Call for immediate fundraising for Jamal Saberi!

We thank all of you who helped to save Jamal from the danger of being deported to Iran and getting him out of detention in Japan. However, we wanted to inform you that Jamal urgently needs financial support.

When the Free Jamal Campaign was first informed about Jamal’s situation we contacted friends and supporters and were able to send Jamal some funds. Due to his immigration status Jamal is not allowed to work in Japan - this means he needs regular monthly financial support for his living expenses and also to be able to take legal action to get asylum in Japan or a safe 3^rd country.

Thus we are calling on you good people and progressive organisations who have helped us in the campaign so far to support Jamal financially.

You can send your donations to IFIR branches or donate via paypal to

Count me in - Iran http://countmein-iran.com/donate.html

Please specifiy in all cases that the donation is for Jamal Saberi. Please also drop us a quick line at freejamalcampaign@gmail.com to let us know that you have made a donation.

Jamal very much welcomes your continued support!

Warm wishes

Free Jamal Campaign

IFIR contact:

www.ifrs.se

www.hambastegi.org

Tel.: 004631-453346

Plusgiro 200974-4

asadiabe@yahoo.se

Tel: 0046-73 717 88 19

Majid_hamidian@yahoo.se

Tel: 0046-739096603

Box 11103

404 23 Göteborg Sweden

Orgnr: 802400-9216

Adress: Linnegatan21

(Hagabion-ViktoriahusetA)

Jamal - 10 years in legal limbo leave Iranian with mental, physical scars

See Jamal's interview and video in the Japan Times by Simon Scott. Jamal is still fighting to be accepted as an asylum seeker in Japan after 20 years of living there.
Read the interview here

Watch his interview

Jamal is free!

After months of an international struggle we can finally declare that Jamal Saberi has been released form detention in Japan today!

The first phase of the Free Jamal! Campaign - to prevent the deportation of Jamal to the Islamic Republic of Iran and to get him released from the horrible detention centre - ends successfully. Now we are focussing on getting Jamal refugee status and permanent residency.

This success would not have been possible without your help! Jamal’s friends in Japan, the Railway Workers Union in Japan, organisations such as "Mission Free Iran" and thousands around the world who helped us in this campaign – you all share this victory and our success. Congratulations to all of you! We also thank our members and officers of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees worldwide and the Worker-Communist Party Abroad Organisation who stood repeatedly outside Japanese embassies and consulates in various countries and who were negotiating with Japanese officials.

We have always considered ourselves part of a global effort to free all refugees who are in detention and denied their rights by governments such as Japan. This success of freeing Jamal is the base from which we continue the advanced and extensive task to realise the rights of refugees everywhere.

International Federation of Iranian Refugees
4 August 2010

News about Jamal in June

Jamal is still being held in detention and has applied for his release from detention a while ago. He is still waiting to hear...

In the meantime an Iranian newspaper is being delivered to Jamal in his cell in the detention centre, apparently from the Islamic regime's embassy in Tokyo. As Jamal had never asked for it he enquired with the authorities who said that all Iranian refugees are being send this newspaper. However when Jamal asked other Iranian detainees none of them has been receiving the newspaper. Jamal wonders whether this 'special treat' is some kind of message for him? How can the Iranian embassy staff in Tokyo know who is in detention in Tokyo in the first place?

Maybe because just as in 2004 when Jamal was also held in detention the Japanese authorities had passed on the details of Iranian asylum seekers to the Iranian authorities who had come to visit them in the detention centre. It is incomprehensible why anyone who has fled from a country and applied for asylum would want to see representatives of the very government they are fleeing from. Furthermore and worringly so, the Japanese authorities hand over personal details of asylum seekers to the Iranian authorities instead of protecting them. This must be a break of the law and people's rights on various levels. Then, without anywhere to go they are being forced to endure a visit by the very people they had fled from. Needless to say that with names, birth dates, background information and relatives' details the Iranian regime has more than enough to continue persecuting asylum seekers and their families, inside and outside of Iran. I wonder whether the Japanese authorities understand the idea behind asylum or whether they think their relationship with the Islamic regime of Iran is more important? And did Japan really think no one is going to find out?

