IRQO (IRanian Queer Org.):
2.10.2007
During the last year generous donations from IGLHRG, Egale Canada, Al-Fatiha
Foundation and many individual human rights defenders made it possible for
Iranian Queer Organization to help Iranian queer community around the world.
Throughout the passed year, we in IRQO were amazingly successful at creating
a global shift in consciousness around Iranian queer issues. From the
national and international conferences and meetings we attended and
organized, to media and public awareness campaigns we engaged in, IRQO has
raised significant awareness about the plight of Iranian queers.
In January of 2007, we organized a Human Rights Symposium, which brought
together acclaimed scholars and human rights activists, and provided a forum
of its first kind for examining the systematic violation of human rights in
Iran based on gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion and
disability. Without your contributions, this event would not have been
possible. Your donations also made it possible for us to purchase a computer
and some other essential office equipments, which enabled us in turn to
publish our monthly journal, Cheraq, without interruption. Providing a space
for sharing experiences, stories, and academic debates, Cheraq, which is now
received by more than 4000 Iranians every month, is slowly but effectively
helping to create a proud and informed Iranian queer community. Its
continuing success, however, depends in part on the support of gracious
donors like yourselves.
Throughout the past year, IRQO has also played an extremely influential role
in cases of Iranian queer asylum seekers. The Organization sends letters of
support on behalf of Iranian queer asylum seekers to the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees, and to European countries where refugees usually
are tried for their cases; and follows up their cases to the end with care.
As a result of our efforts, more than seventy refugees have been granted
status just in the past year, many of whom had been waiting for three or
four years. By documenting and reporting cases of torture, persecution,
execution and other human rights violations that occur in Iran on a regular
basis, IRQO has helped remove any international doubt about the dismal
situation of queers in Iran.
IRQO has also been trying in the past year to financially support queer
asylum seekers. Many Iranian queer asylum seekers live under extreme
financial difficulties as their families and friends have abandoned them. In
Turkey, they are not permitted to work and do not have access to health
facilities, medication, food and proper housing. They often live in crowded
houses, with no heat and sanitary facilities. At present, to give you and
example, in a small two-bedroom apartment, the same flat IRQO has paid for
with your donations, 7 of our refugees live in terror as the landlord has
sold the building. To move to another apartment a considerable amount of
money is needed for down payments, as it is the way for renting flats in
Turkey. The young men will also have to rent more then one flat and there is
absolutely no money for it. A portion of your donations were used to pay off
the rent of them and also other asylum seekers for a period of one year, and
also at random. Unfortunately, IRQO has no more money left to support these
people and many of them are thus in immediate danger of homelessness if
additional donations are not offered to us soon.
We are thankful for your past contributions and we hope we have given you an
idea on how much it has been instrumental in easing our financial burden and
advancing our cause. We further hope we have made our urgent need for your
continuing support apparent. We would be more than happy to provide you with
further information about our activities.
We are grateful for your concerns and compassion on behalf of Iranian
queers, and we look forward to your future contributions.
Join now to our Yahoo Group.
