![](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2011\/03\/iranian_nowrouz_160311_007_.jpg\" "\\"iranian_nowrouz_160311_007_\\"")
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Times Series – Tuesday 22nd March 2011\u00a0 By Natalie O’Neill
HENDON MP Matthew Offord joined residents to celebrate the Persian New Year and show support to Iranian refugees.
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British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom organised a reception at Westminster where guests marked Shabe Chaharshanbeh Suri, the Festival of Fire.<\/p>\n
Traditionally Iranian\u2019s celebrate with fireworks and bonfires in the hope the coming year will bring them freedom, peace, happiness and success.<\/p>\n
The Hendon based Association of Anglo-Iranian Women attended the event as well as a protest outside the Iranian embassy.<\/p>\n
Director of the association, Laila Jazayeri said: \u201cSupporters of the Iranian resistance started their protest rally against the Iranian regime last month and are determined to continue it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are calling for the closure of the embassy and the recognition of the Iranian resistance by the British government.\u201d<\/p>\n
The association, which raises awareness about human rights violations in Iran, also wants to help refugees living in Camp Ashraf in Iraq.<\/p>\n
Camp Ashraf is home to over 3,000 Iranian refugees who were exiled from Iran for their membership of an opposition group the People\u2019s Mujahadeen of Iran.
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The association has called for an end to what it refers to as a “two-year-long inhumane siege of Ashraf\u201d suppressing residents and limiting supplies.<\/p>\n
Mr Offord said he is \u201cproud that on the same day as celebrating\u201d the Persian New Year he \u201cwas also asking questions of the Government on Camp Ashraf\u201d and its refugees.
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He said: \u201cI hope they have their own Nowrouz – or new day – before next year and are afforded the safety and security they are entitled to as people with protected status.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Times Series – Tuesday 22nd March 2011 By Natalie O’Neill HENDON MP Matthew Offord joined residents to celebrate the Persian New Year and show support to Iranian refugees. British Parliamentary Committee […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":37078,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[175],"class_list":{"0":"post-10139","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-iran-resistance","8":"tag-updated"},"yoast_head":"\n