And then there was one Protest to support Amir Mohebbi

A protest will take place outside Mt Eden Prison today from 1pm to 2pm to call for the release of the last Iranian detained without charge or trial in Mt Eden Prison following the release of hunger striker Ali Panah early this week.

He is Amir Mohebbi - the longest detained remand prisoner in the history of the New Zealand Justice system.

Amir was detained on 20 January 2004 for refusing to depart for Iran despite the fact that as a catholic convert it is unsafe for him to be returned to Iran.

Amir has three New Zealand children and a New Zealand partner Maryam. A High Court appeal for bail was heard on 23 August (the New Zealand government opposed bail) and the judge has reserved her decision.

Minister of Immigration David Cunliffe claims New Zealand is a humanitarian country. This is patently untrue. There is nothing humanitarian about keeping someone in prison for 3 ½ years and trying to force them to go to a country where their life would be in jeopardy.

Recently a man in Iran found with a bible in his car received 34 lashes.

GPJA is calling for the New Zealand government to issue Amir with a temporary visa to stay until it is safe for him to return to Iran. Groups such as Amnesty International support this position.

This is the situation in other countries such as Australia, Canada and the UK.

ends

© Scoop Media