Frankfurt: Ein Augenblick Freiheit: Filmvorführung und Gespräch mit Regisseur Arash Riahi

Im Rahmen des Begleitprogramms der Omid-Ausstellung wird der Film “Ein Augenblick Freiheit” in der JBS Anne Frank gezeigt. Anschließend findet ein Gespräch  mit dem Regisseur Arash T. Riahi statt.

Der Film erzählt von der Odyssee dreier iranisch/kurdischer Flüchtlingsgruppen: einem Ehepaar, zwei jungen Männern mit zwei Kindern und einem befreundeten Männerpaar. Sie alle landen in der türkischen Hauptstadt, wo sie in einem wenig vertrauenswürdigen Hotel tagtäglich auf den Bescheid ihrer Asylanträge warten. Das eigentümliche Zwischenstadium der Asylwerbenden wird mit tragischer Komik und enormer Spannung in Szene gesetzt.

 

Termin: 31. Mai, 19.30 Uhr in der JugendBegegnungsStätte Anne Frank

Hansaallee 150, 60320 Frankfurt

Der Eintritt ist frei!

Berlin: “Iranian Voices” – Hörspielpräsentation Donnerstag 31.05. | 19:00 Uhr

Roter Salon, Volksbühne am Rosa Luxemburg Platz

Anläßlich der Präsentation des Hörspiels wird eine Podiumsdiskussion mit dem kanadischen Queer-Aktivisten Arsham Parsi, der Berliner Theaterwissenschaftlerin Azadeh Sharifi und weiteren Gästen stattfinden. Dazu spielt ein Quartett bestehend aus Marc Sinan (Gitarre), Jelena Kuljic (Gesang), Johannes Lauer (Posaune) und Bernd Özsevim (Schlagzeug) live Musiken aus der Hörspiel-Partitur.

Eintritt frei

Alle reden vom Krieg. In den epischen Erzählungen von Leyla und Majnun, den beiden Liebenden, die unter einem schlechten Stern stehen, nämlich der Venus, die den Menschen den Sex und den Krieg bringt. In den Gerichtssälen und an den Filmsets, in den beengenden Kleinstädten und weitläufigen Parkanlagen ist die Rede vom Krieg. Es ist der Krieg im Alltag, im Aufbegehren gegen ein erstickendes Regime oder in dessen willkürlichem Zugriff auf deinen Körper und deinen Kopf.

Aus einer Melange von Dokumentarmaterial, lyrischen Fragmenten und diskursiver Wut hat der Autor und Regisseur Oliver Kontny ein Hörspiel gewoben mit Musik von Marc Sinan, der Kamancheh von Kayhan Kalhor sowie den Stimmen von Künstlerinnen wie Jasmin Tabatabai, Maryam Zaree und Bijan Zamani. Es versucht jene Verknüpfung von politischer Gewalt und literarischer Feinsinnigkeit aufzuzeichnen, die für das Überleben im Iran kennzeichnend ist: Einen Teppich, auf dem wie geometrische Muster die Geschichten der iranischen Opposition sich ineinander verschlingen.

Bipartisan Letter from Congress Supports Diplomacy

May 21, 2012

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Obama,

We write to convey our strong support for the prevention of a nuclear weapons-capable Iran through diplomacy. We share your commitment to the ongoing multilateral discussions on Iran’s nuclear program and urge you to continue working with our P5+1 partners in pursuit of this goal.

We believe that a nuclear weapons-capable Iran poses a grave threat to the United States, to Israel, and to the global community. It is critical that we employ every available tool at our disposal to dissuade if possible—and prevent if necessary—the Iranian regime from developing nuclear weapons or the capability to produce them from stockpiled materials and components.

The latest round of economic sanctions by the United States, members of the European community, and others has demonstrated that such measures can and do elicit a response from the Iranian regime and have contributed to a clear framework for the current multilateral talks. Clearly, continued diplomatic engagement is essential and, as you prepare for the upcoming round of discussions this week in Baghdad, we believe there are two critical factors that support a redoubling of these efforts.

The first is the lengthened roster of partners: China, Russia, Germany, France, Britain, and the United States. The P5+1 partners are working together in an unprecedented display of cooperation that demonstrates a collective acknowledgement of the threat of a nuclear weapons-capable Iran. The second is the degree to which Iran, under intensified pressures, has appeared willing to engage in a serious and substantive discussion on its nuclear program.