I am refugee - I am not criminal! Give back our family/friends

These were the slogans of a demonstration in Tokyo against the Japanese Immigration Bureau on the International Day of the Refugee on 20 June. It was organised by various groups and was so far the biggest protest yet in support of human rights for the refugees that are being held in the detention centres. The struggle of support groups, friends and families to get refugees out of the detention centres and to improve their overall situation continues. It received quite a bit of attention from the media as well.

Here are two videos from the rally



From the Documentary Workshop in Japan, Our Planet TV, watch here

Thank you for 9 May!

Dear Friends

A big THANK YOU to everyone who faxed (or emailed) their protest to the Japanese Ministry over the last weekend!

I guess the Japanese government understands now that we won't go away unless they cancel Jamal's deportation order and until he is safe as a refugee!

Unfortunately 9 May was also the day that 5 Iranian political prisoners were executed by the Islamic regime of Iran in Tehran. This makes it even more urgent to save Jamal and others like him from deportation to Iran.

Our campaign continues - thank you for your support!

Patty

9 mai : Envoyez des fax pour soutenir Jamal Saberi !

Our call in French:

Appel de la campagne Free Jamal :
Envoyez des fax de protestation le 9 mai pour demander la libération de Jamal Saberi !
Envoyez des fax au ministère de la justice au Japon !

Cher(e)s ami(e)s,
Doro-Chiba (le Syndicat des Chemins de Fer électrique de Chiba) tiendra une conférence sur la situation des immigré(e)s et des réfugié(e)s au Japon et la législation à leur encontre le dimanche 9 mai. Il y sera lu un message de Jamal Saberi, le militant politique iranien actuellement en détention et menacé d’expulsion vers l’Iran. Dans le passé, Jamal Saberi avait participé plusieurs fois en tant qu’orateur à ces conférences sur les crimes du régime islamique d’Iran et en soutien aux ouvriers, aux femmes et militants des droits humains d’Iran. Cette fois, Jamal qui est actuellement détenu dans un centre de rétention à Tokyo n’a pu que transmettre un message à la conférence lorsque des membres du syndicat Doro-Chiba sont venus lui rendre visite en détention.

Il y a trois semaines, dans le même centre de rétention, une femme de 55 ans des Philippines est morte suite aux dures conditions de détention dans ce centre. Elle est la troisième personne qui y est décédée ces derniers mois.
Pour soutenir la conférence à Yokohama et pour protester contre le traitement barbare des réfugiés par le gouvernement japonais, la campagne Free Jamal vous appelle à envoyer vos fax de protestation au bureau du Ministère Japonais de la Justice le jour de la conférence, le 9 mai.

C’est quelque chose de simple à faire et qui peut avoir un énorme impact. Le Japon verra que les gens du monde entier sont contre son traitement brutal des réfugiés et des immigrés et cela montrera aussi aux autorités japonaises que nous sommes fermement derrière la lutte pour la libération de Jamal Saberi ! Merci, aussi, d’envoyer vos fax de protestation !

Il y aura également une manifestation devant l’ambassade japonaise à Washington (Massachusetts Ave NW) organisée par Mission Free Iran le dimanche 9 mai à 13 heures
Vous trouverez plus bas un modèle de lettre à faxer.

Merci
Fédération Internationale des Réfugiés Iraniens

Fax du Ministère de la Justice du Japon : +81-3-3592-7393

A : Ministère Japonais de la Justice et à l’UNHCR du Japon

Je vous écris pour exprimer ma plus vive préoccupation concernant la situation de Jalal Amanzade Nouei (alias Jamal Saberi) qui est actuellement en détention à Tokyo et doit être expulsé du Japon vers l’Iran.
Monsieur Jalal Amanzade Nouei est un opposant politique célèbre de la République Islamique d’Iran qui est venu au Japon en 1990. En 1992, il a rejoint le Parti Communiste-Ouvrier d’Iran (PCOI). Monsieur Amanzade Nouei est devenu actif au sein du PCOI et de la Fédération Internationale des Réfugiés Iraniens (IFIR) ainsi que du Comité International Contre les Exécutions (ICAE) au Japon ces 18 dernières années, imprimant et distribuant la littérature du PCOI et écrivant plusieurs articles contre le régime islamique d’Iran qui ont été publié dans par magazines et des sites internet persans et japonais. Il a aussi organisé et participé aux principales activités contre le régime islamique d’Iran au Japon.

