This Iranian teen, who has been in Korea for more than nine years, attends a Seoul middle school. Screen captures from SBS News



By Ko Dong-hwan



The Korean classmates of an Iranian teenager under a deportation order have asked President Moon Jae-in to repeal the decision.



A classmate posted a petition on the Cheong Wa Dae's petition website on July 11.



The Iranian, 16, came to Korea with his father nine years ago.



Under the title "Please let my friend have a just screening so he can earn refugee status," the petition said the student's refugee status application was "unjustly dismissed by the Supreme Court." The petitioner said she and her friends were infuriated at the Korean justice system because it ignored their Iranian friend's predicament only because the system was inundated with cases to check.



"My friend had his identification document confiscated and now awaits the date to be deported," the petitioner said. "Tears roll down and my heart shakes as I think about him. If he leaves like this, 27 of us in our class, and 600 students of our school will be left with an indelible pain. If there is justice, please help him not to go back to Iran and keep him safe."



The petition had drawn more than 28,000 supporters as of Monday afternoon. If it reaches 200,000 by Aug. 10, Cheong Wa Dae must give an official response.



The identity of the student, from a Seoul middle school, has been withheld for safety reasons. He and his father came to Korea after his father, then an entrepreneur who traveled often, found Korea ideal as a place to live and for his son's education.





With his religion converted from Islam to Christianity, he said he will be persecuted if he was deported back to Iran.