Ali Panah Petition
“Whatever you do to the least of these you do also to me.” (Matt. 25:40)Ali Reza Panah is an Iranian who arrived in New Zealand some years ago from South Korea. Ali applied for refugee status. His application was denied and he was arrested 18 months ago and detained at Auckland’s Mt Eden Prison without charge or trial.Ali has been on what he describes as a fast (others have called it a hunger strike) since 12 July when once more he was refused bail and his on-going incarceration was rubber stamped by the District Court. He was taken from Mt Eden Prison to Auckland Hospital mid-last week.Ali converted to Christianity before he arrived in New Zealand and has been ‘adopted’ by an Anglican church community in Auckland. Ali fears religious persecution if he returns to Iran. Christian converts from Islam, in current day Shia dominated Iran, risk arrest on their return. Islamic law has this as a fundamental tenet that any renouncing of Islam in favour of another religion is apostasy and the Q’ran states that such an apostate should be put to death.Amnesty International says it is not safe for people like Ali to return to Iran at present. They say the Government (through the office of the Minister for Immigration, Hon David Cunliffe) should issue Ali and others in his situation temporary visas to remain in New Zealand until the situation in Iran changes.New Zealand United Nations representative Rosemary Banks spoke last October of a ‘deterioration of human rights in Iran’, including the treatment of Christians: yet our Government still wants to deport Iranian converts to a country where religious conversion from Islam is punishable by death. It would further be contrary to New Zealand’s committment to the convention against torture to send him back to Iran.For more details about the situation in Iran:http://www.cidcm.umd.edu/mar/assessment.asp?groupId=63010http://www.ctbi.org.uk/http://thereport.amnesty.org/eng/Regions/Middle-East-and-North-Africa/IranFor the definition of a refugee, click here.
Why are we involved?
The Archbishops and the Social Justice Commissioner engage this because for one thing it concerns how we care for the vulnerable in our society. There has been concern expressed within the church of the way Ali Panah has been dealt with. The Government needs to embody good governance – justice with mercy. There is a continuum of concern – these are not isolated issues.
Sign the Ali Panah Petition
Please help Ali, add your voice and help bring about positive change by signing this petition to the Minister for Immigration, Hon David Cunliffe requesting a just and merciful solution can be found for Mr Ali Panah. This may include a ability to stay temporarily so that other long term solutions can be found, and if he can’t stay here that might involve arrangements being made for him to live safely elsewhere.To sign the petition, simply add your name and any comments you may have (you may not have any, and that’s obviously fine – if not just insert a fullstop in the comments field), and click submit.We will pass these on to the Minister. While we understand that your concern is strong, please keep your comments courteous.
I believe that people should be granted refugee status under UN conventions that we have signed, if they will be threatened with death on return to their home country. Clearly Mr Panah is in this situation and should be permitted to remain in NZ
What sort of humanity do we subscribe to in this country that we cannot open our doors to someone in this situation
May we as a people show love and mercy as God loves and is merciful to us.
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Lord, make us as a nation an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
May this “Christian prayer for peace” reach all those who hold power over Ali’s life, that they may extend to him without delay the hand of pardon and consolation.
From: David Blaker
Date: Sun Sep 2, 2007 8:49:44 PM Pacific/Auckland
Subject: hunger strike vigil
We are asking you to consider being part of a silent vigil in support on a man who is presently near death in the 51st day of his hunger strike in Mount Eden Prison.
Ali Panah is a former Iranian. He worked in Auckland for 18 months, then had his application for asylum rejected.
He converted from Islam to Christianity a number of years ago.
He has a well-founded belief that he will be killed if deported back to Iran: Islam does not tolerate conversion
His Vicar, The Rev Clive Sperring, and Archbishop David Moxon, and Archbishop Brown Turei, and Social Justice Commissioner Rev Dr Anthony Dancer, all have no doubt that Ali’s faith is genuine.
Ali may die soon.
We are calling for as many as possible to support him.
If we are present in our hundreds and thousands it will mean a great deal to Ali, and may well influence the course of events.
