12/17/02

Attorney General, John Ashcroft

950 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.

Washington, D.C. 90530

Dear Mr. Ashcroft:

We would like to express our utmost concern about the ill treatment and detention of many Iranian people by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Most of the Iranian immigrants have been the victims of terrorism. They have escaped the terror of the Islamic Regime of Iran with the hope of finding peace and security in the USA. That is why they can feel the pain and sorrow of the American people due to the tragic event of September 11 and there is nothing more comforting to them than seeing the determination of the world community to fight terrorism indiscriminately.  

However, while the scrutiny of the immigrants is justified to prevent further terrorist activities, subjecting the Iranians to hardship indiscriminately, is against their basic rights protected by the US laws and humanistic traditions. 

It is so ironic that while the representatives of the Islamic Regime of Iran (IRI), a recognized terrorist regime, are welcome to the U.S., and while many individuals and interest groups are openly lobbying for establishing relation with this regime, the peaceful Iranian people are treated in such a degrading manner. 

We urge you to differentiate between a terrorist regime and its victims and show your will for fighting against terrorism by protecting the victims rather than subjecting them further to harassment, abuse, and hardship.  

We urge you to make necessary arrangements for the release of many Iranians who have been detained for several days. Given their plight, Iranians deserve your special attention. Please help them.

Respectfully,  

MEHR Foundation