Iranian atheist begs: 'Don't send me back home ... I'll be killed'

[rug]

Vice-chairman of Scottish Secular Society says if he is deported he will be tried as a traitor against Islam



Demonstrators at the Iranian emabassy in London protest against human rights abuses such as stonings and executions in Iran. Ramin Forghani, left, fears for his life if he returns to the country. Photograph: Getty Images

Sunday 12 October 2014

THE nephew of a former Iranian deputy defence minister who has become a prominent and outspoken atheist in Scotland has made a desperate appeal not to be returned to his homeland, claiming his life is now at risk as he will be seen as a "traitor of Islam".

Ramin Forghani, the vice-chairman of the which campaigns for the separation of church and state, and promotes atheism, has appealed to the Home Office to prevent his forced return to Iran after the Court of Session rejected his asylum case.

Forghani, 25, whose parents and a sister still live in Iran, has been in Glasgow for two years working on a masters degree in environmental engineering at the University of Strathclyde. He applied for asylum while staying on a student visa, saying he has turned his back on Islam, founded the Iranian Atheists Association and is chairman of Ex-Muslims Scotland.

He has told the Home Office his uncle was Alireza Akbari, once an adviser to Iran's National Security Council, former general with the Revolutionary Guard and a former deputy defence minister.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/iranian-atheist-begs-dont-send-me-back-home-ill-be-killed.25565021

[Cartoonist]

1. Begs?

Kind of demeaning. Sounds like the Herald has an attitude. Didn't they kill witches in Scotland once upon a time? Yes, I did a quick search. Do they kill apostates in Iran. You betcha.

[AtheistCrusader]

2. Good grief, give him asylum/sanctuary.

Or send him to the US, or hell, anywhere but Iran.

[cbayer]

3. I hope they grant his request.

I have no doubt that he will suffer repercussions back in Iran.

[pinto]

4. I wonder if he would be considered for asylum in the US? There's a large ex-pat community in SoCal.

Likely, someone would step up to sponsor such a request.