We are aware of the possibility that the Iranian regime is simply “buying time” to further its nuclear ambitions, but we believe that Iran’s declared openness to multilateral discussions—coupled with verifiable intermediate steps to bring its program toward compliance with international obligations—is sufficient to warrant renewed determination. Given such facts, the United States and its P5+1 partners must not relent in leveraging pressure on Iran in these upcoming talks. With the looming threat of harsher sanctions due to take effect in July, the P5+1 nations may be in a stronger position to obtain positive results in Baghdad.

Mr. President, as you recently stated, “…both Israel and the United States have an interest in seeing this challenge resolved diplomatically. After all, the only way to truly solve this problem is for the Iranian government to make a decision to forsake nuclear weapons.” We agree, and we strongly believe that the United States must take full advantage of opportunities for diplomatic engagement, in concert with sanctions and other appropriate measures, to prevent a nuclear weapons-capable Iran.

Sincerely,
Signatories: Price, Dreier, Amash, Bass (CA), Becerra, Blumenauer, Braley, Butterfield, Capps, Clarke (MI), Clyburn, Cohen, Conyers, Cooper, Courtney, Cuellar, Davis (IL), Davis (KY), DeGette, DeLauro, Dent, Dicks, Dingell, Doggett, Edwards, Ellison, Eshoo, Farr, Filner, Fortenberry, Garamendi, Gonzalez, Granger, Grijalva, Gutierrez, Hanna, Hastings (FL), Heinrich, Himes, Hinchey, Honda, Jackson, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Jones, Kaptur, Larson, LaTourette, Lee, Lewis (GA), Loebsack, Lofgren, McCollum, McDermott, McGovern, Miller (CA), Moore, Moran, Murphy (CT), Olver, Pingree, Rahall, Rangel, Scott (VA), Speier, Thompson (CA), Tierney, Visclosky, Watt, Welch, Woolsey and Yarmuth

Source: UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE

Iran and ‘Divided’ P5+1 Exchange Proposals to End Nuclear Standoff

by MUHAMMAD SAHIMI

Press Roundup provides a selected summary of news from the Farsi and Arabic press and excerpts where the source is in English. Tehran Bureau has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. Any views expressed are the authors’ own. Please refer to the Media Guide to help put the stories in perspective. You can follow breaking news stories on our Twitter feed.

5:45 a.m. IRDT, 4 Khordad/May 24 The first day of negotiations in Baghdad between Iran and the P5+1 group — the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany — ended Wednesday evening; the talks will resume Thursday. Saeed Jalili, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator and secretary-general of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), also met separately with Catherine Ashton, the European Union foreign policy chief who leads the negotiations for the P5+1. Jalili’s deputy at the SNSC, Ali Bagheri, likewise met separately with the Chinese delegation. Bagheri apparently also met with German diplomat Helga Maria Schmid, Ashton’s senior adviser. In secret negotiations in an undisclosed location last week, Bagheri and Schmid had agreed on the agenda for the Baghdad meeting.Each side has reportedly submitted a package of proposals. In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said, “Our understanding is that at the first session today, the EU3+3 [P5+1] side put forward a detailed proposal which includes confidence-building measures that can pave the way for Iran to demonstrate that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and for it to comply with its UNSC [United Nations Security Council] obligations. And then this approach would also include step-by-step reciprocal steps aimed at near-term action on our part if Iran takes its own steps.”

It appears that by Wednesday evening hopes for quick progress had faded. The P5+1 apparently presented Iran with a list of tough demands involving the curbing of its uranium enrichment, but offered little sanctions relief in return. The Christian Science Monitor reported that Iranian officials have said the new package by the P5+1 goes beyond the “step-by-step” and “reciprocal” process that had been agreed upon in the round of talks held in Istanbul last month. According to the Monitor, one Iranian diplomat said, “The response from the Iranian side is, ‘What you are asking for is not what we agreed to in Istanbul.’” The diplomat added, “Steps were meant to be ‘reciprocal, simultaneous, and…balanced’ in their value to each side. Instead, Iran was told Wednesday that there would be ‘consideration’ of easing sanctions ‘later,’ after Iran made concessions.”

