In Memory of Israfil Shiri 1973-2003

     Another innocent victim of the UK's 'Unjust and inhumane' Immigration laws

    Israfil Shiri, died early on Wednesday morning 3rd September 2003 after seven days of terrible suffering in Wythenshawe Hospital Burns Unit Manchester.

Press Release from Manchester Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers

    Israfil Shiri, a destitute young Iranian man poured petrol over his body and set fire to himself on Thursday 28th August 2003 in the offices of Refugee Action in Manchester. He suffered burns to 80% of his body. He had told his friends he would do it to prove that this government cares more about animals than people fleeing torture and persecution.

     "If they cut off all my benefits, prevent me from working and make me homeless, I too will commit suicide". These were the words of another Iranian asylum seeker who, along with 30 other people, attended a meeting on Monday to discuss last Thursday's tragedy and how we can prevent it from happening again.

     Israfil Shiri, 30, who has been on life support at Wythenshawe Hospital Burns Unit following the suicide attempt at the Manchester offices of Refugee Action last week, died earlier this morning.

      In Iran, he had worked in a section of the military and he fled the country when he and his family were persecuted because he refused to follow orders that involved harming other innocent people. He suffered from a complicated medical condition and since his application for asylum was rejected over a year ago, he had been refused any medical treatment, had been made homeless from his Salford council flat and had received no benefits or support.

     His friend described how before the suicide attempt Israfil was in great pain due to his illness and was terrified of being sent back to Iran. He had lost all hope.

    Reza Moradi of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees commenting on the incident said, "Once you see you are facing deportation to jailers of the Islamic regime - you can't have a solicitor, you have no house to live in, you can't work, that is enough for people to commit suicide, or do something like this."

     This tragedy comes only a month after 2 other incidents in which one Iranian asylum seeker sowed his mouth and lips together and another went on hunger strike.

      An open letter (attached) has been launched and the Manchester Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers calling for local politicians and leaders to meet with the Iranian Community of asylum seekers in Greater Manchester.

Please sign and return to:
Manchester Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers
c/o 1 Delaunays Road
Crumpsall
Manchester M8 4QS

Inquiries/further information:
Mark Krantz on 0161-881-7352
mark.krantz@ntlworld.com
or Rhetta Moran on 0161-295-5277
r.moran@salford.ac.uk

IRR has recorded 14 suicides by victims of the asylum system in the last five years:

* On 31 January 2003, 42-year-old Ukrainian asylum seeker, Mikhail Bognarchuk, was found hanged by his shoelaces in a toilet at Haslar Removal Centre. He was due to be deported that day to Ukraine.

* On 7 May 2002, Shiraz Pir, a 25-year-old Afghani living in a Bristol hostel, was found hanged, but still alive. He died five days later in Bristol Royal infirmary. His application for refugee status had been refused.

* On 12 March 2002, Mohsen Amri, a 27-year-old Iranian, took his own life at his home in Handsworth, Birmingham. His asylum application had been refused on a technicality.

* On 1 January 2002, 28-year-old Souleyman Diallo jumped 100 feet to his death from Redheugh Bridge, Tyneside, because he was to be deported back to Guinea.

* August 2001, Nasser Ahmed, a 36-year-old Eritrean asylum seeker who had settled in Nelson, Lancashire, was found hanged, shortly after being refused permission to stay in the UK.

* 20 January 2001, an unnamed Kosovan was discovered on a ferry travelling from Ostend to Dover. At Dover he was put back on a ferry to deport him to Calais. But he jumped from the ship to his death.

* 18 January 2001, the body of Shokrolah 'Ramin' Khaleghi, a 26-year-old Iranian who had been a political prisoner in Iran, was discovered in the International Hotel, a hostel for asylum seekers in Leicester. He had committed suicide a week after the rejection of his asylum claim.

* 21 December 2000, Saeed Alaei, a 26-year-old Iranian, living in Nelson, Lancashire, was found hanged after the rejection of his asylum claim.

* 24th January 2001, Robertas Grabys, a 49-year-old Lithuanian asylum-seeker, hanged himself at Harmondsworth Detention Centre.

* Glynnis Cowley, a South African mother of three, committed suicide in Liverpool in 2000, after her asylum claim was rejected.

* 1998, Mehretab Kidane, a 28-year-old Eritrean asylum seeker, was so afraid of losing his asylum appeal that he committed suicide on the day of his final appeal hearing. His body was found at his south London flat, hanging from a makeshift noose.

* July 1998, Sofonias Alemseged, a 22-year-old asylum seeker from Eritrea, hanged himself with a shoelace in Brixton prison in, a few weeks before an appeal on his asylum claim was due to be held.

* 1998, Lin Yan-Guang, a Chinese asylum seeker, committed suicide in Warley hospital, Essex, in December.