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Iranians' northern exposure

January 27, 2012 10:58

ByJonathan Kalmus, Jonathan Kalmus

1 min read

A refugee family facing a return to Iran, where they are accused of leaking nuclear secrets, featured in the Holocaust Memorial Day event at Manchester's Jewish Museum.

The Vahidis fled to the UK in 2006 after a close friend - a member of an Iranian opposition party - was found dead. Mohammed Vahidi worked in a nuclear-related industry and has been linked to information given to the friend.

They went into hiding in Manchester, but were arrested by the UK's Border Agency in 2010. After several hearings, the Home Office has decided to refuse them long-term asylum and they are waiting to find out when they will be sent back.

Farhad Vahidi, 19, the youngest family member, planted an Anne Frank rose in the museum's garden. The plant is grown by Japanese schoolchildren and in peace gardens at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It originates from a bush sent by Otto Frank, Anne's father, to a young Japanese girl who had written to him.