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Israfil
Shiri, died early this morning after five 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 last
Thursday 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 sewed his mouth
and lips together and another went on hunger strike.
An open letter (below) 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 or mark.krantz@ntlworld.com
or Rhetta Moran on 0161-295-5277 r.moran@salford.ac.uk
Manchester
Committee To Defend Asylum Seekers
Statement
On Suicide of Israfel Shiri
We are horrified by the hidden plight of Iranian asylum
seekers in this country, now made so visible by the
shocking suicide of the young homeless man Israfel
who set fire to himself in Manchester last week.
Israfel, who suffered from a serious medical condition,
had been refused medical treatment, housing, benefits
and the right to work for over a year. He fled Iran
several years ago to escape political persecution
and before the incident last week he told his friend
he was terrified of being sent back to Iran and had
lost all hope of a decent existence in Britain.
We understand that there are many other Iranians who
are destitute and living in fear of deportation in
this country and we demand that local politicians
meet with the Iranian Asylum Seeking and Refugee community
in Greater Manchester to discuss this situation and
take measures to prevent similar tragedies taking
place in the future.
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