Iranian hunger striker hospitalised while deportation threat remains (From Times Series)

Iranian hunger striker hospitalised while deportation threat remains

7:28pm Monday 8th February 2010 in

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AN ASYLUM seeker who went on hunger strike because she is terrified of being forcibly returned to Iran has been taken to hospital.

Bita Ghaedi, of High Road, Whetstone, has refused to eat since being told she had lost her appeal for asylum on January 19 and would be deported within a fortnight.

She complained of chest and stomach pains on Thursday.

Concerned, her partner Moshen Zadshir took her to Barnet Hospital.

He said she has so far lost 12kg and is very weak.

After observing her for 24 hours, doctors said she should remain in hospital.

She was moved to Edgware Hospital on Saturday.

Mr Zadshir said he was really worried about her.

“She is not OK at all,” he said.

“She's very, very depressed and now she won't even talk to me on the phone.

“I keep calling and calling her but she won't answer.”

He said doctors were feeding her enriched liquids but she was still refusing solid food.

Ms Ghaedi claims she was regularly beaten as a teenager and young woman and then forced to marry in Iran.

She escaped with her secret lover after being beaten so badly by her brother that she ended up in hospital.

She said she feared her life would be in danger if her family found out she had a boyfriend.

Since living in Britain she has become politically active and criticised the Iranian regime, joining regular protests in support of the Green Movement in Iran.

The protests are organised by the People's Mujahedeen of Iran (PMOI), which has many members living in Barnet.

Because of this she fears she would be in danger from the regime if she was forced to return to Iran as well as from an honour killing from her family.

Teacher Ms Ghaedi, 34, has attempted suicide in the past.

She told the Barnet Times Series that she would rather die in this country than return to Iran.

Currently nine anti-government protesters are on death row in Iran after being sentenced to execution for their involvement in protests after last June's disputed presidential elections.

On Friday, European Union high representative for foreign and security policy, Catherine Ashton, urged Iran to institute an immediate moratorium on executions saying they were a “disturbing trend to intimidate opposition protesters”.

A spokesman from the UK Borders Agency said that the agency could not comment on individual cases.