Panama grants humanitarian visas to eleven Iranian Christian converts

Panamanian authorities have granted a six-month extension to eleven Iranian Christian converts who were previously deported from the United States. These individuals, including 27-year-old Artemis Ghasemzadeh, have been issued humanitarian visas to remain in Panama until December to allow them time to find permanent refuge in a third country.

Ghasemzadeh, who fled Iran following her religious conversion and the 2022 protests, was detained at the U.S.-Mexico border before being deported to Panama in early 2025. She is currently residing in a Panama City hotel with other families fleeing religious persecution.

The situation highlights broader shifts in U.S. asylum and deportation policies. While these individuals have found temporary reprieve in Panama, human rights advocates have raised concerns regarding the deportation of asylum seekers to unstable regions as part of new third-country agreements.