The P5+1 package apparently requires Iran to comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions and “immediately” halt enriching uranium to 19.75 percent (commonly rounded to 20 percent, though the small difference is significant), and to ship its stockpile of uranium enriched to that level out of the country. While various reports from Tehran over the past few weeks had indicated that Iran may be open to such a proposal, it also expected to receive a significant concession in return, which the P5+1 package apparently does not contain. At the same time, full compliance with Security Council would require Iran to suspend its enrichment of uranium even at the 3.5-5 percent level, which Iran is unlikely to accept, at least in the absence of major incentives or concessions.

Michael Mann, Ashton’s chief spokesman, said, “We are getting into the substance of the matter…. We hope the Iranians will respond positively. We’re going to make solid progress if things go well.” While the Western powers are “hopeful” that Iran will have a positive response to their set of proposals, according to Mann, he indicated that sanctions would not be eliminated as an immediate consequence of the Baghdad talks. IRNA, Iran’s official news agency, quoted one of its correspondents as saying, “The problem with the P5+1 package is that there is no balance, and there is nothing [for Iran] to get in return for what they [Iran] give.”

In response to a question about the mechanism for reciprocal steps by both sides, the State Department’s Nuland said, “This is a package of first steps, so Iran would take some steps and then we would take some steps [emphasis mine]. We will see how Iran reacts to that proposal. But [the negotiators] are in the middle of it now, so I think we will let them finish, and then I’m sure there’ll be some press statements after they’re finished.”Iran has announced that it offered a comprehensive package of five basic points to the P5+1 after the first session of talks wrapped up. It is said to involve both nuclear and unspecified nonnuclear issues, which may concern regional security matters, in particular the crisis in Syria. Various sources have reported that Iran has not changed it principal position, namely, that it is entitled to the use of nuclear technology, including uranium enrichment, for peaceful purposes. Iran’s package reportedly envisages a step-by-step approach to resolve the dispute over its nuclear program, and the practical steps the Western governments should take in parallel. Press TV, the English-language subsidiary of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, reported that the members of the P5+1 are divided over how to respond to the Iranian package. IRNA similarly reported that there is no consensus among the P5+1 members, reflected by the fact that a member of the U.S. delegation said that Washington would still pursue new sanctions, to which Russia has announced its opposition.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said that “no negative signals have been exchanged between the two sides.” He added, “The Iran and P5+1 negotiations have entered a sensitive phase…. The P5+1 conveyed its offers to the Iranian representatives and is waiting for a response.” In the United States, aboard Air Force One en route to Colorado Springs, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said,

The talks are underway in Baghdad, as scheduled, and the fact that they are taking place as a continuance of the initial round [in Istanbul] is a sign of progress. The initial round was important because the Iranians focused on their nuclear program, and that will continue to be the case, we hope. I don’t have any readout of today’s meetings, but I can say that we want to see this effort succeed. Any process has to have as part of it reciprocal actions and Iran must demonstrate it is serious about moving forward with addressing the concerns of the international community. As I said yesterday when asked about the announcement by the IAEA director [Yukiya Amano], the fact that there are positive steps forward is absolutely worth noting, but we judge Iran by its actions, not by its promises. And so we will continue to press forward with our allies and partners with the unprecedented sanctions regime as we, on a separate track, work with our P5-plus-1 partners to pursue an effort to resolve this conflict diplomatically.

Source: Tehran Bureau

Domestically produced fuel plates delivered to Tehran nuclear facility

Source: Mehr News Agency

In a report issued on Tuesday, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran announced that two batches of domestically produced nuclear fuel plates had been delivered to the operator of the Tehran research reactor.

The delivery of nuclear fuel plates is highly significant because it took place just one day before the new round talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) in Baghdad.

The statement said that nuclear fuel plates were delivered after undergoing extensive tests.

It added that one of the batches had been loaded into the core of the Tehran reactor, which produces radioisotopes for cancer treatment.

On the sidelines of the Group of 15 summit, which was held in Tehran on May 17, 2010, Iran, Turkey, and Brazil issued a declaration, according to which Iran was to ship 1200 kilograms of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey to be exchanged for 120 kilograms of 20 percent enriched nuclear fuel to power the Tehran research reactor.

