Lawyer: 'Boys' Accuser Might Die If Deported

Posted: February 06, 1998

DALLAS — Because of her life here as a topless dancer and a Christian, deportation to Iran could amount to a death sentence for the woman who falsely accused two Dallas Cowboys of rape, her attorney says.

Nina Shahravan, 24, is fighting deportation because of her convictions for perjury and shoplifting. She pleaded guilty last year to a perjury charge in connection with her allegations that she was sexually assaulted by Cowboys players Erik Williams and Michael Irvin. She recanted the allegations and served a jail term for perjury.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service began deportation proceedings against Shahravan because it contends that perjury and shoplifting are crimes of moral turpitude. Under immigration law, conviction on two such charges make her eligible for deportation.

``We believe we have a strong legal position on the issue of the perjury offense not being a crime of moral turpitude,'' attorney Steven F. Kessler said after a hearing before immigration Judge D. Anthony Rogers.

Kessler said that if Shahravan is sent back to Iran she could face a public execution because of her former work as a dancer and because she is a Christian. Shahravan left Iran when she was 5 and became a permanent legal resident in 1985 when her father was granted political asylum.

The next hearing is scheduled for June 29.

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