Son importante activité politique avec le PCOI, l’IFIR et l’ICAE et contre le régime islamique d’Iran a attiré l’attentio des autorités iraniennes.
Comme le stipule la convention de Genève sur les droits des réfugiés (1951), Monsieur Jalal Amanzade Nouei peut obtenir le statut de réfugié “sur place” en conséquence de ses propres actions politiques, comme son association avec le PCOI, l’IFIR et l’ICAE, et l’expression de ses positions politiques au Japon. Ses activités politiques ont attiré l’attention des autorités iraniennes.
Il est tout à fait connu que la République Islamique d’Iran a arrêté, emprisonné, torturé et assassiné des iraniens qui ont été forcés de retourner en Iran s’ils y ont quitté illégalement la République Islamique d’Iran, sont restés à l’étranger sans autorisation et/ou ont demandé l’asile dans un autre pays.
Je considère que le retour forcé de Jalal Amanzade Nouei en Iran comme une violation du principe de non-refoulement. Ce principe interdit le retour forcé d’une personne dans un pays ou sa vie ou sa liberté serait menacée. C’est un principe du droit coutumier international qui lie tous les Etats. Le Japon est membre de la Convention Internationale sur les Droits Civils et Politiques (PIDCP) qui interdit la torture, les peines et les traitements cruels, inhumains ou dégradants.

Monsieur Amanzade Nouei remplit clairement les critères pour être reconnu comme réfugiés selon les critères internationaux correspondants. Il a défendu et exprimé des opinions qui ne sont pas tolérées par les autorités iraniennes. Ses opinions et ses relations avec les organisation de l’opposition iranienne qui sont interdites en Iran ont attiré l’attention des autorités iraniennes. Sa vie ou sa liberté seront menacées s’il est renvoyé en Iran.
Je demande aux autorités japonaises de l’immigration de le libérer immédiatement et de reconsidérer sa décision et de lui garantir la reconnaissance du statut de réfugié sur la base de sa crainte tout à fait fondée d’être persécuté à cause de ses opinions politiques.

J’attends votre intervention immédiate pour cette situation de vie ou de mort. Il est inutile de dire que l’UNHCR et le gouvernement japonais seront considérés comme responsables de la vie et de la liberté de Jamal Saberi.

Sincèrement,
Signature + adresse

Pour plus d’information sur la campagne :
Patty Debonitas
Free Jamal! campaign
Tel: +44 750 797 8745
freejamal.blogspot.com
Thanks to Iranenlutte for translating and posting!

And if....

you really really can't fax on the 9th, here is the email of the Ministry of Justice: webmaster@moj.go.jp

(And this is the email for UNHCR Japan: jpntopu@unhcr.org)

Thanks to you ALL!

FAX your PROTEST - 9th May! Demand the release of Jamal Saberi!

Fax the Ministry of Justice in Japan

Dear Friends!
The Doro-Chiba (National Railway Motive Power Union of Chiba) is holding a conference on Japan’s migrant and refugees’ situation and laws this Sunday 9 May. They will be reading a message from Jamal Saberi, the Iranian political activist who is currently in detention and in danger of being deported to Iran. In the past Jamal Saberi has attended several of these conferences as a speaker on the crimes of the Islamic Regime of Iran and in support of workers, women and human rights in Iran. This time however Jamal who is currently being held in a Tokyo detention centre was only able to send a message to the conference when members of the Doro-Chiba visited him in detention.

Three weeks ago, in that very same detention centre, a 55-year-old woman from the Philippines died as a result of the harsh conditions in the detention centre. She is the third person in as many months to die there.

In support of the conference in Yokohama and in protest at the barbaric treatment of refugees by the Japanese government the Free Jamal Campaign is asking you to send your protest FAX to the office of the Japanese Ministry of Justice on the day of the conference, 9 May.

It is an easy thing to do and will have a huge impact. Japan will see that people around the world are against its brutal treatment of refugees and immigrants and it will also show the Japanese authorities that we are firmly behind the struggle to free Jamal Saberi! So please FAX your protest!

There is also a demonstration in front of the Japanese embassy in Washington DC organised by Mission Free Iran on Sunday at 1pm at 2520 Massachusetts Ave NW.

Please find a sample letter to fax below.

Thank you!

