Iranian Asylum Seekers-

The Plight of Iranian Refugees, a social, political, and economic study

Conference: SOAS London February 2001

PERSIAN

The Refugee Phenomenon - A Summary

The decision to leave the safety of the familiar is never easy. It is not easy to decide to leave home, friends and family for an uncertain and unfamiliar sometimes contradictory customs and cultures. Understandably, it is embarked upon with trepidation. One will attempt everything possible to avoid this unwanted situation. It is human nature to be cautious, to weigh up options and think things through. However, increasingly we witnessed that in the final decade of the last century increasingly desperate numbers of people had no choice but to make this very decision and leave everything behind for fear of safety and travel to unfamiliar countries in pursuit of security and stability.

It is the beginning of a tragic dilemma when the need to seek refuge becomes a must and an unavoidable reality. It is the beginning of constant pain and uncertainty. A pain that the refugee has no choice but to endure. However, in this difficult, excitable and problematic area it is not only the distressed asylum seeker who suffers, both the source and host countries are intertwined in this tragedy too and have to deal with the consequences. This summary while referring to the general international laws will concentrate on the issues concerning Iranian asylum seekers and refugees.

1.      Who are the Refugees and where do they come from.

The right to seek refuge was recognised in the 1951[1] Geneva Convention and in 1960, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees officially started its work. Although many different terms and statements have been used to describe the plight of refugee and the internally displaced[2] including the 1967 Protocol the complexities remain. On a daily basis the situation[3] and conditions for this wandering group of people in the world change and require new descriptions and terminology. 

2.      The Migration History of Iranians and familiarisation with the 'West'

As the first major migration by Iranians, the exodus of the Zoroastrians to India must be mentioned. In the ninth century, groups of Iranian, and Central Asian Zoroastrians fled their oppressive Muslim rulers and settled in Gujarat in western India. These pilgrims, accommodated by the Hindu rulers of the region, became the Parsis, an ethnic group that is still influential in India today. 

Beginning in the nineteenth century a large influence on the socio-political thinking and future structure of a modern Iran was the direct result of travel, migration, and familiarisation with the 'West'. This is an important event in understanding Iran and needs careful examination.

It was during this time that individuals such as Seyed Jamalodin Asadabadi[4], Mirza Malcom Khan Esfahani[5], and many others left Iran during the Qajar dynasty[6]. On the other hand, groups were sent to Europe during this time expressly on the orders of the Qajar central government and Abbass Mirza[7] who believed that Iran's repeated defeats at the hands of the Russians were due to lack of knowledge of western technologies. The aim was for them to bring back the art of canon building and other modern weaponry to stop the round of defeats. 

The effects of self enforced exile in protest against the Qajar regime or the dispatch of groups by the regime, without doubt turned a page in Iran's contemporary history in acquainting it with the 'West'. The publication of periodicals such as Kaveh in Berlin, Qanoon in London, Jal Almatin in Calcutta, Soraya in Egypt and ? increased this influence hundred folds. This was how Iranians became aware and acquainted with the 'West' and its technologies. 

Following Reza Shah's 1920 coup d'etat in Iran and his consequent reign in 1925, extraordinary changes happened in Iran as a result of a direct policy of acquainting Iran with the West and in Iran's modernisation. Although not an educated man, Reza Shah fought hard to raise the level of knowledge and education in Iran. Primary and secondary schools and more importantly in 1934 the Tehran University were built based on a western model. Understanding the importance of having Iranian expertise at work, he sent many to the 'West' for education and specialization.

However, on the other hand, his dictatorial approach resulted in many intellectuals and politicians leaving Iran which at later periods had a positive influence on Iran's society. Although the recent flight of Iranians in the last twenty two years is also because of social and political reasons, it cannot be compared with that period. This is the largest Iranian migration in the country's old history and is an escape from the oppression of a 'totalitarian Islamic dictatorship'. In the last twenty two years during the rule of the Islamic Republic millions have fled and have been forced to take at times hazardous journeys for the sake of safety.

An examination of this mass departure and asylum seeking is the objective of the research project. We hope that the research will encompass the diversity of views and be as comprehensive as possible so that other societies may learn from our mistakes.

3.      The Displaced and Refugees - A Global Phenomenon

In 2001, UNHCR announced that in the last fifty years it has taken care of over 50 million people. It has enabled them to rebuild their lives and use the protection of the organisation.

