INF-US  Statement : Categorical Ban On Entry Visa for the United S States for the Citizens of Seven Countries, Including Iran, is Unwise, Discriminatory, and Anti-Democratic. - May 13, 2002
( Please Find the English Translation Bellow the Persian ( Farsi ) Text. ) 

Iran National Front (US Branch): Categorical Ban on Entry Visa for the United States for the Citizens of Seven Countries, including Iran, is Unwise, Discriminatory, and Anti-Democratic



The H.R. 3525 "Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002," which was passed in the Senate and the House of Representatives in the United States bans the entry of citizens of Iran and six other countries has caused a great deal of consternation among Iranians and other immigrants residing in the United States.  Sen. Dianne Feinstein who introduced this bill claimed that this bill is an anti-terrorist measure.  No Iranian student has ever engaged in any terrorist activity in the United States.  Moreover, the citizens of those countries whose citizens were among the terrorists who committed the September 11 horrific tragedy are not included among the seven countries whose citizens are to be banned from visiting the US.  Although this bill is intended to be a counter-terrorism measure, in reality it will shatter the dreams of thousands of Iranian students who wish to enter American universities, and will disappoint the families of Iranian Americans who could no longer visit their loved ones.

When President Bush declared a global war on terrorism and announced his "Axis of Evil" policy, he explicitly made a distinction between the unelected leaders on the one hand, and the innocent people who are oppressed by those unelected few on the other hand.  This astute distinction between the oppressive regimes and the innocent people who are oppressed by these oppressive regimes was a wise principle of the US policy, and was repeated numerous times by high ranking American officials including the Secretary of State.  However, this bill has targeted Iranian students who yearn to attend American universities as well as the parents and relatives of Iranian Americans who wish to see their loved ones.  Would this bill not mix up the Iranian people and the unelected rulers who oppress them?

This bill targets innocent individuals is arbitrary, and thus discriminatory.  It is not clear based on what grounds were the students of seven countries singled out for discriminatory treatment.  Iranian students have not only never engaged in any terrorist activities, but have been at the forefront of the pro-democracy struggles against the oppressive and terrorist fundamentalist regime both inside Iran and abroad.  Moreover, in the past several decades, Iranian students have enriched the scientific and educational life of American universities.

This bill appears to us to be arbitrary and harmful for pluralistic and democratic inclusion.  To single out a particular nationality from issuing visas without any rational grounds appears to us to be discrimanatory and anti-democratic.  No nation which cherishes democracy and pluralism could pass such legislation and discriminate based merely on one's place of birth.  Laws should attempt to legislate respect for pluralism, democratic rights, tolerance without discrimination based solely on nationality.  We regard this bill to unnecessarily abridge the democratic and pluralistic ethos and norms cherished by the American people.

The Iran National Front (United States branch) along with other organizations dedicated to the promotion of civil rights, civil liberties, and pluralistic democracy expresses its strongest opposition to this bill.  We invite all Iranians residing in the United States to express their opposition to this bill and send letters, faxes and e-mails to President Bush and ask him not to sign this bill into law.


The Organizations of Iran National Front (United States Branch)
May 12, 2002