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What the Charges are About
Farrokh Shiri faces two charges: 1 - of 'frightening a police man' (possessing a Walther PPK replica handgun with the intent of causing a police constable to believe that unlawful violence would be used against him); and 2 - intending to use an imitation firearm with the intent of resisting arrest (the imitation firearm was a ball bearing gun - you couldn't kill a flea with one of these).

Farrokh Shiri is an Iranian dissident who was involved in assisting people in danger from the Iranian regime flee from Iran. His group enabled approximately 80 people from political and religious groups to escape over a period of 14 years.

He eventually had to leave Iran as his own life was in danger. He arrived in Britain in June 2000 and was refused asylum.

On Wednesday 7th March this year, Shiri discovered his appeal for political asylum in Britain had been turned down. In a very distressed state he threatened to take his own life. There was a 4 hour siege by police before Shiri calmed down. He was then arrested.

The Demonstration
On Friday 4th May there will be a preliminary hearing. Shiri is pleading not guilty and will make an application for bail. He has asked that as many people as possible should turn up on the 4th May, to pack the courtroom and demonstrate outside.

The demo is called by: Exeter Socialist Alliance � Peace in Kurdistan Campaign � South West National Civil Rights Movement � National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns � International Federation of Iranian Refugees � Bristol Campaign to Defend Asylum Seekers � Brent Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers � Kurdistan Solidarity Committee � Bail Circle � John McFarlane NATFHE Wawickshire College Chair in an individual capacity � Socialist Outlook � Judith Carter, Islington Law Centre � Socialist Workers Party � Campaign to Defend Asylum Seekers � Plymouth Socialist Alliance � Barbed Wire Britain Network to End Refugee and Migrant Detention � Close Down Harmondsworth � Close Campsfield

Write to Shiri
His English is excellent and we ask you all to send a letter or postcard on receipt of this message.

A Letter from Shiri
We reprint below his letter of last month.

Dear Friends,
Many thanks for the letters you have sent me. My English with simple words is OK. I can write, read and speak a little of this and that. I was very happy when I read that lots of people work on our behalf.

If we were not in deep trouble we would not have left our country and have to start again with nothing. I am in prison and not a mental hospital. My reasons for wanting to kill myself in Penzance are that I had a disappointing decision from the Home Office and not through insanity.

I am very, very puzzled. In this country they say I am not allowed to kill myself, but on the other hand they want to return me to people who will kill me.

Farrokh Shiri
Iranian asylum seeker, HMP Exeter, 15th March 2001

HMP Exeter, New North Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4EX

Letter from Bail Circle
Bail Circle: On behalf of the Bail Circle and it's members this letter expresses our support for the demonstration of solidarity with Farrokh Shiri, the Iranian detained in HMP Exeter.

Specifically, in the case of Farrokh Shiri we ask that:

1) an independent enquiry be held into the adequacy of his asylum legal representation and procedure. Furthermore, the report on the circumstances of his arrest shows clearly there are grounds for taking into serious consideration his psychological state of health at the time of arrest. A criminal hearing which does not, is unjust.

2) We ask that, in his forthcoming criminal procedure, the Court, to assist its deliberations, will commission a medico-legal report by an expert with an established and legally respected reputation in the specialised field of refugee mental health and treatment. Such a report will evaluate not only an asylum seeker's previous traumatic experiences but also the impact of the prolonged insecurity, isolation, neglect and lack of information inflicted by the UK authorities during the asylum procedure.

In general: The Bail Circle condemns the deliberately heightened levels of anxiety and helplessness generated by the severe detention policy now practised against asylum seekers, aimed at pressuring them to sign agreements for voluntary departure. We believe this will produce long-term psychological damage.
We criticise the lack of access to legal expertise, to efficient communication, to interpreting support, and to mental health supervision and care, which detention in high security prisons brings.
We ask for a humane asylum seekers supervision policy, which does not use detention. There are successful examples of such practice in a number of countries.

We ask that Farrokh Shiri be released and receive the skilled social and legal support he requires.

Puck de Raadt
The Bail Circle