International Federation of Iranian Refugees

-----------------------------
Ministry of Justice Fax: +81-3-3592-7393

To: Japanese Ministry of Justice & UNHCR Japan
I am writing to express my strongest concern over the fate of Jalal Amanzade Nouei (aka Jamal Saberi) who is currently in detention in Tokyo and is going to be deported to Iran from Japan.

Mr. Jalal Amanzade Nouei is a well known political opponent of the Islamic Republic of Iran that came to Japan in 1990. In 1992 he joined the Worker-communist Party of Iran [WPI]. Mr. Amanzade Nouei has been politically active with the WPI and the International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) as well as the International Committee Against Executions (ICAE) for the past 18 years in Japan, including printing and distributing WPI literature as well as writing several articles against the Islamic regime of Iran, which have been published in Persian and Japanese magazines and websites. He also has organized and participated in major political activities against the Islamic regime of Iran in Japan.

His lengthy political activities with the WPI, IFIR, and ICAE and against the Islamic regime of Iran have come to the attention of the Iranian authorities.
As laid out in the Geneva convention on the Rights of Refugees (1951) Mr. Jalal Amanzade Nouei can become a refugee “sur place” as a result of his own political actions, such as associating with WPI, IFIR, ICAE and expressing his political views in Japan. His political activities came to the attention of Iranian authorities.
It is well known that the Islamic Republic of Iran has arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and killed Iranians who were forcibly returned to Iran if they had unlawfully departed from the Islamic Republic of Iran, had stayed abroad without authorization, and/or had applied for asylum in another country.

I consider the forcible return of Jalal Amanzade Nouei to Iran a violation of the principle of non-refoulement. This prohibits the forcible return of a person to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened. It is a principle of customary International Law, which binds all states. Japan is party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which prohibits torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Mr. Amanzade Nouei clearly fulfils the criteria to be recognised as a refugee as detailed in relevant international instruments. He holds and has expressed opinions not tolerated by the Iranian authorities. His opinions and his relationship to the Iranian opposition organizations which are banned in Iran have come to the attention of the Iranian authorities. He faces a threat to his life or liberty if refouled to Iran.
I urge the Japanese Immigration Authorities to immediately release him and to reconsider its decision and grant him refugee recognition based on his well-founded fear of persecution on the ground of political opinion.

I am awaiting your immediate intervention in this life-threatening situation. Needless to say, UNHCR and the Japanese government will be held accountable for Jamal Saberi's life and freedom.

Sincerely,

9 May meeting on Japan's treatment of refugees

Here is the announcement of the Doro-Chiba (National Railway Motive Power Union of Chiba) about their 9th May conference. At the conference they will also read a message from Jamal Saberi:

Dear Friends,
We are holding an Annual Meeting to discuss and study about Alien Registration Law, Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and Racism on Sunday, May 9 in Tsurumi, Yokohama. It is our 21st event.
The Justice Ministry with "human-rights lawyer", CHIBA Keiko, on its top has detained and deported far more undocumented foreigners and refugee applicants than under the LDP administration. It is also forcing electronic Foreign Resident ID Card system.
Let's fight together, defeating divide and rule policy of the ruling class and strengthen working class unity, solidarity and friendship across nationality and national borders.
When: PM 1:00, May 9
Where: Tsurumi Kokaido, immediately next to JR Tsurumi Station of JR Keihintohoku Line

Speakers include:
*President of Foreign Workers Union, affiliate of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU)
*Delegation of KCTU Seoul Regional Council representing 160 thousand Korean and foreign workers
*Korean residents
*Refugees from several countries
*Representative of Doro-Chiba (National Railway Motive Power Union of Chiba) and other labor unions
*Zengakuren (All Japan Federation of Students' Autonomous Bodies)

French union UL CGT Chinon declares its solidarity with Jamal

ON 27 April the French union UL CGT Chinon (Indre-et-Loire)has unanimously adopted a resolution in solidarity with Jamal Saberi. In their meeting the UL CGT Chinon declared their support for Jamal and demanded from the Japanese authorities the release of Jamal and to cancel his deportation order.

The Free Jamal! Campaign - Call for financial help

It has been just over a month since Iranian activist Jamal Saberi (real name Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei) was detained by the immigration authorities in Tokyo with the intention of deporting him to Iran. A few days after his detention the wheels had been put in motion and the Free Jamal! campaign had been launched by the International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR). In the last four weeks we have been able to do a significant amount of work.

