Political views should not hinder return of Iranian expats
By Sadeq Dehqan
Staff writer
Iranian expatriates, regardless of their political views and leanings, should not feel concerned about returning to the country, especially if their political views “are not according to our wishes and likings”, said an Iranian lawmaker. Gholamreza Nouri-Qezeljeh told Iran Daily in an exclusive interview that the visit and reentry of all those who have Iranian blood in their veins — even if they are a quarter or less Iranian — and consider themselves Iranian should be facilitated.
He also made a special mention of Iranian artists living abroad, saying, “Artists whose art and actions have not undermined our national security will find that they are not blocked from returning to the country, just like some other Iranian artists who have returned.”
In July, the Iranian Parliament passed a bill, titled “Support for Iranians Abroad,” aimed at encouraging and engaging Iranian expatriates to invest in the country’s economy and facilitate their return. Nouri-Qezeljeh expressed hope that the bill will deepen the ties of the Iranian diaspora with their homeland.
The bill proposes offering legal and e-government services, among many others, to this end. It also contains plans to identify and employ talented Iranian expats in academic institutions, foster their cooperation with Iranian knowledge-based companies, and encourage investment from abroad. One of the main goals of the bill is to support Iranian elites living abroad and preserve their cultural ties with the homeland.
The MP proposed that a special card, called the “Travel Card of Iranians,” should be issued that, in the hands of expatriates, will allow them to visit or reenter the country with minimal legal formalities.
“The more we try to facilitate the return of our expatriates, the more cultural and scientific interactions will be had with them and more investments can be attracted, which is why different institutions of the country including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the economic sectors, and the universities and scientific societies have been tasked with different responsibilities,” he maintained.
Nouri-Qezeljeh stressed that even though Iranian expatriates are some of the country’s greatest scientific and financial capitals, there is no doubt that “we should look at them as a human and an Iranian first.”
As such, the MP noted that there are major questions that should be diligently answered regardless of the bill: “Why is the immigration rate increasing? Why should Iranians turn to immigration?” He stressed that the country should be in such a state that “no one will think of immigrating”. So, he proposes that Iranian lawmakers and policy-makers should first try to stop everyone that is living inside the country from leaving and then, turn to the matter of facilitating the return of everyone who has left.