The United States has deported an Iranian pro-democracy activist to Central African Republic, according to her lawyer. The activist, who had converted to Christianity, was one of three Iranian women who fled persecution and were at risk of deportation.

Deportation Details

The plane carrying the activist took off from Louisiana on Thursday night and was expected to travel to Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic, via Ghana’s capital, Accra. The US Department of Homeland Security said all deportees would receive full due process.

The Iranian American Legal Defense Fund (IALDF) said the deportations were a result of a rule requiring asylum seekers to first apply in countries they transit through before reaching the US. A federal court in California vacated this rule in May.

Risk of Repatriation

The IALDF expressed concerns that the deportees would ultimately be forced to return to the countries they originally fled, citing security issues in Central African Republic and the risk of being sent back to Iran.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.