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Britian declares it safe for gays to be in Iran
DarkPrimus
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An Iranian lesbian who fled to Britain after her girlfriend was arrested and sentenced to death faces being forcibly returned after losing the latest round in her battle to be granted asylum.
The case of Pegah Emambakhsh, 40, comes a day after The Independent reported on the growing public outcry over the plight of a gay Iranian teenager who fears he will be executed if he is deported to Iran.
Both cases have provoked international protests against Britain and led to calls for an immediate moratorium on the deportation of gay and lesbian asylum-seekers who fear they will be persecuted in Iran.
More than 60 MEPs have signed a petition asking Gordon Brown to reverse the decision on Mehdi Kazemi, 19, who escaped to the Netherlands after the Home Office refused him asylum last year. His case is still before Dutch judges who will decide this month whether he should return to Britain where he faces deportation to a country which has already executed his boyfriend.
Gay rights group claim there are dozens more cases of gay and lesbian asylum-seekers living in Britain in fear of persecution and facing harsh punishments if forced to return to Iran.
Ms Emambakhsh came to the UK in 2005 fearing for her life after her partner had been arrested by Tehran police. Iranian gay rights groups have reported that that partner is in custody under sentence of death by stoning. Speaking through her asylum representative in Sheffield yesterday, Ms Emambakhsh said: "I will never, never go back. If I do I know I will die."
Under the Iranian Islamic Punishment Act, lesbians found guilty of sexual relations can be sentenced to 100 lashes. But, for a third offence, the punishment is execution.
Ms Emambakhsh narrowly avoided deportation in August last year but only after her local MP, Richard Caborn, and other parliamentarians persuaded the Government to allow her to stay while further legal avenues of appeal were explored. She says she was already on the way to Heathrow when she learnt of her last-minute reprieve. But last month the Court of Appeal turned down her application for permission for a full hearing. Ms Emambakhsh said yesterday that she was "very disappointed" by the ruling but planned to apply for a judicialreview at the High Court. The Home Office has also agreed to consider fresh legal representations on her behalf.
The Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Ludford has written to the Home Secretary to request her urgently to review the case of Mehdi Kazemi. Lady Ludford, the party's European justice spokesperson and a member of the European Parliament's Gay and Lesbian Rights Intergroup, said: "Jacqui Smith must recognise and act on the real threat of persecution and even execution which Mr Kazemi would face if he was to be deported to Iran."
Mehdi Kazemi, 19, came to London to study English in 2004 but later discovered that his boyfriend had been arrested by the Iranian police, charged with sodomy and hanged.
In a phone conversation with his father in Tehran, Mr Kazemi was told that, before the execution in April 2006, his boyfriend had been questioned about sexual relations he had with other men and under interrogation had named Mr Kazemi. Fearing for his own life if he returned to Iran, Mr Kazemi claimed asylum in Britain. Late last year, his claim was refused. Terror-stricken at the prospect of being deported, he made a desperate attempt to evade deportation by fleeing to the Netherlands where he is being detained amid a growing outcry from campaigners.
In turning down Ms Emambakhsh and Mr Kazemi's asylum applications, the Home Office has said that, provided Iranians are discreet about their homosexuality, they will not be persecuted. But Omar Kuddus, of Gay Asylum UK, demanded that Britain follow the example of the Netherlands and Germany in imposing a moratorium on all deportations involving gay and lesbian Iranians. He asked: "How many more young Iranians have to die before the British Government takes action?"
The chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency, Lin Homer, said: "Our country guidance for such cases is published and is considered as amongst the best in the world. We have expert case workers who make decisions on such cases and there are further avenues through the courts. When and if a court decides that we should look at a case again we will do that."
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So can someone tell me why in the world they're doing this? It's not like Iran is going to sever relations with the UK if they don't get these people back to execute.
DarkPrimus on
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But seriously- hey, Brown. Don't fuck this up. Human beings are being murdered because of who they love- time to be human yourself.
It's not to do with diplomatic relations with Iran, it's to do with the legitimacy of their asylum application.
"If I go back to Iran I'll be executed for being a homosexual."
"Sorry, you don't have a legitimate claim for seeking asylum. Should have tried harder to not get named when your partner was tortured for information before he was executed."
:?:
Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
I don't agree with the UK on the specifics of these cases, but it makes sense not to rashly change federal law for a very narrow situation without looking at all the consequences thoroughly.
She should qualify for asylum.
Well they don't have to worry about that because both of these cases are not simply people "being gay".
One of the people has already been charged with the crime and was to be executed. The other person was named by their boyfriend, who had been executed for the exact crime he would be found guilty of.
Might as well say that during World War II the British should have just turned away Jews who were fleeing - oh wait, they did that.
Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
This is New Labour. They follow a far more centrist approach now. The Lib Dems are the only remaining major party who pay lip-service to socialism anymore.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.
How dare two people seek a relationship they absolutely deserve to be stoned and hanged for it.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
We're not able to control their country or the governments laws and as such we cannot reduce the price to be paid for engaging in a gay relationship there. But they do know beforehand the consequences and I do think that includes stoning. Not saying they shouldn't have a relationship, saying they shouldn't have had one knowing what could happen in that country.
So you're saying "eh, sorry not our problem that your country denies you basic human rights and right to life because you don't fall under their religious-based laws."?
because that's how you're coming across to me
But then it is the Home Office's job to be hard bastards, they are the immigration gate keeper + Justice ministry - that is why there are levels of appeal on the decisions they make. All we can really do is hope that the appeal process is fair
I'm saying she knew the risks of that relationship in her country and that there are many other people who need help from situations they didn't have a choice in.
Absolutely, Labour's a right-of-centre party, though I'd be amazed if Brown didn't summon the stones to not send this chap to his death.
Gives you right to debate, not act like a douche. It isn't Britains job to look after them. It just isn't. When was that job assigned to us?
And how does it not make sense that if you're going to engage in a gay relationship in Iran, regardless of how clandestine, that you should probably be made aware that if you are caught, you're going to be executed because they don't take kindly to it? It's against their rules and they have the armed forces on their side to enforce it to the farthest extent they want to take it.
Somewhat related: I really don't see why it would be so bad for the rules regarding asylum claims to have protection for sexual orientation amended in, right along side race and creed. We in the US already disallow discrimination based on sexuality. Why not extend that to asylum, as well?
Examples:
be a member of Falun Gong/China
work with US government/Iraq
How does being gay not fit under being unable to return to the country because of fear of persecution?
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
It's their Obligation as human beings to do what they can to protect these people when their country is trying to kill them for fucked up reasons.
I'd go so far as to say that it is the obligation of every civilized nation on earth to do so, if they are presented with that option.
Not to say "sorry, you should have kept it a secret *slam door in face*"
How is it not a valid point? You are claiming that people should not be granted asylum, despite the fact that they will be executed for being homosexual, because they "chose" to act on their sexuality, and are thus not as deserving of asylum as someone with no choice (I assume you mean ethnicity by this?). I don't see how it is immature to reference political dissent in response to this.
I'm pretty sure political dissidents and those who practice a different religion are fully aware of the consequences of their actions as well, should they also not be allowed asylum because they were capable of hiding their true beliefs and living in the shitty situation they were born to? Your position seems to suggest this.
Seriously, if they grant asylum because of race and/or creed, I don't see why that can't do so for sexuality, as well.
Just because there are many people who need help doesn't make what these two people need any less meaningful or real. Especially because these are two people who they control the destiny of directly.
took out her barrettes and her hair spilled out like rootbeer
not to mention, these people are now world famous from the news of this case
they send them back to Iran, they are literally sending these people to their deaths
If practicing it would mean their death, how can you NOT hide it? I'm not saying they should be denied asylum because they could hide it, saying she was stupid for knowing exactly what could happen and doing it anyway and then running here to be taken care of. If there was some big gay party there that could lend some sort of defence that a religious group may at least have a shot at, maybe, but when you're basically alone with few others like you in the open, in a country which has no sympathy and in fact despises your lifestyle, theres a time and a place for making the smart choice and maybe leaving the country BEFORE you start a relationship.
or "I'm sorry Mr. Rosenburg, you'll have to go right back to Germany. That's your countries problem, not ours."
Seriously DarkWarrior, you'd rather see this kid killed than become a British National?
The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun.
Britain has accepted that other things - religion, ethnicity, etc. are grounds to protect people so it's not even a question of when the job was "assigned" to you - you've already accepted it for people in identical situations.
Cubans are supposed to know the risks they run by not being fans of communism?
Zimbabweans are supposed to know the risks they run by not voting for Mugabe?
Because there is some choice, no matter how infinitesimal, they ought to suck it up?
Hey, I didn't say send her back to Iran so that maybe we can PPV the execution. Just don't know why it has to be here. I have sympathy for the situation but not the persons decisions. Doesn't mean I condemn her to death.
took out her barrettes and her hair spilled out like rootbeer
I really don't understand your point of view. You make it sound as if you believe this is akin to an economic refugee or something.
These people face DEATH. Stoning and hanging. Simply for being who they are.
It may not be Britain's "job" to take care of them- but holy hell- are you actually telling us you'd rather see innocent people murdered by their own government than to offer them a safe haven?
That is the definition of inhuman.