The Iranian mother and son who were victims of violence were granted international protection in Georgia

12 July, 2023

With the help of Rights Georgia, M.A., the citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and her minor son won the ongoing dispute against the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Tbilisi Court of Appeal. As a result, they were granted international protection (refugee status) in Georgia.
 
While living in Iran, the asylum seeker's husband systematically abused her and her minor son physically and psychologically.

The family came to Georgia in 2017, and the woman was once again a victim of violence by her husband. The man was arrested and sentenced to 6 months in prison. After leaving the prison, he returned to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mother and son stayed in Georgia. In March 2019, they were baptized and became converted Christians. In January 2019, the woman applied to the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and requested international protection for her and her minor son.
 
In 2020, the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs refused to grant international protection to the beneficiaries in Georgia. This decision, with the efforts of Rights Georgia lawyer Nino Khetsadze, was appealed to the administrative affairs panel of the Tbilisi City Court.

In June 2022, the court fully satisfied the claim and ordered the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to grant international protection to the asylum seekers. The agency appealed the decision of the City Court to the Tbilisi Court of Appeal. However, the appeal court of Tbilisi did not satisfy the appeal. As a result, according to the judgment of July 3, 2023, the decision of the Tbilisi City Court remained in force and the mother and child were granted international protection.

Rights Georgia provided free legal assistance to the Iranian beneficiaries under the UNHCR-funded project "Protecting and Empowering Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Humanitarian Status Holders, and Stateless Persons in Georgia".