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First Iran asylum seekers arrive in Germany

25 July 2010 00:32 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. German Interior Ministry says a total of 50 Iranians granted asylum in the wake of last year’s post-elections demonstrations, APA reports quoting haaretz.com website.
Twelve Iranians granted asylum after fleeing to Turkey following opposition protests last year have arrived in Germany, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.
Confirming a report in Der Spiegel news weekly, a ministry spokesman said another 26 Iranians had been given a green light for asylum, while the applications of others were being processed, bringing the total to 50.
"Twelve have already arrived over the past weeks, another one will arrive next week," the spokesman said by telephone, declining to be named.
"The remaining have been approved or are awaiting approval as we work in conjunction with the Turkish authorities and the United Nations refugee body," he added.
The move comes after criticism by human rights organizations over Tehran’s handling of protests against last year’s disputed presidential election, which has found resonance in capitals across the European Union.
Germany permits a number of Iranians to stay in the country as part of its general asylum policy, but the ministry has said the group in question had been selected to show solidarity with Iranians being persecuted.
Der Spiegel, citing an Iranian human rights activist, said they were mostly journalists critical of Iran’s government, who would be viewed by Tehran as dissidents.
Germany is involved in diplomatic efforts to try to get Iran to curb its nuclear activity and is working on a new round of European sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Western nations believe Iran is trying to develop a nuclear bomb. Tehran denies this, saying its nuclear enrichment program is aimed at generating electricity for civilian use.