Cyrus the Great Institute Appeals to ICE Director to Halt Deportation of Iranian Dissident

The Cyrus the Great Institute (CGI) has issued an urgent appeal to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding the detention of Mr. Erfan Qaneei Fard, an Iranian political analyst, writer, and one of the founders of CGI, who is currently being held in Texas.

Mr. Qaneei Fard has been a consistent voice against extremism and the Islamic regime in Iran, making him a direct target for persecution. He has no criminal history, has always been a peaceful and law-abiding individual, and his detention is solely related to immigration status issues.

What makes this case critical is that Mr. Qaneei Fard now faces imminent deportation to Iran, where he would almost certainly face imprisonment, torture, or execution. Deporting him would be a direct violation of the principle that no individual should be returned to a country where they face persecution.

The CGI, in a letter to ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, has urged him to review Mr. Qaneei Fard’s case and immediately halt any deportation proceedings until his situation has been fully and fairly considered.

The full letter to Director Lyons is enclosed with this release.

For further details, please reach out to us at iran@cyrus.institute.