But the United States and its allies rejected the deal, which Iran had offered as a goodwill gesture, and imposed a new round of sanctions on Iran in June 2010.

In response, Iran decided to produce 20 percent enriched nuclear fuel and convert it into plate type nuclear fuel and constructed an advanced plant at the Isfahan nuclear facility for manufacturing nuclear fuel plates.

Iranian Archaeologist Calls On CHTHO To Save Elamite Bas-Relief

Source: Mehr News Agency

An archaeologist has asked Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) to save the Elamite rock bas-relief of Kurangun, located in the Baba Meydan region in Fars Province.

The Elamite rock bas-relief of Kurangun in the Baba Meydan region of Fars Province (photo by dynamosquito – see hight resolution photos on dynamosquito’s photostream) The relief of Kurangun is with that of Naqsh-e Rostam, one of only 2 Elamite rock reliefs known in the Iranian province of Fars. Both shown nearly similar scenes but while the relief of Naqsh-e Rostam has almost entirely disappeared, erased by a sassanian audience relief attributed to king Bahram II, the Kurangun relief is almost entirely preserved. The theme is typical of the Elamite art of rock relief, depicting a scene of religious worshiping (read more).

Sniffer Dogs Employed by Iranian Police

On Tuesday, the Iranian police displayed the capabilities of their sniffer dogs.

In Islam, dogs are considered unclean. At least one fatwa has been issued by an Iranian Ayatollah against keeping dogs as pets, and the Iranian parliament has considered a bill criminalizing owning dogs in private apartments or exercising them in public places. And there are occasional crackdown on dog owners. However, this hasn’t stopped the Iranian police from employing dogs in their fight against drugs.

A detection or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to and works at using its senses (almost always the sense of smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, or blood.

Iran Begins Talks with World Powers

Source: VOA

Talks between world powers and Iran have started in Baghdad in an effort to negotiate an agreement over disputes involving Iran’s controversial nuclear program.

Wednesday’s meeting brings together Iran’s nuclear negotiator with representatives of the so-called P5+1: Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States plus Germany.

At issue is Iran’s production of highly-enriched uranium that Western nations fear could ultimately be used to make a nuclear bomb. Iran says its nuclear program is being developed for peaceful means.

The talks are being held in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone. It is the second meeting since diplomacy resumed in April after more than a year of delays. Amid increased hopes for a breakthrough, diplomats expect talks could go into a second, unscheduled day.

Iran Feature: The Week in Civil Society — Standing Against Homophobia, Defending Students, and More (Arseh Sevom)

Arseh Sevom, the NGO promoting civil society in Iran, post their summary of latest developments:

Anti-Homophobia Campaign in Iran

May 17th marked the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia. With sodomy remainingan offense which can be punishable by death, youth in Iran have begun a Facebook campaign to give voice to a message of anti-homophobia.

A report in Persian is accompanied with photos of small actions of defiance.

An Iranian student organization called “Iranian Liberal Students and Alumni” has issued a memodemanding an end to all kinds of homophobic behavior.

The Latest from Iran (23 May): Nuclear Talks in Baghdad

The European Union’s Catherine Ashton meets Iran’s Saeed Jalili at today’s nuclear talks in Baghdad

2050 GMT: Nuclear Watch. After a bilateral meeting between the EU’s Catherine Ashton and Iran’s Saeed Jalili of almost two hours, discussions have ended in Baghdad for today.

2010 GMT: Nuclear Prediction Comes True. EA this morning:

Iranian media features the line of politicians and clerics that any discussion must begin with a “Western” offer to ease sanctions. That is the requirement for the talks to move to consideration of limits and monitoring of Tehran’s enrichment.

Scott Peterson of the Christian Science Monitor this evening:

“The response from the Iranian side is: ‘What you are asking for is … not what we agreed to in Istanbul,’” an Iranian diplomat close to the talks [said[, referring to the demands of six world powers that include Iran capping uranium enrichment and scrapping a deeply buried facility.Steps were meant to be “reciprocal, simultaneous, and ... balanced” in their value to each side, says the Iranian diplomat. Instead, Iran was told there would be “consideration” of easing sanctions “later,” after Iran made concessions.

