Switzerland rejects asylum application from Iranian refugee pursuing Judaism

The Federal Administrative Court of Switzerland has rejected the asylum application of Behnam Vali Heydarian, an Iranian refugee and Jewish conversion candidate, placing him at risk of deportation to Georgia and potentially Iran. Vali, who previously converted to Christianity, faced persecution in Georgia due to his distribution of Bibles in Iran and his pro-Israel advocacy after the October 7 attacks. He reported multiple assaults, frozen bank accounts, and threats of deportation in Georgia. Mikheil Grishashvili, a Jewish community leader in Georgia, stated, "He was an active, hardworking, kind, and responsible person, and he very quickly became part of our community." Vali fled to Switzerland, where he had a business visa, but his asylum claim was denied on the grounds that he entered illegally and fled a "safe" country, despite evidence of threats in Georgia. His lawyer, Ibrahim Alvac, noted that Swiss authorities ordered his removal to Georgia because he holds refugee status there, and his Swiss asylum application was not examined on its merits concerning persecution in Iran. Vali believes returning to Iran would lead to his execution due to his open support for Israel and his religious conversions.