Asylum Application

Nasrollah Lashani made this access to documents request to European Union Agency for Asylum

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, European Union Agency for Asylum should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear Sir/Madam,

This letter serves as an urgent plea for humanitarian support. My family and I are fleeing from ongoing persecution and imminent danger in Iran, seeking refuge to secure safety and restore our dignity.

My name is Nasrollah Lashani, an Iranian journalist and human rights activist. I am writing this letter to inform you about the critical situation my family and I are facing, which places us in significant danger and in urgent need of support.

Introduction:

Throughout more than two decades of my professional career:

I have worked as a journalist with prominent Iranian publications, focusing on human rights, social issues, and political analysis.

I hold a Master’s degree in Development Economics, which has enabled me to analyze social and economic issues with an informed and academic perspective.

I have published numerous articles on social justice, freedom of expression, and civil rights, contributing to raising public awareness in these areas.

Additionally, I have actively promoted equality and human dignity through research and fieldwork.

However, my professional and civic activities led to severe security pressures, including persecution, arrests, and heavy restrictions.

History of Persecution:

In 2013, I was arrested by Iran's Ministry of Intelligence for publishing research and analyses in various publications and websites. This marked my third arrest, as I had been detained twice before. For approximately two months (May and June), I was held in solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, where I was repeatedly interrogated. After two months, I was released on bail but remained subject to continuous summons and interrogations, which persisted until 2016. These weekly interrogations (often on Wednesdays) were conducted in secret detention facilities, referred to as “offices” by intelligence agents. I was taken to at least three such facilities in different locations in Tehran.

In June 2016, my sentence was executed, and I was sent to Evin Prison. Even in prison, I was frequently transferred to Ward 209, where I was subjected to threats and coercion to force me into collaboration. The authorities even summoned my wife, who had no political activities, and attempted to pressure her into persuading me to cooperate. When this failed, the volume of threats against us increased.

Despite enduring three years of imprisonment under these conditions, the interrogators continued to pressure my family and me. They repeatedly threatened me with new fabricated charges that would result in additional years of imprisonment. After consulting with my family, we decided to leave Iran and seek refuge in a free country. During a furlough period, I fled to Turkey. However, Turkish police detained me and handed me over to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). I was subsequently held in solitary confinement in the IRGC detention center in Urmia for two months, then transferred to Tehran and interrogated (and this time tortured) for an additional month at the detention center of Intelligence Unit 2-Alef. I was then tried again and sentenced to further imprisonment.

Following this, I was transferred to the general ward of Evin Prison, where I helped establish a general prisoners’ assembly and continued my human rights advocacy on behalf of inmates. These activities led to my transfer to Rajaei Shahr Prison, where I served the remainder of my sentence.

Current Situation:

After more than six years in prison, I was released but remained under continuous security pressures, including frequent summons and interrogations. The security apparatus prevented me from finding employment or earning an income. Even when I worked as an accountant at a private company, my employer was pressured by the IRGC to terminate my employment. This placed my family and me in severe financial hardship. However, along with some friends, I established a company specializing in the production and repair of laboratory equipment. As a shareholder, financial manager, and chairman of the board, I played a key role in its operations. The company’s success improved our financial situation, but the interrogations and pressures persisted.

Although financial coercion failed to break me, psychological pressures and threats escalated. These threats extended to my family’s well-being, including the health and future of my son. The stress and anxiety took a toll on my wife, leaving her physically and emotionally exhausted.

My 14-year-old son has been deeply affected by these traumatic experiences. He suffers from severe anxiety and paranoia due to the pressures of my imprisonment and ongoing threats. He is now so mistrustful of strangers that he cannot leave the house easily. His condition requires professional psychological treatment in a stable and secure environment, which is unattainable in Iran.

These pressures and their devastating impacts forced us to leave our homeland. In Iran, we owned a home, had a car, and were covered by social security and pension insurance. Our company was thriving, and we were financially stable. Yet, we abandoned everything—our loved ones, possessions, and achievements—fleeing to Armenia like war refugees. The IRGC was preparing a case against me that would likely have resulted in a 15-year prison sentence.

Conclusion:

I respectfully request your urgent attention to our situation and appeal for the granting of humanitarian visas for my family and me. This vital support will ensure our safety and dignity and allow us to rebuild our lives in a secure and free environment.

Your assistance will not only save our lives but also enable us to contribute meaningfully to society once again.

Additional Support:

I would like to emphasize that numerous individuals, including colleagues, friends, and fellow activists, can attest to the circumstances I have described. They are prepared to provide testimony and validate the details of my situation, should it be required.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

Sincerely,
Nasrollah Lashani

You can see some information about me through the links below:

https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Nasro...

https://cpj.org/data/people/nasrullah-la...

https://cpj.org/2021/05/iran-detained-at...

https://iranwire.com/en/prisoners/120037...

https://www.courrierinternational.com/ar...

https://documentation.pfwb.be/index.php?...

https://ipa.united4iran.org/en/prisoner/...

https://rissmaan.com/en/id-22080/

https://www.en-hrana.org/tag/rajai-shahr...