Transcript
July 18, 2008. 1600 GMT:
Ahead of World Refugee Day in June, the UN Refugee Agency reported that there are an estimated 12,160 refugees and asylum seekers in Turkey. Approximately 32% [3,900] of those are Iranians.
In Iraq, there are said to be 42,300 refugees and 2,400 persons seeking asylum. Of those, 26% [11,100] of refugees and 41% [1,800] of asylum seekers are Iranians.
Between 7 and 10% of Iran’s population are of Kurdish decent, some 5 to 7 million people.
Many live in the Kurdistan, Kermanshah, and Baluchestan provinces, however there is a large internally displaced population living in Tehran and the neighboring suburbs.
Discrimination against the Kurds has been institutionalized since the birth of the Islamic Republic. Prohibition of the Kurdish language and closure of Kurdish newspapers manifest the state’s prejudice, although they occurred even before the 1979 revolution.
Article 12 of Iran’s constitution specifically denotes it as a Shiite state, leaving followers of other religions with difficult decisions– including for the Kurdish minority, who are overwhelmingly Sunnis.
[Roya Boroumand #SB ] “…You know, we know that Sunni Muslims are discriminated against - by law they are not allowed to participate in their government, they are not allowed to participate in the army, and they’ re not allowed to be part of many of these state organizations because they are Sunni – simply because they are Sunni.”
To provide for their families, many Kurds have fled Iran and moved to Northern Iraq or South-East Turkey – where they often receive anything but a warm welcome.
Kurdish refugees are routinely placed in refugee camps, sent back to Iran, or worse. Inside Iran, state sponsored programs and institutionalized actions have helped to create the current situation.
[Mozhda Seifallah Azizi Babai, refugee, SB] “My name is Mozhda Seifallah Azizi Babai. I came here three years ago in hopes of a humane life. But for all the living I have done, I have not lived as a person should. I am 16 years old and I really despise my life. I thank and pray for Jordan for housing us for the past 3 years. I hope to leave soon and have a good life and get away from misfortune.”
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has taken steps to alleviate the suffering of refugees. They offer limited food, shelter, and relocation assistance to Kurdish refugees who seek their aid. However, until there is socio-economic stability for the Kurds, they continue to flee Iran at a documented rate of 15,000 a year according to the UNHCR.
