. Attorneys for the ECLJ have served as counsel in numerous cases before the European Court of Human Rights. Additionally, the ECLJ has special Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the United Nations, and is accredited to the European Parliament. The ECLJ is affiliated with the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) which focuses on protecting religious freedom in the United States.
The first application concerns an Iranian converted couple, with there two children. They arrived in Turkey in 1999, as the father was a police officer, who had aided political dissidents in Iran. In 2002 the family converted to Christianity and began working in the Gedik Paşa Church and in theInternational Protestant Church in Istanbul. Also in 2002 there request for a temporary residence permit was dismissed by Turkey; but they finally obtained in April 2008 a refugee status under the mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ankara. On July 30, 2008, the family lodged an application before the ECHR while they were in the process of being deported to Iran by the Turkish government (Application n°. 36009/08,M.B. and Others v. Turkey). On August 1st, the Turkish government proceeded with the deportation, overstepping the ECHR instruction to suspend the deportation. In late August 2008, after being detained and interrogated by the Iranian police, the family succeeded, on their way to court, to escape and to re-enter the Turkish territory.
The second case concerns three Iranian nationals, born in 1985, 1987 and 1986. Two of them, who are siblings, converted to Christianity in 2004. They became leaders of a house church and of a church youth group related to 222 Ministries. Because they were under the constant surveillance of the Iranian authorities, and feared arrest on account of their “evangelizing” activities, they fled from Iran to Dubai in July 2008. The third applicant converted to Christianity in 2007 and became consequently subjected to violence by her family and threatened with being reported to the Iranian authorities. In June 2008, she also left Iran and went to Dubai. All applicants met in Dubai and on 17 July 2008 they arrived in Turkey. In August 2008 they were arrested by Turkish authorities while trying to leave Turkey illegally to seek asylum in Europe. They were then placed in a Police Station awaiting their deportation. In September 2008, the applicants were transferred to a Foreigners’ Guesthouse, while there repeated requests for asylum were refused.
On August 22, 2008 the applicants lodged an application with the ECHR Requesting the Court to stop the applicants’ deportation to Iran. (Application n°. 40270/08,R.B.G. and Others v. Turkey)
In those both cases, the applicants complain under Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention that their deportation to Iran subject them to ill-treatment and torture, and even pose a real risk to their lives.
In its amicus brief, the ECLJ submits a presentation of the plight of Muslims who have converted to Christianity in Iran, termed “apostasy”. ECLJ first presents Iran’s current constitutional and statutory provisions for religious freedom; these observations detail the provisions and ramifications of Iran’s new Penal Code Article 225, regulating apostasy. The ECLJ brief also discusses a number of recent cases involving Iranian “apostates” decided by national jurisdictions. Finally, ECLJ presents recent reports of persecution against “apostates” in Iran.
The ECLJ amicus brief was filed with the ECHR on April 13th. You can read the brief here.
The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) is an international law firm focusing on the protection of human rights and religious freedom in Europe and worldwide. The ECLJ is involved in numerous cases before national and international jurisdictions and Human Rights protection systems. Attorneys for the ECLJ have served as counsel in numerous cases before the European Court of Human Rights. Additionally, the ECLJ has special Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the United Nations, and is accredited to the European Parliament. The ECLJ is affiliated with the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) which focuses on protecting religious freedom in the United States.
