Let him stay

Normally, I wouldn't take the side of Refugee claimants who are protesting. But Ali Reza Panah's commitment to his hunger strike makes me think that he really does have a genuine fear if he is returned to Iran. As Mr Panah would prefer to die by starvation than return to Iran it is the humanatarian thing to let him stay.

He has the support of his local church, and he has no criminal convictions in other countries. (Unlike that other famous refuge seeker in NZ). I would think that Mr Panah could make a reasonable go of living in NZ without needing extra support from the Government.

I know it's easy to fall for a sob story, but lets at least give him a two year visa so he can prove that he can make a go of being a sucessful New Zealander.