Trapped: Kamalfar Family Still Held in Moscow Airport After 130 Days
by Roger L. Simon for Pajamas Media
Last November 18, Pajamas Media presented exclusive video smuggled out of Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport of Iranian dissident Zahra Kamalfar and her two children who had then been trapped in the airport's transit area - forced to drink and bathe from the toilets - for over 73 days. (See video here, other coverage here and here.) Kamalfar had escaped Iran with her family during a prison furlough and was fighting extradition back to the Islamic Republic while seeking political asylum in other countries.
Incredible as it may seem - despite efforts by the United Nations Refugee Committee, the European Human Rights Court and lawyers and activists worldwide - Kamalfar and her family are still trapped in the same airport transit area over two months later.
Russian authorities have not given them the normal housing usually offered those awaiting asylum judgments and, according to PJ Media sources, are making life even more uncomfortable than it was for the political refugees, who have been finding it more difficult than before to obtain simple survival tools like blankets.
Hengameh Afshar – talk show hostess for satellite station Tasvir Iran – who has spoken directly with Kamalfar – told PJ Media Russian authorities have evidently directed airport personnel to ignore the family and not even to speak with them.
What accounts for this behavior? Sources speculate both the Russians and the Iranians have reason to fear Kamalfar. She may have a lot to talk about when and if she finally gets asylum – including extreme mistreatment by the Russian airport personnel before this case came into public view and even more brutal and abusive treatment by the Iranians while she was in prison. Kamalfar’s husband disappeared in Iran under mysterious circumstances.
As for her asylum search, attorneys first made application with Canada, where Kamalfar’s brother lives. For reasons that are unclear, Canada initially rejected the application but is now reconsidering it. Zohreh Mizrahi, a Los Angeles immigration lawyer working on the case, told PJ Media that in the event Canada does not finally accept the Kamalfar family, application will be made to the United States.
The Canadian Broadcasting Company has interviewed Kamalfar inside the airport and their interview will apparently be aired on Monday evening.
Thanks for your coverage.
Extraordinary story. Let us pray those people never have to return to Iran.
Two requests:
1. Please continue your excellent coverage of this matter.
2. Give some suggestions as to what PJM readers can do to help.
Amazing. Thanks for the update. They had pretty much disappeared from the media, even in Russia.
The end of the story mentions that they’re waiting to hear from Canada before they apply for refugee status in the U.S. Unless you can only file one claim at a time, why are they waiting to get started on the US application?
I was just wondering about your “straw poll”, sense you didn’t allow comments.
Why was Rep. Ron Paul left off the poll?? Besides Rep. Tancredo, Rep.Ron Paul is the ONLY TRUE Conservative in the race.I know a lot of you think of him as a Non-Factor in the race, but he’s the only one who stands true to the views of Barry Goldwater.
I know, a lot of you have no idea who that is anymore. It’s a shame.
It seems the authorities are waiting for those who know about this family to forget about them, so they can get on with the business of shipping them back to Iran. I’m surprised that BBC, CNN, and FNN haven’t been all over this story. Shame.
I will post this story in my blog because here,in Argentina,many people do not understand whats going on in Iran today.
This is totally unacceptable. Russia government is showing in many ways that it doesn’t consider any one as human being, remember what they do with their spy?
This boy has lost his teeth in there, even children don’t mean anything to them? even iran’s mollas wouldn’t do that..
Thank you for exposing the news.
Can Pajamasmedia initiate fresh representation to the Un, the Canadian and the Russian authorities? Can Pajamasmedia involve other media such as FOX, CNN, New York Times, LA Times and others?
I cannot believe we witness this heartlessness in the 21st century from the so-called civilised countries.
Again many thanks to Pajamasmedia and please do whatever you can to help them.
Russia is enjoying a good relationship with Iran, why would they jeopardize their client-state.
But where are the Liberal group’s cry for help? Liberal groups can’t stop talking about how cruel the neo-cons are, but I don’t see their sympathy anywhere…total intellectual hypocrisy!
May God bless them and help them and secure their release to the West as soon as possible. Yes, where are all the “bleeding-heart” lefties…..??????
This is Disgusting treatment of anyone!! I am an American citizen who would be more than happy to sponsor this family here in the United States. Is that possible? Can we get them out of the airport in Russia and residing in a normal atmosphere in the United States while she deals with the politics?
Show me the way and our family will assist!!
Thank you for not giving up on this family! Those damn bastard Russians [government]! It isn’t surprising when they [the Russians] are one of the strongest supporters of the terrorist Islamic Regime providing them with weapons and helping construct nuclear power plants!
I applaud you for your coverage