Posted on 06/14/2007 9:56:11 AM PDT by freedom44
Lots of Americans claim dual citizenship. Its an unfortunate plague we allowed to develop. No man can serve two masters.
But that dual citizenship means they are as much American as Iranian and their visits to family back there provided the Iranians with an opportunity to insult us.
People who are insulted in the middle east and do not retaliate loose face. People who loose face, loose status.
We should not permit the Ayatollahs to insult us AGAIN as they did under Jimmy Carter. Its develoing into an embarassing habit.
“their visits to family back there “
They should visit Iran under their U.S. Passports and if they do, they go as U.S. citizens, not as Iranian citizens and they won’t be detained. These people all knew that.
That’s been the subject of debate. I haven’t kept up, but it seems if they didn’t work directly for a Soros funded group, several have accepted money from him/them.
bttt
“Anyone carrying an Iranian passport is considered an Iranian citizen by the regime.”
Actually, that is partly correct.
Under Islamic Republic law the following applies:
1) Anyone born in Iran is considered an Iranian citizen. Especially so if he/she was issued an Iranian birth certificate or has previously held an Iranian passport or if his/her father is/was an Iranian by birth. Note: not mother, but father.
During Shah’s regime, a person whose mother only was Iranian could apply for an Iranian citizenship and be granted one, even if not born in Iran. But, IR does not allow it unless they can prove that they were in fact born in Iran, i.e. a birth certificate. However, I also hear that they are now re-considering the laws regarding the grant of Iranian citizenship if only one’s mother is Iranian by birth.
2) If one is born in Iran or has a father who is by birth an Iranian and has previously held an Iranian passport, he/she is considered an Iranian, under IR law, and regardless of dual citizenship and is subject to Islamic Republic laws when entering Iran.
Most governments advise and a few actually warn Iranians before their “naturalization” that if they decide to travel to Iran (even as dual citizens) and if arrested in Iran, their adopted country and its citizenship are considered secondary by IR. Therefore, their adopted country, in essence, is powerless to do a great deal to help them. Of course, their adopted country can lodge a protest, etc... but those arrested are considered Iranians.
3) If an Iranian (especially by birth) decides to travel to Iran with his/her U.S. or otherwise passport, he/she will have to apply for a VISA from the IR Embassy or Consulate. Now, unless the applicant has a different “place of birth” other than Iran mentioned in his/her passport, then IR will know that he/she is in fact Iranian under IR law. Of course, they can either grant the VISA or refuse to do so.
In summary, the main difference is between being born in Iran vs. being a naturalized American or whatever. The father’s birthplace plays a critical role too as far as IR law is concerned.
Re: Post #27 - point 3
To clarify: “with his/her U.S. or otherwise passport”
otherwise passport = non-Iranian passport.
Correct. The regime does not recognize dual citizenship. So anyone carrying an Iranian passport -ie travelling under one - is an Iranian citizen as far as the regime is concerned, and subject to Iranian law. And these people all knew that.
It’s a bad time to use your Iranian passport just to get around having to wait for a visa to enter Iran.
What I was saying, in parts, is that even if they issue you a visa and you visit Iran with your U.S. passport, but you were born in Iran (says in your passport “place of birth = Tehran-Iran, for example”), you are still considered an Iranian citizen and subject to Iranian law, by IR.
It means that you are only a naturalized U.S. citizen, not by birth. In IR, the country of your birth, if it is Iran, will supersede the citizenship (passport) of the country under which you may travel to Iran.
I agree that these people, especially someone such as Esfandiari, who has a political profile should not have gone to Iran. They do it at their own risk.
Hi -
I understand. But the regime has steered clear of Iranian/Americans travelling under U.S. passports (so far). Time will tell if the regime dares to overstep that line.
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