The Hana Human Rights Organization has learned that the asylum application of Fariborz Rezaei, a Kurdish journalist, media presenter, and human rights activist currently residing in Sweden, has been rejected by the country’s Migration Agency.
According to information received, Rezaei has been publicly active since 2019 under his real name and identity, engaging consistently in human rights media outlets, television programs, and social media platforms. His media activities, including the production and presentation of programs as well as public commentary, are widely archived and easily accessible in both traditional media and online spaces, making him readily identifiable.
Given the nature of his journalistic and human rights work—particularly his focus on sensitive issues related to human rights conditions and political developments in Iran—there are serious concerns that, if returned to the country, he would face a high risk of judicial prosecution, arrest, and security-related reprisals by Iranian authorities.
It is noteworthy that Rezaei’s media activities are fully documented, public, and accessible to the security institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran. As a result, any forced return could have severe and irreversible consequences for his personal safety and fundamental freedoms.
Expressing deep concern over the situation of this Kurdish journalist, the Hana Human Rights Organization has called on Swedish authorities to reconsider the case, taking into account international human rights law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, as well as Sweden’s humanitarian obligations toward journalists and human rights defenders.