Martin Red
06-08-2003, 05:50 AM
http://www.channel4.com/news/images/feed/images/image38419.jpg
http://www.channel4.com/apps26/news/news_story.jsp?storyId=38419
An Iranian Kurdish refugee who has stitched up his eyes, lips and ears in protest at the Home Office's handling of his asylum application has said he is prepared to give his life for the human rights of others across the world.
Abbas Amini, 33, began a hunger strike last Tuesday after hearing the Government was seeking a judicial review of the decision to grant him asylum in the UK.
The father of two, an atheist who was jailed in Iran for writing poems criticising the ruling Islamic regime, claims he will face torture if he is sent back to his home country.
Friends and supporters said his symbolic stance is to highlight the plight of asylum seekers and refugees fleeing torture and oppression as well as the problems they face when applying for residence status in Britain.
Writing in Farsi from his bed at rented accommodation in Sneinton, Nottingham, Mr Amini said: "I fully understand the pain and anguish of all those families who are under repression and cannot express their anguish and I am very sorry.
"One of those families is my family and I think they would give me this right to lose my life for their happiness and a better life for others."
He urged: "To all those families and all those who have never had any freedom, do as much as possible. Do as much as you can. Don't give up."
http://www.images.scotsman.com/2003/05/28/2805hungb.jpg
http://www.channel4.com/apps26/news/news_story.jsp?storyId=38419
An Iranian Kurdish refugee who has stitched up his eyes, lips and ears in protest at the Home Office's handling of his asylum application has said he is prepared to give his life for the human rights of others across the world.
Abbas Amini, 33, began a hunger strike last Tuesday after hearing the Government was seeking a judicial review of the decision to grant him asylum in the UK.
The father of two, an atheist who was jailed in Iran for writing poems criticising the ruling Islamic regime, claims he will face torture if he is sent back to his home country.
Friends and supporters said his symbolic stance is to highlight the plight of asylum seekers and refugees fleeing torture and oppression as well as the problems they face when applying for residence status in Britain.
Writing in Farsi from his bed at rented accommodation in Sneinton, Nottingham, Mr Amini said: "I fully understand the pain and anguish of all those families who are under repression and cannot express their anguish and I am very sorry.
"One of those families is my family and I think they would give me this right to lose my life for their happiness and a better life for others."
He urged: "To all those families and all those who have never had any freedom, do as much as possible. Do as much as you can. Don't give up."
http://www.images.scotsman.com/2003/05/28/2805hungb.jpg