Iranian Couple Kept Apart Over Attempt to Make Aliyah

[Ian David]

Iranian Couple Kept Apart Over Attempt to Make Aliyah
April 26, 2007

Yigal Schleifer
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Istanbul

Smuggled across the mountainous border separating Iran and Turkey, Pourya and Samana Hajaran undertook the perilous journey to Istanbul nearly a year ago, hoping to make their way to Israel.

Instead, the Iranian husband and wife find themselves trapped in a frightening legal and bureaucratic maze. Pourya, 22, the son of an Iranian Jewish mother and Muslim father, was quickly given permission to go to Israel after arriving in Istanbul. Israeli officials at the consulate told Pourya that he would be able to bring his wife over once he made aliyah.

After arriving in Israel, however, he was informed by the Interior Ministry that his request to be reunited with his Muslim wife -- who allegedly planned to convert to Judaism once in Israel -- had been rejected for unspecified security reasons. Last week, Samana Hajaran, also 22, was arrested by Turkish police for being in the country illegally.

She is facing the prospect of being deported back to Iran, where reportedly she could face severe punishment.

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http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/12834/