IranWire Exclusive: Kurdish Political Refugees Face Deportation to Iran After Greece Arrest

Dozens of Iranian Kurdish political activists who were arrested on a boat earlier this week en route to Italy are at risk of being sent back to Iran where they could face severe punishment, IranWire reports.

On the evening of March 4, a video was received by IranWire showing Milad Arsanjani, a former political prisoner, discussing his arrest along with more than 100 other asylum seekers by Greek police.

"We were en route from Greece to Italy when they arrested us," Arsanjani stated. "They are now taking us back to Türkiye. There is a possibility that many would get deported back to Iran. Most are former political prisoners."

Arsanjani disclosed that the group, comprising over 60 Iranian nationals seeking clandestine entry into Europe, is currently detained by Greek authorities in a camp, hoping to seek asylum in Greece.

Following the video's release, IranWire managed to establish contact with detainees, confirmed another one’s identity, Milad Mohammad Amini, a 30-year-old Kurdish activist from Mahabad in Kurdistan province.

Amini, associated with Kurdish parties opposing the Islamic Republic has also spent time in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Following the publication of the video, a relative of Amini reached out to IranWire and expressed concern.

He disclosed that his family had been in contact with Amini until noon on March 4. Subsequently, Amini's phone was switched off, causing distress to his mother.

The relative highlighted the inability of Amini's return to Iran, given his years of affiliation with the Kurdistan Democratic Party.

Recounting his last conversation with Amini around noon, the relative mentioned he mentioned a problem with the boat and its subsequent damage.

Since then, his phone has remained unreachable, and the family has learned of their apprehension by the Greek police.

The perilous journey undertaken by asylum seekers, often through illegal and hazardous routes due to the closure of a United Nations scheme and unmet asylum requests, highlights the desperation and risks faced by those fleeing persecution.

In 2018, Italian police arrested 13 individuals for transporting asylum seekers in "ghost boats" from Greece and Türkiye to Italy.

It is reported that smugglers demand at least $6,000 per person, yet most attempts result in the asylum seekers being apprehended by border police or succumbing to the treacherous sea.

The source close to Amini recounted the circumstances preceding their arrest by Greek police.

"Milad's mother heard their cries. They managed to capture a brief video during the police intervention, revealing the distress etched on Milad's face," he said in an interview with IranWire.

Acknowledging the danger of deportation, the source added, "Understandably, both he and his family are gripped by anxiety and fear, knowing that even a 1 per cent chance of deportation to Iran could lead to severe punishment."

According to the source, he suffers from illness and sustained a leg injury while in detention by security forces several years ago.

"He has endured years of detention, abuse, and torture in prison. He is not alone in his plight. Many aboard that boat are political asylum seekers, and their return to Iran would entail dire consequences," the source recalled.

"We would rather they face starvation and die there than be sent back to Iran," he warned.

Amini, now 30 years old, lost his father when he was just three years old.

"His mother single-handedly raised him, having no one else. Due to her political activism, she was also summoned and interrogated by the Mahabad Intelligence Department," the source said.

The security measures imposed by the Islamic Republic government in Kurdish-populated regions have driven many to seek refuge elsewhere.

"Like numerous other young individuals, he sought equal citizenship rights. However, his political involvement forced him to flee to Iraqi Kurdistan," the source explained.

"Even after his departure, his mother continued to face threats. Eventually, Milad decided to travel to Türkiye, with hopes of reaching Europe.

"Recently, he told his mother about Türkiye's tough economic situation. He was torn between going back to Iran, risking imprisonment and torture, or continuing to Europe, even if it means risking his life."

In the video sent to IranWire, one of the detained asylum seekers disclosed that among the 67 Iranians aboard the ship, at least 30 have a documented history of membership in Kurdish parties opposed to the Islamic Republic.

Just over a month ago, the execution of four Iranian Kurdish prisoners accused of being "saboteurs" with links to Israel's Mossad intelligence service prompted widespread condemnation, both within and outside of Iran.

Mohammad Faramarzi, Mohsen Mazloum, Wafa Azarbar, and Pejman Fatehi were hanged on January 29.

Available documents and published reports show that the defendants faced an unfair judicial process and were denied access to their chosen lawyer, marking them as the latest victims of the Islamic Republic’s repressive policies, which include the growing use of the death penalty.

Returning Milad Mohammad Amini and any of the asylum seekers arrested on this ship to Iran could lead to severe consequences, potentially including the imposition of the death penalty or lengthy prison sentences.