EA this morning:

Behind the public pose, there has to be a significant assurance by the Americans and Europeans over sanctions, on the basis that Iran will not demand self-sufficiency in enriching uranium to 20%.

Peterson this evening:

"This is what we were afraid of," says the Iranian diplomat. "No one is going to accept these things this way. [Giving up] the 20 percent and shutting down Fordow [enrichment plant], in return for nothing? Nothing?”

Nazanin Afshin-Jam talks about her new book and her fight to save an Iranian teenager.

CTVNews reports 22 May 2012.

Canadians may know her best as the former beauty queen who married Defence Minister Peter MacKay, but Nazanin Afshin-Jam hopes the world will see her as so much more after reading her new book, “The Tale of Two Nazanins: A Teenager on Death Row in Iran and the Canadian Who Vowed to Save Her.”

Source/read more:http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/CanadaAM/20120522/nazanin-afshin-jam-the-tale-of-tw…

Eye on Iran: Iran Nuclear Talks Begin

Top Stories

WSJ: ”Global powers presented Iran with a new package of demands and inducements Wednesday aimed at limiting the country’s nuclear program, according to Western officials involved in the diplomacy. The negotiations are seeking to build on a tentative agreement reached Monday between Iran and the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, that would allow international inspectors access to sites, scientists and documents that the West believes are related to an alleged Iranian nuclear weapons program. The talks, which are being held in the Iraqi capital, bring together Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, plus Germany. The international diplomatic bloc, known as the P5+1, is seeking to get Iran to freeze its production of nuclear fuel enriched to 20% purity, according to Western diplomats, and to ship out its stockpile of the fuel to a third country. Such moves are seen as reducing Iran’s ability to quickly amass the fissile material needed to develop an atomic weapon.”http://t.uani.com/KBz1BD 

In Case You Missed It: “Scaling the Pressure Back Now Could Prove a Serious Mistake”

The Times Publishes Op-Ed by UANI-ISD Board Member, General Lord Charles Guthrie 

Keep up the Pressure and Iran will Buckle

New sanctions on banks, ports and shipping will push Tehran to curb its nuclear ambitions

By General Lord Charles Guthrie, Chief of the Defence Staff
The [UK] Times

May 22, 2012

The Islamic Republic of Iran is often described as an “irrational actor” on the world stage. That is why so many fear Tehran building a nuclear arsenal. But Iran does respond to pressure – and if we intensify that pressure we can make Iran follow its self-interest and give up its nuclear ambitions. …

The latest packages of sanctions were passed only a few months ago. This summer further tough measures against the Iranian oil and gas industry are due to come into force. They are starting to bite. Recently there has been a dramatic devaluation of the Iranian rial as well as a surge in inflation coupled with a significant fall in Iranian state revenues.

Although domestic mismanagement has contributed to Iran’s current economic malaise, international sanctions have finally influenced the decision-making of the leadership of the Islamic Republic. Statements from Iranian officials in the past few months reveal that Tehran is getting worried about the impact of sanctions. …

Scaling the pressure back now could prove a serious mistake. Iran must conclusively demonstrate that it is limiting its nuclear programme to civilian applications. This is not a political demand but Iran’s legal obligation as a signatory to the non-proliferation treaty. …

Sanctions are a blunt tool and there is ultimately no guarantee that they will force Iran to change course. But they are our best chance of success. There’s a precedent for the regime buckling under pressure. Despite its bellicose noises, Iran sued for peace with Iraq in 1988 and accepted a UN ceasefire once it had no prospect of securing a military victory. …

Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank is the former Chief of the Defence Staff and a member of the advisory board of the Iran initiative of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue/United Against a Nuclear Iran.

Click here to read the entire piece.

 

Iran News Round Up (May 23)

Military and Security Parliamentarian Ali Mottahari threatens to disclose the names of Revolutionary Guards commanders who intervene in political processes inside Iran. Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani does not refute Mottahari’s statements about Revolutionary Guards intervention in politics, but urges parliamentarians to behave respectfully. Parliamentarian Elias Naderan slams Mottahari and threatens to take legal action against him. Parliamentarian Hojjat al-Eslam Mohammad-Hassan Aboutorabifard: “If people had God on their mind, they would not say such things…” Alef News runs a story about futility of the military service in Iran.