We have managed to put political and judicial obstacles in the way of Jamal’s deportation from Japan to Iran. From Toronto to London, from Berlin to Tokyo, people have come out to protest against the deportation and in support of Jamal’s release from detention. The Japanese government has been made aware of the heavy human and political consequences Jamal’s deportation would have. The danger of imminent deportation has decreased slightly; however, Jamal is still in detention, still in danger of being deported quickly, so there is no rest yet! The Ministry of Justice in Japan can very swiftly pass through to the final stages of deportation; the Japanese government can ignore the human and political consequences of deporting Jamal. The harsh reality that we are facing: Jamal is in a bad physical condition in a detention centre with awful conditions for asylum seekers.

We must keep the pressure up in order to free him and to get him refugee status in Japan or somewhere else safe.

All our efforts, the public outreach work, the demonstrations, the meetings, organising, the legal research and actions, the trip to Japan, the lobbying and the phone calls – all of this needs you financial help! So far we have been able to do our work based on personal resources and voluntary work. But without your immediate help, we cannot go on keeping up the pressure to fight for Jamal’s release. We need to have money in order to go forward, to continue and to be able to not only get Jamal released from detention but to find a safe place for him. You can support Jamal and the Free Jamal! campaign by making a donation to the campaign by clicking here:




You can pay online with your credit card via the secure Paypal system of Count Me In – Iran of which IFIR is a member. Please mark your donations with ‘Jamal’. If you are in the UK you can also send us a cheque, please check the website for details. If you prefer to make a donation in another way, please contact us at: freejamalcampaign@gmail.com or call +44 (0) 750 797 8745

Thank you!

Patty Debonitas
Free Jamal! Campaign

Mission in Japan: Amnesty, UNHCR...all on the case and latest photo of Jamal

Farshad Hosseini had some extremely busy days before his mission in Japan for Jamal ended. On Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 April he had several high profile meetings in a push to move Jamal’s case forward. He met with the leader of the Social Democratic Party and an MP, union leaders, anti-war movement leaders, UNHCR Japan and Amnesty International Japan.

















He met Ms Mizohu Fukushima, Minister of State and leader of the Social Democratic Party and Mr Hattori Ryoichi, MP. Farshad discussed Jamal’s case with Ms Fukushima and she said that she would follow it up with the Minitstry of Justice and the immigration authorities.

Farshad also met with the deputy secretary of the National Union of Workers in Japan, Nakajima Hiroshi

















and Mr. Ken Takada, leader of the widely known anti-war movement in Japan, organisers of the largest anti-war protest in Japan. Both promised to help free Jamal.

















Farshad went to see the Shinji Kubo responsible for internal relations the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Japan.He talked to him in detail about Jamal’s situation and the inhumane treatment of the immigrantion authorities of Jamal. Farshad stressed that the UNHCR has been made aware of the violation of refugee conventions and international agreements by the immigration authorities. UNHCR has a duty to be sensitive aobut this issue and intervene immediately. UNHCR as an international observer organisation can and must advice the Japanese ministry of justice and the immigration authorities to recognise Jamal as a refugge and in case of refusal, UNHCR must find another way to transfer Jamal to to a another safe country and take urgent action. Mr Kubo said that UNHCR in Japan cannot take any action outside the framework of Japanese law as Japan accepts refugees and is in charge of issuing refugee status. However given the circumstances of Jamal UNHCR will try to advise the Japanese government regarding Jamal's specific case.

Farshad also met with the general director of Amnesty International in Japan, Mr Makoto Teranaka and the refugee secretary of Amnesty Ms Hiroka Shoji. Farshad talked to them in detail about Jamal's case and stated that he expects Amnesty as an organisation for Human Rights' laws to to act on behalf of Jamal and to put pressure on the Ministry of Justice and the immigration authorities so that they accept Jamal as a refugee. Mr Teranaka said that Amnesty is aware of Jamal's case and that he had also visited Jamal in detention. He said that Amnesty is trying for his asylum status but that they would need more information regarding similar cases in Iran where people have been prosecuted. By referring to these kind of cases, Amnesty could prove the Iranian government is prosecuting activists from abroad. Farshad is going to follow this up and send Amnesty Japan materials, but if anyone has information on this please get in touch with us and we will forward it. At the end of their meeting they had a good discussion on how to make the Free Jamal! campaign more effective.