Where: at the Normanby Road entrance to Mount Eden Remand Prison (do not go down the side road onto prison property, as this may constitute trespass)
When: Monday 3rd September 2007, followed by Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Times: between 5 pm and 6 pm, (or for as long as you are able)
What: a vigil of silent presence and silent prayer.
(We will not be noisy, not obstruct traffic, and not have placards.)
(Please park legally, even if this entails walking some distance to get there. Carpool or bus if possible
If you work anywhere near Khyber Pass Rd or Newmarket, no problem)
We would like Ali to know he has the support of thousands outside the prison gates.
We may also pray for his physical and spiritual well-being.
We also hope that the Minister of Immigration will exercise mercy and compassion, and grant Ali life.
Please forward this email to as many as possible, today, especially if you are not able to be there.
Please regard this as a matter of extreme urgency. Another few days may be too late.
thank you,
David and Jeannie
Sunday 2 Sept 2007
Our knowledge of the situation in most Muslum countries confirms Mr Panah’s concern that he is almost certain to be killed as a convert from Islam to Christianity if he returns to Iran, if not by Government action, by neighbours or family members.
Matthew 5: 10, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “
We will be praying for Ali Panah for him to stay here in New Zealand
Search your heart – what is justice?
Never before has the world needed so desperately a new style of leadership – one based on love, compassion and humility.
If nothing else Ali has shown how far we are from this in Aotearoa.
Ali – I hope you are freed. You are welcome in our home. Kia kaha – be strong.
Whangarei
It is important that all people are able to follow the faith of their choice.
Please execize your responsibility to find a path that is just and merciful so that Ali is able to follow his faith.
Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand
Please show compassion now.
I have been following Mr Panah’s story in the media and feel that there is a need for him to be treated with justice and mercy, and that he should be allowed to remain in New Zealand permanently.
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Please have compassion on this innocent man
Clemency is needed for this man.
Grant him a temporary visa so he (and others like him) can get back to health and prove over time that he is a good potential citizen of NZ.
New Zealand has a responsibility to show clemency. Afterall, life is short for all of us.
This is happening too often now in New Zealand. How can the government throw away an entire history of openness, a reknowned justice system, and a history of supporting all peoples’ human rights in favour of… er, what is this behaviour in favour of exactly?
In favour of appearing to demonise asylum seekers to pander to the xenophobic voting block perhaps? In favour of stopping a flood of asylum seekers? – They seek ‘asylum’ for a reason! A 49-day hunger strike (to date) should be evident reason to suggest Ali’s claims are legitimate.
It is to be hoped that any residual “terrorist” paranoia will not be a factor in coming to a decision in this man’s case. Too often in the contemporary world is justice, compassion and humanity supppressed by this “national security” line!
The threat to life is a very real fear for him. But even the lesser evil of being made a pariah in one’s neighbourhood – being despised, shunned, spat upon – is no quality of life for anyone trying to live his or her genuinely-held faith. Our government (on behalf of all fair-minded New Zealanders) should not condemn Ali Panah to this.
I think he should have a visa. It would not be humane to send him back to Iran.
One persons live is equally as valuable as millions.
“Evil prevails when good men do nothing” – please Mr Cunliffe do something to help Mr Panah.
Working with refugees in the UK I met many Christian converts who had been persecuted and tortured in Iran. I fully support Ali in his desperate attempts to avoid this fate.
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Ali deserves a chance to live and practice his faith in safety. Please allow Ali to stay in New Zealand at least until the situation in Iran changes for the better.
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Minister, as someone who is given authority to govern in peace and with grace, please; listen to the voices of those with experience, insight and wisdom who have met Ali and can vouch for his declarations of faith; act accordingly to provide refuge for this man, be that here or somewhere equally safe from religious persecution.
Having lived for a number of years in Saudi Arabia, where the strict prohibition on all religions except Islam is part of the legal code (for example, term of imprisonment without trial merely for being in possession of a Bible) and where apostatates are put to death, it is so obvious that Iran is implementing the same code of religious intolerance. I am astonished that New Zealand’s Minister for Immigration is apparently totally ignorrant of this (or doesn’t care?)
There is no doubt that to send Ali Panah back to Iran would be a grave danger of being put to death.
