A US Congresswoman has proposed a change to US law to prevent future deportations of asylum-seekers whose countries of origin are designated by the State Department as “severe” violators of religious freedom – such as Iran.

Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari

The proposed bill, which was introduced yesterday by Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari, seeks to prevent the deportation of individuals whose country of origin has been listed as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) for religious-freedom violations or is on the State Department’s ‘Special Watch List’.

Iran has been designated a CPC for years and is currently one of 12 such countries – alongside Myanmar, China, Cuba, Eritrea, North Korea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan – while a further five countries are on the State Department’s ‘Special Watch List’: Algeria, Azerbaijan, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam.

The ‘Artemis Act’ is named after an Iranian asylum-seeker, Artemis Ghasemzadeh, whose claim is based on the dangers she faces in Iran as a Christian convert and who was recently deported to Panama and is now reportedly at risk of repatriation.

Introducing the bill, Congresswoman Ansari said: “Artemis Ghasemzadeh was denied the due process afforded to asylum seekers by law, plain and simple. Returning to the Islamic Republic of Iran would mean immediate–potentially deadly–danger for her, both as a woman and a Christian convert.”

Rep Ansari, who shared a recording of a recent video call she had had with Ms Ghasemzadeh, praised the 27-year-old’s “bravery and resilience” and said: “My hope is that this legislation ensures that the nightmare she has endured never happens to anyone else.”

I am so proud to introduce the Artemis Act today to stop expedited removal for refugees fleeing religious persecution.

My bill is named after Artemis Ghasemzadeh, a Christian convert from Iran who came to the US seeking asylum because she feared death in her home country. When… pic.twitter.com/8Fex8cyHHe

— Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (@RepYassAnsari) May 20, 2025

Ms Ghasemzadeh commented: “As a Christian convert fleeing danger, I trusted the United States would embrace me, offering safety to practice my faith freely. Despite warnings, I arrived, confident in America’s welcome. But being sent to Panama without a chance to plead my case shattered my dream of America. I hope one day it will again be a sanctuary for those seeking religious freedom.”

Rep Ansari and nine other members of Congress also sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS), asking for clarifications on what protections exist for deported asylum-seekers.

The letter noted reports that Iranian Christian converts were among those who had been deported, saying: “Given that [such] deportees face risks such as arbitrary detention, persecution, or even death in their home countries, what assurances can DHS provide that they will not be sent back to face certain danger?”

Meanwhile, US-based charity International Christian Concern has launched a petition, calling on Western governments to provide a safe haven for Ms Ghasemzadeh, who reportedly has until 7 June to leave Panama, as well as her brother, Shahin, who is reportedly being held in a detention centre in Texas.

The petition will be sent to the governments of France, Poland, Greece, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom on 28 May.

Refugees like Artemis who come to the US seeking religious freedom should be welcomed with open arms, not locked away in foreign hotels and remote detention camps. We have to uphold our nation’s legacy as a beacon of hope and defender of religious freedom. pic.twitter.com/IXvoz1lsZj

— Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (@RepYassAnsari) March 3, 2025