Farshad had also numerous interviews with journalists from newspapers who interviewed him about Jamal’s situation and the human rights situation in Iran.

On Thursday evening Farshad was invited to speak at the activists and young supporters of the Free Workers' Union of Japan seminar. He spoke about the current revolution in Iran and the situation and developments since the revolution in 1979. After the seminar Farshad talked about Jamal's case. An open discussion followed in which ideas on how to extend the Free Jamal! campaign in Japan with the support of unions were discussed

Last but not least Farshad went to see Jamal again in detention. Here is Jamal's photo (taken secretly) from behind the glass screen that separates him from his visitors.

Farshad has now returned from his mission in Japan and is following up on the promised actions by the many people his has met there, so watch this space for more news from Japan.

Washington protest this Sunday

Mission Free Iran is having another protest in front of the Japanese Embassy this Sunday, April 11 at 3pm, to advocate on behalf of Jamal Saberi.

Address: 2520 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC

All are welcome to join!

More news and days of action from Japan

The first actions from the Japanese unions:
The National Railway Workers' Union and the International Labour Solidarity committee have both asked their international union's networks to support Jamal Saberi. They also organized two demonstrations in support of Jamal and immigrants and refugees' rights in Japan which will take place on 18 April and 9 May 2010.

They agreed and they are working on to make 9 May an international day of support for Jamal.

Iran Solidarity Melbourne Free Jamal protest 16 April

Dear Human Rights Activists
As you are aware, the Islamic Republic continues to openly arrest, torture and execute political activists within its borders. What you may not be aware of is that the Islamic regime has been seeking international assistance in capturing and silencing anti-regime activists living abroad. In a move that has surprised many of us, we have learned that the Japanese government is supporting the Islamic Republic’s efforts by initiating deportation procedures against prominent Iranian dissident and human rights activist Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei), a resident of Japan for the past 20 years.

Japan’s effort to forcibly return an Iranian political activist constitutes a violation of the international principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits forcibly returning a person to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened. Mr. Saberi has a well-founded fear of persecution by the Islamic regime: if he is returned there is no question that he, like all other dissidents who fall into the hands of this regime will be detained, tortured, and likely executed. He therefore warrants recognition as a political refugee and merits protections under UN agreements on the Status of Refugees, to which Japan is a signatory.

The Saberi case has global implications: If Japan flouts human rights standards and international principles on the status of refugees, consequences for refugees worldwide will be dire. We consider especially the impact of Japan’s actions on thousands of new Iranian refugees surviving precariously in Turkey, which has in the past violated the principle of non-refoulement and has begun systematic though unofficial persecution of this new wave of Iranian refugees.

If the Japanese government delivers Saberi into the hands of the Islamic Republic, Japan will be held responsible not only for Saberi’s inevitable torture and execution in Iran, but for setting a barbaric and inhumane precedent that will have dire consequences for all of the world’s asylum-seekers.

We hope that Human Rights activists in Australia will join with the global movement that demands that Saberi be freed and recognized as a refugee from a murderous government, and as a human being.

We are demanding that the Japanese government adhere to its international and domestic legal commitments to the principle of non-refoulement, release Saberi from prison, stop the deportation proceedings, and grant Mr. Saberi the refugee status that he has long ago applied for. To this end, Iran Solidarity Melbourne is organising a protest action outside the Japanese Consulate in Melbourne, 360 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, on Friday the 16th of April. We invite all those who support the rights of refugees and asylum seekers to show their support by joining us at this protest.

More significant support for Jamal in Japan!

Japan report 6 April 2010
Today was another busy and successful day for Farshad Hosseini on his mission in Japan. He met with representatives of the Japanese Railway Workers' union, International Workers Solidarity and the Refugee Support Network in Japan today.

Farshad met with Mr Tanaka Yasuhiro, the president of Doro-Chiba (National Railway Motive Power Union of Chiba), Mr Yamamoto, the secretary treasurer of International Labor Solidarity Committee of Doro-Chiba, Mr Seto and Mr Tazaki as well as Ms Sogame from the Refugee Support groups.Farshad Hosseini asked for support from the trade unions and organisations for Jamal as a symbol and representative of the opposition and revolution against the Islamic regime of Iran.