Nuclear Issue Said Jalili, Supreme National Security Council secretary: “We feel that the Westerners too have discovered that the time for the strategy of force is over. There are no more things that they could have done against the Iranian nation which they have not done… Since these negotiations are based on cooperation, the seven countries will discuss issues ranging from regional, international and nuclear affairs, and we hope this is the beginning of a new round…” Jalili also expressed hope that the Baghdad negotiations would lead to the 5+1 Group “abandoning some of their futile strategies.” Fars News publishes a backgrounder on Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman. [E] Fars News: Iran offered a comprehensive package of step-by-step proposals to the six world powers during the current negotiations in Baghdad. [E] The European Union’s Court of Justice annulled the EU Council’s decision on boycotting a key Iranian oil firm. [E] The United States is ready to ease restrictions on airplane-parts exports to Iran and offer nuclear aid to Tehran, American officials said after UN nuclear watchdog agency chief Yukiya Amano voiced pleasure in his recent meetings and agreements with Iran. [E] Deputy heads of the Iranian team of negotiators Ali Baqeri met with Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu following the first round of talks between Tehran and the six world powers in Baghdad on Wednesday. [E] The negotiating teams of Iran and the six world powers put off a second round of talks until tomorrow. [E] Iran’s top negotiator Saeed Jalili and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who leads the delegations of the six world powers in talks with Iran, are due to attend a bilateral meeting tonight.

Members of the AOG church to submit their personal details + interview

Reports indicate that the Ministry of Intelligence has ordered leaders of the central AOG church in Tehran to provide them with a list of the members of the church including their National identity numbers and other personal details.

Iranian Christian news agency, Mohabat News – In an interview with Radio Farda, Mansour Borji, one of the Iranian church leaders in London, outlined the latest restrictions imposed on Farsi-speaking churches by the Ministry of Intelligence for this news service.

(Tehran, the capital)

Mansour Borji: This has been a demand of the Ministry of Intelligence for years. The security authorities have severely pressured church leaders to cause them to submit a complete list of their church members, their national identification numbers, their birth certificate numbers as well as other details.

It is mentioned in the published news that the leaders of the church have asked the church members to submit their personal information voluntarily. Can you describe this?

Because of the severe pressure by the Ministry of Intelligence, the church leaders decided to openly announce to the congregation that such a demand is being made by the Ministry of Intelligence, so that they voluntarily submit their information to their leaders who would forward the information to the authorities.

However, after church leaders made this demand in the service on May 6, they again told the congregation that this is not something voluntary; if you are a member of the church, you are obliged to submit your information. Certainly, this is also a result of additional pressures on the church leaders by the Ministry of Intelligence.

Stuttgarter Zeitung: „Ich will arbeiten – wie alle“

Soheila Nourieh und Mohammad Bahramian wollen nur ganz normal in Deutschland leben. Foto: Martin Stollberg

Esslingen – In der Wohnung von Soheila Nourieh und Mohammad Bahramian stehen drei Aquarien. Das kleinste im Zimmer ihres dreijährigen Sohnes Pouyan, das größte und schönste im Wohnzimmer. Es sind die Fische, die dem 43-jährigen Iraner in den vergangenen Jahren geholfen haben, ein wenig Seelenfrieden in Deutschland zu finden. „Wir hatten selbst in den Asylunterkünften ein kleines Aquarium“, erzählt Soheila Nourieh.

Vor zehn Jahren ist das Paar aus dem Iran geflohen. Der politische Aktivist Mohammed Bahramian geriet ins Visier der Sicherheitsbehörden, die Eheleute mussten untertauchen. „Wir konnten nicht einmal mehr in unsere Wohnung zurück, um die wichtigsten Sachen zusammenzupacken“, erzählt die 31-Jährige. Lange Zeit wussten die beiden nicht einmal, in welches Land die Fluchthelfer sie führen würden. „Erst unterwegs wurde uns gesagt, dass wir auf dem Weg nach Deutschland waren“, erinnert sich Nourieh mit Unbehagen. Vor der Landesaufnahmestelle für Flüchtlinge in Karlsruhe haben die Fluchthelfer das Paar abgesetzt, mit der Angabe, hier könnten sie ihren Asylantrag stellen.