GPJA is supporting a protest called by friends and associates of Thomas Hossein Yadegary who is in Mt Eden Remand Prison awaiting deportation to Iran.

It seems to us a travesty of natural justice for a person to be deported a full 12 years after they have applied for residency in New Zealand.

An explanation of Thomas’s position from his friends and associates is attached with this release.

Photo of Thomas taken during Bill Clinton’s visit to New Zealand. Thomas worked as a chef at Clinton’s hotel.

Thomas Hossein Yadegary is an Iranian man who has been in New Zealand for about twelve years. He came to this country as a political asylum seeker in 1993 and asked for help from our government.

He worked all these times and paid his taxes and now this is the way this government is paying him back! Over these years he has spent over $60,000 on legal fees in order to gain residency, only to find the doors of a free life in New Zealand closed on him after all this time. He waited all this long twelve years and yet there was no answer.

All his applications have been declined and now he has been put him in prison to be deported back to Iran. He has been in prison from 1 November 2004.

It was such a shock to Thomas not only to be turned down after twelve years of waiting but also to be arrested and been taken to Remand Mt Eden Prison, as if he was a danger to society. He only wanted to live in peace in our beautiful, peaceful country.

Some organizations inside and outside New Zealand have offered their full support, such as The International Organization of Iranian Refuges.

For these twelve years Thomas has been working hard and contributed to society by paying taxes. He has been studying hard to get his qualification as a chef and learnt English at the same time. He always has positive attitude of living in this new country.

Thomas became Christian and accepted Jesus in his heart in 1997.

This is an unforgivable crime under the Islamic Law in Iran and it is punishable by death. If he ever sent back to Iran he will be executed because he committed apostasy.

Thomas thought he was going to start a new and exiting life in New Zealand. This country is the second democratic country in the world and it can be anybody’s dream to live here.

But now all his dreams are shattered by staring at the long walls of Mt. Eden prison.

That place is not for someone like Thomas who is an honest, honorable, truthful and hard working person. Now behind bars he is becoming stressed and depressed, getting constant headaches.

He is under enormous amount of pressure both psychologically or emotionally.

Hope and lots of prayers are keeping him going.

It is time to free Thomas. Thomas is not a criminal. All he ever wanted to do was to live in peace and freedom. He was never been a harmful person or danger to the society. He has the right to live freely as a human being. Deportation will bring dire consequences for him.

Thomas needs our support, no matter what race, ethnicity, and colour or religion we have. He needs your support now before it’s too late.

Please support Thomas Hossein Yadegary by participating in a protest in
front of the Mt. Eden Remand Prison on 26 February 2005 from 2.00 pm to
4.00 pm. Your support is vital.

If you have any questions or would like any more information please
contact one of these numbers:

Homeira: 832 4531 or 021 533899

Shahin: 021 780111

Vahid: 021 447544

Sohail: 021 1835468

Also you can get more information on this website: http://www.bimarz.net

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