Contact: Megan Franko, Pajamas Media, 703-683-5004 ext. 148

MOSCOW, Nov. 21 /Standard Newswire/ -- Zahra Kamalfar is an Iranian dissenter and mother of two teenage children. She is in the transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport and has been there with her children for 76 days. She is there because she was able to escape prison when on a two-day furlough to visit her children.

Photo: Zahra Kamalfar and her children.

Kamalfar was in prison because she protested against the Iranian Mullahs. Unless a miracle happens, she will soon be on a plane on her way to face those she protested, including the probability of torture and rape, and possibly death.

Pajamas Media Special Correspondent and noted Iran expert, Michael Ledeen, gives background on Iranian dissident Zahra Kamalfar and why she has been trapped in Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport:

"This video documents an all-too common tragedy: Iranian opponents of the regime wandering the world in search of a country willing to let them live in safety. In many ways, it is reminiscent of the plight of the European Jews during the Nazi period. Then, too, refugees knocked on the doors of many nations, often ending back in the Reich.

"Zahra Kamalfar participated in demonstrations six years ago. She and her husband were jailed in 2004, in her case for 8 months. Released for a two-day furlough so she could see her two children (Ana and Davood), she and the kids escaped to Turkey with forged Bulgarian passports (her own was held by the regime).

"She headed for Germany via Russia, but the Germans detected the false passports and send the three back to Moscow, where she applied for asylum. At first the family was permitted to live in an airport hotel, but then was dumped into the public area of the airport. They sleep in the open terminal, have no access to showers or baths, and use public toilets. The Russians are threatening to ship her and her children back to Iran, where she will undoubtedly receive very harsh treatment.

"She has appealed for refugee status to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, but to no avail. There is an online petition to both the UNHCR and Russian immigration authorities. Time seems quite short.

"Ms Kamalfar is guilty of being an Iranian who wants to live in a free country. That is a felony in Ali Khamenei's Iran, and a matter of considerable indifference to the "international community," which neither helps people like her once they escape, nor the tens of millions of Iranians inside the country, even though their demands for freedom should be embraced and supported by all civilized countries and their peoples."

About Pajamas Media:

Pajamas Media provides coverage and thoughtful analysis and commentary on issues of the day through their network of over ninety world wide bloggers and through original stories, podcasts and videos.  The blog media company began operation in the fall of 2005. Pajamas’ new Politics Central initiative will cover elections, world and political issues, media and research.

Pajamas Media and Politics Central can be found at www.pajamasmedia.com. Pajamas Media, the Pajamas Media logo, Politics Central are trademarks of Pajamas Media.