Iran civil rights activist could face 'honour killing' if deported from UK
Guardian
04-May-2010 (2 comments)

An Iranian civil rights activist who is due to be deported from the UK tomorrow could face the death penalty and fears being murdered by her family in an "honour killing" if she is sent back to Iran, according to her British partner.

Bita Ghaedi, 34, fled Iran to the UK in 2005 to escape a forced marriage and in fear of her family discovering she had a secret lover. She has since spoken out against sharia law, forced marriage and human rights abuses in her homeland and has been filmed criticising the regime for TV channels widely available across the Middle East. She is currently in Yarl's Wood detention centre awaiting deportation, which is scheduled for 7pm tomorrow following the failure of a fresh asylum claim.

Her partner, Mohsen Zadshir, from Barnet, a member of the Iranian opposition who gained political asylum in 1999, said that if deported, her life is "finished".

Ghaedi has transgressed the strict traditional code under which Iranian women are supposed to adhere. Not only has she brought "shame" on her family by having a relationship with a man who was not her husband, but she has participated in the anti-government protests which have grown more vociferous after the disputed 2009 presidential election result. Each of these transgressions would be enough to put her life in danger if she is deported, according to Zadshir, a former Iranian politician who is now a British citizen.

Zadshir said: "Her life depends on a click on the internet... >>>

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benross

I'm happy for her

by benross on

It seems that the abuse of asylum laws in the west by many opportunists (who then come here in IC to post pro-IRI propaganda!) puts the life of many true asylum seekers in danger and also puts the laws heavily under stress.


javaneh29

Good result

by javaneh29 on

The decision to deport Bita was over turned at the last minute yesterday after an order from the UK high Court and EU Human Rights court decided that to deport Bita would be illegal. She has a hearing set for July now I think.

The fight to prevent the deportation  of Nadia Arzane and her partner Bashir Foris is imminent ... due for deportation tomorrow (6th) I hope they overturn this too :(