Asylum seeker sews up eyes, lips and ears in protest

An Iranian asylum seeker has sewn up his eyes, lips and ears in protest at the moves by the Home Office to seek his deportation.

Abas Amini has also been refusing food and water for the past week, and doctors have said that he could only have days to live. Mr Amini has indicated that he will set fire to himself if any attempt is made to put him on a drip.

The 33-year-old Kurd, currently living in Nottingham, has claimed that Iranian authorities will execute him if he is repatriated. Abas Amini, who has connections with the communist opposition to the Iranian government, was granted asylum two months ago but the Home Office began proceedings last week to repeal the decision.

A Home Office spokesperson is reported as saying that the situation was "deeply regrettable".

International opinion is mounting against Iran's hardline Muslim government over its use of public executions as a deterrent to opposition groups.

In January four men were publicly hanged for alleged membership of the armed opposition.

According to the International Committee against Stoning and the Campaign against Executions in Iran, more than 100,000 political opponents have been executed since the revolution in 1981.

Iran, along with Iraq, Syria and North Korea, were among President George Bush's so-called "axis of evil".

The British government is on friendly terms with Iran and has since the election of President Khatami in 1997, the UK policy towards Iran has, says the Foreign Office, been one of "engagement, aimed at supporting the reform process while maintaining a robust dialogue over issues of concern".

(GMcG)