I agree with this from the press release
“Doubt has been cast by some in authority on whether Ali Panah is a bona fide Christian. However, the secular State is in no position to judge the genuineness of a person’s conversion to Christianity.
It is, however, quite reasonable to expect our Government to take seriously the risks a Christian convert living in New Zealand may face if it deports that person to countries such as Iran.”
Please accept Ali Panah to live here as a new born christian
Please pass on our prayers to Ali, and my name for the petition to David Cunliffe.
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Iran sentences to death those who convert to Christianity.
NZ allows a person who has a legitimate case to die or be irreparably damaged by a hunger strike or deported to face almost certain death?
What is the difference?
Look at the facts: Ali is a genuine Christian. He will suffer probable persecution if returning to Iran. We can show him compassion and allow him to stay as a citizen of Aotearoa.
Please do so, before it is too late.
Peter Murnane
Ali Panah’s faith is amply witnessed to within the Christian community here in NZ, and the real dangers in Iran for Muslems who convert to Christianity are well documented by Amnesty International and the UN. Please have mercy and let him stay in NZ.
With respect, Hon David Cunliffe,
Even at this late stage the life of Ali Panah can be spared. I implore you to show leadership of the highest order as a New Zealander and extend mercy to this man as a refugee in our country.
The essential point here seems to be that a man’s life is potentially in real danger if he returns to Iran. Whether he is allowed to remain in New Zealand or not, it is essential that the New Zealand government does not place him in harm’s way. Therefore he should not be returned to Iran in the present political climate there. Further, the Minister of Immigration is a man who has the right to make decisions in the matter only by virtue of his office as a Minister of the Crown, which he holds as a member of a political party which is part of a coalition government which has a very slender majority. Given the very small majority which is the basis of this government’s mandate to govern, it seems to me that difficult and controversial decisions should be made on a conservative (with a small “c”!) basis. In this case the conservative decision would be in favour of life and liberty.
I have met Ali and he is a very fine and gentle young man whose faith in Christ could put many of us to shame. He simply just wants to be free from the tyranny of persecution. Ali would be an asset to this country and unlike many others he wants to work and make contribution to the country. Give him a break give him a visa!
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COMPASSION SHOWS THE BEST IN THE HUMAN CONDITION AND THIS MAN HAS SHOWN HIMSELF TO BE A GOOD HARDWORKING CITIZEN AND SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY
We have all left it rather late to support this cause; we who are free to worship as we please should welcome Ali and support him; let’s hope and pray that compassion and sensibility prevails and he is allowed to stay in NZ.
I urge the Minister to use his position to allow Mr Panah to remain in New Zealand. I believe that he will be persecuted if he returns to Iran.
If ex-muslims have the courage to flee Iran and make a new life for themselves in a new country, they should not be handed back as sacrificial lambs to an evil government.
Let Ali Panah stay and have a life under a new ideology of his own personal choosing.
Many other people are granted permission to live in this country, why should a man of firm belief, and a pillar of the community for 18months be removed to his death.
send him back and he dies.
in other words, we call sending someone to their death ‘Murder”
Common sense cries out for this man to be given the protection he cries out for. If moral behaviour was simply a matter of following rules, we may as well all be robots.
Even though letting him stay goes against migration policies, I think that sometimes you have to give an individual the benefit of the doubt. We want to be known as a country that supports human rights and social justice. Letting Ali stay in New Zealand will help to furhter this perception
It is beyond belief that a country like NZ can incarcerate a person, innocent of any crime, because we have no better solution. THe present government supposedly has a history of concern for human rights, but, at its convenience, ignores our most cherished values, and the need for justice and humane treatment of our fellow human beings.
I cannot believe that, the country I grew up in, is capable of this . New Zealanders cannot hold their heads high, while we indulge in behaviour that, previously, we would only have expected to find in non-democratic and tyrannical states. Shame on this government and those in it who have ever expressed any commitment to human rights, and more particularly, shame on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Immigration. i am truly sickened.
Ali Panah is our “neighbour” in urgent need. It is time we showed him that we are people of justice and compassion.
Auckland Catholic Justice and Peace Office
Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand
It seems to me, that as a caring society (which New Zealand purports to be), this man should not be sent back to Iran where he risks extreme reaction, even death.