Based on the figures published by UNHCR the number of people under their protection has been as follow:

Table 1. Annual totals worldwide of persons of concern to UNHCR

(Source UNHCR)

In the first half the 90s following a series of major crises in Northern Iraq, the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Africa's Great Lakes region the numbers rocketed to an all time high in 1995 before gradually tapering off towards the end of the decade.

Table 2. Annual Totals worldwide of persons of concern to UNHCR

(Source UNHCR)

Table 3. Estimated number of persons of concern who fall under the mandate of UNHCR [by region] (Source UNHCR)

The countries hosting the most number of 'persons of concern' are also named in the following table. It must be noted that a number of these countries such as Iran that has provided a home for the second largest concentration of refugees itself has somewhere between 3 to 5 million of its citizens dispersed around the globe.

Table 4. Top ten countries providing refuge and the number of persons of concern to UNHCR Jan 2001 (Source UNHCR)

These are the numbers of people officially recognised as persons of concern. They are separate from the group that do not fit in any category initially and are homeless and internally displaced.

An interesting point to note is that in 2001 for every 275 person in the world there is a person who is under the protection of the UNHCR.

4.      The Roots of problems of the Refugees and the Displaced

To have a proper understanding of the asylum seeking and displacement one has to have a complete understanding of this section of society. The classification below may help us understand them better. Of course, this is by no means the definitive breakdown.

Political Factor - The formation of new states after the Second World War under the supervision of the wining side changed the boundaries of Iran's neighbouring countries in the region. Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, North and South Yemen, the United Arab Emirates ?were amongst the countries whose rulers were chosen not by popular mandate but by the will of the countries that influenced them. These regimes remained in place as long as they served the interest of the controlling country. Until the media revolution handling these countries was relatively easy or at least until the appearance of videos, satellites and ultimately Internet they could be kept under control. Over the last thirty years or so because of a rise in the level of people's awareness in these countries changes have taken place and consequently manipulating the governments of these nations has become harder. The citizens who could not accept the social and political repression of the unpopular governing regimes were forced to flee their land for fear of persecution and in pursuit of safety. They became part of a growing number of despairing asylum seekers in camps and unfamiliar countries and figures in the refugee statistics.[8] Without doubt, if democratic governments come into power then the need for emigrating or seeking asylum due to political persecution would reach a minimum.

Economic Factor - One of the main reasons for emigrating is economic betterment. This is mostly the reason for the young and they will risk hardship and danger for a better life and a secure future. Important factors of economic problems are inflation, unemployment, inability to create jobs by the government, and unequal income and opportunities. Its roots are in a monopolistic economic policy. The countries named above and any other undemocratic and unpopular government usually suffer from this problem.

An example of emigrating for economic reasons is the departure of young Iranians to Japan and the Persian Gulf states. Other countries of choice such as Canada and UK[9] have their own problems of a growing number of asylum seekers.

Social and Cultural Factors - The majority of those embarking on emigration are on the younger end of the age scale[10]. Although the fact that those at the age of retirement with adequate resources may choose to retire to their ideal country must not be ignored. However, in the case of countries where asylum seekers originate from and are the subject of the research, their number is nominal.

Issues discussed under social and cultural factors refer to pressures and legal and illegal oppressions by despotic governments. For these reasons citizens of such countries flee and leave their home behind. Examples of this are seen amongst the refugees from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria etc in the region. With reference to Iran and the 3 to 5 million Iranians who are living outside Iran in the last few years and in particular during the Khatami era (1997 to present) the majority of these are young men and women in the 15 - 24 age group and in the less than 30 category.[11]

Between various pressures that can be reported, the problems of women as a social group must not be ignored. These include the enforcement of Islamic dress code or Hejab, being refrained form entering the work force, limitations on educational subjects, but most importantly identifying half of the population as second class citizens by insulting their characters and not allowing them personal freedom or the possibility of being promoted to high office. [12]

The young Iranian men are faced with different problems, a mixture of cultural and economic factors. Large-scale unemployment, economic instability, not being able to get married or set up home they are left disillusioned with no vision or hope for their future. At the same time severe and strict restrictions on any form of relationship between the sexes that is an essential need of the young generation in any community is in itself a restricting factor of their personal freedom.

We hope that this research project and its preliminary finding presented at the 'Iranian Asylum Seekers' conference would enable us to lay the foundation for the final finding and provide a strong basis for lobbying for change and improvement at local, national, and international level ultimately to improve and change policies by the UN.

Dr Hossein Ladjevardi

February 2001