Suicide is not an option

The two Iranians on hunger strike in Nicosia seem to be holding the Cyprus government to ransom over what they see as their “right” to EU citizenship, the CM reports. 

the Iranian hunger strikers outside the Cyprus ministry of the interior

Both men and their families have been in Cyprus since 2003 as refugees, and during this period have repeatedly applied for citizenship or long-term residency permits, to no avail. 

Theirs is a sad story.  One of the men, Asadollah Panaheimehr, his wife Hematmand, and Asadollah’s older brother Aidin fled persecution in Iran in 2003.  On arrival in Cyprus, Asadollah was immediately arrested and detained for five months without charge, according to his son who is now a student at an institute of higher education in Nicosia.  Asadollah was released after he went on hunger strike for 74 days.  He found work in the construction industry but was made redundant and has been unemployed for the past three years. 

His brother Aidin committed suicide in 2011. 

Asadollah’s wife used to work for a supermarket chain, but she was also made redundant before the supermarket went bankrupt.  [I take it it was the one beginning with ‘O’, whose CEO's wife was allegedly stopped at Larnaca airport trying to smuggle out 4 million euro in cash.]

Curiously, the Iranian men and their wives insist they are no longer interested in finding work in Cyprus or in receiving state handouts, but rather, they only want EU passports so that they can leave this country and try their luck elsewhere in Europe.  

While I sympathise with their plight, I am not convinced that effectively trying to blackmail a government into getting a passport, or encouraging their spouses to join them in slow suicide is the right way to go about it.  Two wrongs don't make a right.  If the Cyprus government backs down on this, it sets a precedent for other refugees and asylum seekers in the EU, which could be problematic in future.  These Iranians say European citizenship is their “right”.  Is it?

Even if it’s true that they have been treated harshly or indifferently by the Cypriot authorities, and they probably have been, they have still been permitted to live and work in this country for more than 10 years.   Their unemployment difficulties are no different to those of thousands of Cypriots on the island, although refugees are eligible for state aid from the EU Refugee Fund.  It is not clear how Asadollah’s son is able to afford his tuition fees at the Higher Hotel Institute, where non-EU students have to pay in excess of 4,000 euro a year, unless he’s on a scholarship. 

On the other hand, if all the parents want to do is leave Cyprus, why doesn’t the government just let them become another country’s problem?  

A tricky moral dilemma for the minister of the interior, Socrates Hasikos, who says he intends to resolve it by next week.  What’s he going to do, have them force fed? 

Added 14/1/14 - Socrates, the wise man, changed his mind and now says he will process their claim for citizenship "when it's their turn".

Iran
photo credit:  Huffington Post

The UN-funded NGO, European Organisation of Iranian refugees (EOIR) takes on human rights cases on behalf of Iranian refugees and asylum seekers in Europe.  Cyprus has featured prominently in their work before, in instances of Iranians being treated brutally by Cypriot police, detained illegally and unfairly, and/or deported back to Iran where they face possible torture or execution.  The EOIR can be contacted by email at info@eoir.eu or by phone: 0031657006565 (a Netherlands number for their Cyprus desk). 

Lord God, no one is a stranger to you and no one is ever far from your loving care.  In your kindness, watch over refugees and victims of war, those separated from their loved ones, young people who are lost, and those who have left home or run away.  Bring them safely to the place where they long to be, and help us always to show your kindness to strangers and to all in need.  Grant this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.