An important issue about LGBTQ Iranians seeking asylum here in the UK and some info on action you can take………

 Mehdi Kazemi is a 19 year-old student from Iran, who came to the UK to study English in 2005. Mehdi is gay, and whilst he was studying in Britain his boyfriend in Iran was hanged for sodomy. Fearing he would suffer the same fate were he to return to that country, he applied for asylum in the UK. However, his application was turned down. He then travelled to the Netherlands, which has a reputation of being more sympathetic to asylum applications from gay Iranians; however, because of EU rules, he can only apply for asylum in the first European country he entered – the UK.

The court in the Netherlands has therefore detemined that he must be deported back to Britain. After some public pressure, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has announced that Mehdi will have his case reviewed upon his return to the Netherlands, and more than 60 MEPs have signed a petition asking Gordon Brown to reverse the decision. This however, does not gurantee him the right to stay in this country.

Pegah Emambakhsh, 40,  is an Iranian lesbian who fled to Britain in 2005 after her girlfriend was arrested and sentenced to death by stoning, faces being forcibly returned after losing the latest round in her battle to be granted asylum. 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.

Pegah 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.  But last month the Court of Appeal turned down her application for permission for a full hearing and she now plans for a  judicial review at the High Court. The Home Office has also agreed to consider fresh legal representations on her behalf.

The Home Office accepts that gay people are executed in Iran for their homosexuality but believes that “gay people can return to Iran providing they are discreet.” Even if this were true (which its not), the publicity surrounding both of these cases would most certainly now put thier lives in danger.

The British government should not be afraid to critize the Iranian government in its human rights abuses, not just of LGBTQ people, but of women and others groups.  It is a disgrace for our government to say that they will be safe from persecution and execution so long as they are discreet. It is the same as claiming that Anne Frank was safe from the Nazi’s so long as she hid in her attic.

 Our supposed liberal government should stand up for the rights of LGBTQ people around the world as a matter of principal, and allow those facing persecution a safe haven in this country. There are a number of things as LGBTQ people we can do to help the two cases outlined above, and countless other similar cases.

 Write to your MP asking them to urgently support the campaign-  http://www.theyworkforyou.com/

 Join the facebook group to show your support- http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12378555308

Sign the Downing Street Petition here- http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Stopdeportinggay/

There will be a demonstration defending Mehdi Kazemi’s right to stay in the UK in London on  Saturday March 22nd, 2pm, outside Downing Street. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=24480530632