Britain: Iran Safe for Gays

[HemlockGrey]

Provided they're "discreet"

[quote=The Independent]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."[/quote]

[Rogue 9]

Says it all, really.

[Rye]

What the hell is the matter with the people adjudicating these asylum applications? I wonder if they're determined to get the asylum numbers down "at all costs" for fear of the right wing tabloid press, or if they're just cunts in general. Fuck, at least the libdem woman and the MEPs are being decent about it.

[Alyrium Denryle]

"Yes, so long as they stay in the closet about their homosexuality and live in constant fear of being caught by a friend or family member they will not be prosecuted"

Fuck you Britain

[NoXion]

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.

That's bullshit, as Mr Kazemi's situation proves. You can be as discreet as you want, but it will be all for nothing if you're "outed".

Putting aside for the moment the sheer ridiculousness of telling people to be "discreet" about their sexuality.

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."

Typical irrelevant drivel from a beuraucrat who is in all likelyhood totally disconnected from the people he makes decisions about. Why are these types almost always completely unable to give a relevant and/or non-bullshit statement?

[Imperial Overlord]

This is just disgusting. While massive ignorance and incompetence could possibly be an explanation for this decision, bigotry seems much more plausible.

[Molyneux]

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.

That's bullshit, as Mr Kazemi's situation proves. You can be as discreet as you want, but it will be all for nothing if you're "outed".

Putting aside for the moment the sheer ridiculousness of telling people to be "discreet" about their sexuality.

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."

Typical irrelevant drivel from a beuraucrat who is in all likelyhood totally disconnected from the people he makes decisions about. Why are these types almost always completely unable to give a relevant and/or non-bullshit statement?

Because the rotten, maggot-infested meat of his statement is "I follow our rules to the bitter end because otherwise, I'd have to think."

Thinking carries with it the risk of blame.

[darthbob88]

Because the rotten, maggot-infested meat of his statement is "I follow our rules to the bitter end because otherwise, I'd have to think."

Thinking carries with it the risk of blame.

And even then he's not safe. How many people were hung at Nuremberg despite "only following orders"?

[DPDarkPrimus]

Iran is safe for Christians and Jews, too.

Just don't ever tell anyone you're one.

[HemlockGrey]

This is just disgusting. While massive ignorance and incompetence could possibly be an explanation for this decision, bigotry seems much more plausible.

I very much doubt bigotry has much to do with it. The wheels of the bureacratic machine are complex and impersonal. It probably has more to do with statistics and budgets and departmental jurisdictions than "we don't like gay people."

[Imperial Overlord]

I very much doubt bigotry has much to do with it. The wheels of the bureacratic machine are complex and impersonal. It probably has more to do with statistics and budgets and departmental jurisdictions than "we don't like gay people."

To me it looks like a bigot simply not giving a fuck and hiding behind the machinery of bureaucracy. That they execute people for being gay really is enough right there for even pea brained moron.

Of course, I could just be underestimating callousness, laziness, and stupidity. I just happen to think that its likely there is at least a little bigotry mixed in. It's much easier to do nothing for people you don't like in the first place.

[Crazedwraith]

This is appalling. I am truly shocked at the sheer idiocy of the relevant officials. The Home Office's statement is blatantly absurd.

As for Lin Homer's quote. What the fuck does that even mean? It doesn't answer the question at all.

As an aside, what does MEP stand for? Member of the House of Lords?

[Rye]

Member of European Parliament.

[Crazedwraith]

Member of European Parliament.

Thanks, That should have been obvious to me, I suppose.

So why is it only MEPs are objecting? As opposed to our MPs and so forth.

[Darth Onasi]

And once again the UK proves it's government can still be stupider than America's.

[Oni Koneko Damien]

Jesus tittyfucking Christ. This woman had her lover taken from her and killed by the state. She busted her ass, probably in great fear for her own life the whole time, to get herself out of that state and to a place where she thought she could be considered safe.

...only to be told that she was going to get shipped right back to the place she fled from, probably with a whole pack of jackals who know who she is and why she fled waiting to rip her apart just like her girlfriend.

I fucking hate the violent bigots of the world. But things like this remind me that the apathetic assholes deserve nearly as much ire because their own negligence contributes a great deal of power to the bigots.

[Jade Falcon]

Wait a bloody minute....Britain has let in arseholes like Abu Hamza who for years was preaching openly for the overthrowing of the 'Imperialist British state' and for years he got away with it, yes this poor woman doesn't get in.

Something, pardon my language, is seriously fucked up here. I don't believe in open borders and letting all and sundry in, I think some checks are required but this is a valid case.

[Molyneux]

Member of European Parliament.

Thanks, That should have been obvious to me, I suppose.

So why is it only MEPs are objecting? As opposed to our MPs and so forth.

MP would be...Member of Parliament? My brain keeps trying to fill in "Military Police", but I know that can't be right.

[Jade Falcon]

MP would be...Member of Parliament? My brain keeps trying to fill in "Military Police", but I know that can't be right.

MP-Member of Parliament
MEP-Member of the European Parliament
MSP-Member of the Scottish Parliament (Unlikely to appear in this article)

[NecronLord]

There's some people in the home office, who probably ought to be fired.

At the very least.

[Jade Falcon]

There's some people in the home office, who probably ought to be fired.

At the very least.

Aye...fired into the sun.

[ray245]

Hmm...the problem is people already know she is a lesbian...so it will not be safe for her to return...

[Aaron]

Hmm...the problem is people already know she is a lesbian...so it will not be safe for her to return...

Thanks Captain Obvious. I get the impression that this is bureaucratic inertia and as someone mentioned, not wanting to take a chance because that gets people in shit. After all you can't go wrong if you follow the policy.

[Dartzap]

Hmm...the problem is people already know she is a lesbian...so it will not be safe for her to return...

Thanks Captain Obvious. I get the impression that this is bureaucratic inertia and as someone mentioned, not wanting to take a chance because that gets people in shit. After all you can't go wrong if you follow the policy.

I suspect this is the case. Due to the fact it was the budget today, it wasn't mentioned at PMQ's Betcha a million quid it will be next week. There's no way Brown will want this on record.

There was similar case about a bloke as well...Something is certainly odd at the moment. I imagine Liberty will start causing a noise soon enough as well.

[Dartzap]

And what the 'ell? I'm not on drugs yet that post made little or no sense whatsoever... *sighs*