The TU representatives stated that they know Jamal and that he has been their link with Iran and the opposition there. They promised to use all their resources including international links to make sure that Jamal is supported.

This is a significant boost to the free Jamal campaign!

Farshad also met with Mrs Noriko Watanabe, Jamal's solicitior and discussed Jamal's case in detail and ways of supporting his case. Mrs Watanabe stated that the campaign to free Jamal has helped to temporarily stop the deportation of Jamal, but the Ministry of Immigration could speedily refuse Jamal’s case and deport him. She stated that the Immigration officials believe that the ‘supposed danger to Jamal is political propaganda’ and 'no danger awaits him'. She also stated that the most probable route is political for Jamal rather than legal, or it may be possible to facilitate to transfer him to another country.Mrs Watanabe has asked that all correspondance and support be copied to her directly to be added to his case as supporting documents.

Farshad has also tried to contact the Ministry of Immigration, they have refused to see him but have confirmed that they are aware of his case. Farshad is planning to see UNHCR and Amnesty International.

Free Union of Workers in Japan supports Jamal!

Japan report 5 April 2010

















Our man in Japan Farshad Hosseini is busy meeting and lobbying in Tokyo on behalf of Jamal. Today he met with the Free Union of Worker’s in Japan and its president Mr Yagamachi. Mr Yagamachi said that Jamal Saberi is well-known to the union and its members as a political activist and that they have had many meetings with Jamal. He said that Jamal was very active on behalf of the people of Iran and he was like an ‘ambassador’ for workers in Japan.

Farshad was invited to speak at the executive committee member’s meeting where he spoke about the uprisings in Iran and the demands of the people there. He then spoke about Jamal and his situation in the detention centre. All members of the Executive Committee of the union agreed to wholeheartedly support Jamal and the Free Jamal! campaign and to save him from deportation. One of the first tasks would be to get other unions and organisations, like the National Union of Japan, on board. They also made a financial contribution to the campaign of 50,000 Yen (about £350.00).

Farshad will be speaking at a member’s meeting of the Free Union of Worker’s in Japan on Thursday 8 April about
‘Revolution in the context of the labour movement’. He is also still trying to be seen at the Ministry of Justice in Tokyo.

Washington protest this Sunday

Our friends from Mission Free Iran are staging their third Sunday protest (and fourth in total) in front of the Japanese embassy in Washington DC this Sunday 4 April. If you are around, join them!

Washington DC, USA
1pm
Sunday 4 April
Japanese Embassy
2520 Massachusetts Ave NW

For more info go here

Report and video from London protest

We gathered at 4 opposite the Japanese embassy. There is a big four lane road between us and the security staff of the embassy who kept his eyes on us all the time. A big road that brings plenty of people along to find out about Jamal. At first we stand quietly with our banner and placards. Then we started using the loudhailer; it is strong enough to get across the road and down the road, despite the traffic. As soon as we started to speak the security staff at the embassy moved into action and after a couple of minutes the police arrived. They had a brief conversation with the staff and left. I guess the police informed them about our freedom of speech, even with a loudhailer. The nice thing that happened once we started using the loudhailer was that many people stopped and listened to what we had to say about Jamal and his situation in Japan. A human rights lawyer from Japan talked to us and offered support. Others expressed their support as well. We chanted slogans like: Deportation to Iran is execution by Japan! which we had also painted onto the banner. We also chanted: Shame on Japan! One of us went in front of the embassy to distribute leaflets about Jamal and got rid of all of them. Some people already knew about Jamal’s case. All in all a handful of people with a strong loudhailer can make a huge difference! We hope that the Japanese embassy and the Japanese government realise that we are indeed making their treatment of Jamal and other refugees in Japan very public. Last week we went to the embassy for an appointment with embassy staff and this week we chose to stay outside to let the public know too what is happening. I think it was a good decision.
To be continued…

Here is the video with parts of our speeches:

Global day Toronto

Global action day - photo essay

Here are our photos from the global action day in support of Jamal Saberi!


Vancouver











Berlin





















































Frankfurt










Tokyo
(UN Bustamante press conference)










Tokyo
















Washington DC
(organised by Mission Free Iran)




















Stockholm