News & Politics - Gay teenager in danger of being deported to his death

**sum1** · 03-08-2008, 11:33 AM

Mehdi Kazemi is a gay 19 year old from Iran who came to Britain to study four years ago. In 2006 he learned that his boyfriend had been hung in Iran for gay sexual activity. He applied for asylum in Britain but last year Britain denied him asylum and ordered his deportation to Iran. He is presently in Holland fighting moves to send him back to Britain (from where presumably he would be deported to Iran). A Dutch court is to determine if he will be allowed to seek asylum in Holland or whether he's to be sent back to Britain. He says he will executed if he returns to Iran.

Also, here's an article about gays being executed in Iran:
Gays should be hanged, says Iranian minister - Times Online

The International Lesbian and Gay Association says that Yemen, Nigeria, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia and Iran execute people for homosexuality.

Jen Jaree · 03-08-2008, 08:20 PM

Gays not having the same rights and freedoms is bad enough but it's WAY worse for executing them (a fact I knew before reading this thread). Especially since I don't believe being gay is a choice.

welshgirlyUK · 03-10-2008, 05:31 AM

I dont understand why he'd be deported from Holland to Britain if they deny his application aswell, since Britain have already denied it. Wouldn't he be sent from Holland to Iran?

That being said, executing a person for their sexual preference is... i cant even find the words to express how disguisting that is.

migamoo · 03-10-2008, 10:30 AM

He might not be in Holland legally if he's fighting being sent back to Britian.

**TheAngel** · 03-12-2008, 07:33 AM

Here's the latest.

Quote:

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (March 11) - The Netherlands' highest court on Tuesday rejected a gay Iranian's last-ditch appeal to avoid deportation to Britain, where he fears authorities will send him back to Tehran and possible execution.

Mehdi Kazemi, 19, traveled to Britain to study in 2005 and applied there for asylum after learning that his male lover in Iran had been executed for sodomy. After British authorities rejected Kazemi's application, he fled and applied for asylum in the Netherlands.

Upholding a ruling by the Dutch government, the Council of State said Britain is responsible for Kazemi's case because he applied for asylum there first. European Union rules say the member state where an asylum seeker first enters the bloc is responsible for processing that person's claim.

Kazemi's case has generated attention for the plight of homosexuals in Iran, but also for differences in the way EU countries deal with asylum seekers.

Gay rights campaigner Rene van Soeren said Kazemi's lawyer was considering an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. The lawyer, Borg Palm, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Boris van der Ham, a lawmaker who has taken up Kazemi's cause, has appealed to the government to lobby British authorities on Kazemi's behalf.

"There should be some political leadership," he said in a telephone interview. "I hope in Britain they will do it, and otherwise we should take the boy."

Because of Iran's persecution of homosexuals, the Netherlands typically relaxes its tough asylum rules when considering applications by gay Iranians -- virtually guaranteeing asylum to any who apply here.

However, because Kazemi had already applied for asylum in Britain and been rejected, the Dutch government refused to consider his case, insisting he return to Britain.

Britain's Home Office has declined comment, saying it does not discuss individual asylum applications.

However, Britain's Border and Immigration Agency has issued a statement that could give Kazemi hope: "We examine with great care each individual case before removal and we will not remove anyone who we believe is at risk on their return."

Matteo Pegoraro, president of the Italian-based gay rights group EveryOne, which is lobbying on behalf of Kazemi, has said he knows of 10 gay people executed in Iran since 2005, based on reports from nongovernment groups and activists.

The story is here.
It doesn't look good, unless some other country extends political asylum, which the US will never do because we're run by an ignorant bigot. But I wish him all the best and hope nothing bad happens to him.

migamoo · 03-12-2008, 10:15 AM

This is really depressing. I hope that when he gets back to Britain, he appeals his rejection. I really hope this ends well. There's no reason for someone to be executed just for being gay. Never.

**sum1** · 03-12-2008, 10:57 AM

Here's The Times on the news:

Gay teenager is facing gallows as his asylum bid is rejected - Times Online

He's being sent back, Holland refused his asylum request.

Human rights campaigners say that over 4,000 gays have been executed in Iran since the 1979 revolution.

Papri · 03-13-2008, 09:58 AM

But the British Home Office steps in:

Quote:

Gay Iranian teenager Mehdi Kazemi has been handed a temporary reprieve from deportation by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

She announced his case will be reconsidered after concerns that he could face execution if removed to his homeland.

Ms Smith said: "Following representations made on behalf of Mehdi Kazemi, and in the light of new circumstances since the original decision was made, I have decided that Mr Kazemi's case should be reconsidered on his return to the UK from the Netherlands."

Mr Kazemi, 19, has been refused asylum in the Netherlands and is now likely to be sent back to Britain.

From here he was facing deportation to Iran.

The teenager came to London to study English in 2005 but later discovered that his boyfriend had been arrested by the Iranian police, charged with sodomy and hanged.

He fled to the Netherlands after the Home Office rejected his case late last year.

According to Iranian human rights campaigners, more than 4,000 gay men and lesbians have been executed since the Ayatollahs seized power in 1979.

Liberal Democrat MP for Southwark and Bermondsey Simon Hughes had pledged to support Mr Kazemi if he was returned to the UK.

Chief executive of gay rights group Stonewall, Ben Summerskill, said: "We are obviously delighted that the Home Secretary has listened to the representations that were made in this case. There are overwhelming reasons why people should not be deported to Iran in the current circumstances, and it is important that Britain is seen as a safe haven."

here

**sum1** · 03-13-2008, 11:55 AM

Temporary? Why not permanent?

**sunnykerr** · 03-13-2008, 06:54 PM

I'm only guessing here, but I'm thinking it's more of a bureaucratic hang-up than a humanitarian one. You can't just hand out permanent reprieves without knowing the case. Bureaucracies take time. It's obvious the publicity shamed them into action (thank the Lord), but bureaucracies never just say, "Here's you freedom. Have fun." There's investigations and a bunch of blah blah to go through.

It doesn't mean he won't be given permanent asylum. Again I'm only guessing, but I'm assuming governments have measures to go through for potential cases where people don't actually deserve asylum (you know, murderers trying to run from their nation's law or whatever) and the usual steps can't be shoved aside merely because this is obviously a case were asylum is the only sane thing to do.

If I'm wrong, though, I sure as heck hope someone, somewhere steps in.

Lain · 03-16-2008, 09:43 AM

Looks like they may reconsider it

Quote:

Gay Iranian demands guarantee he can stay

By Robert Verkaik, Law Editor
Saturday, 15 March 2008

A gay teenager spared an immediate return to Iran, where he claims he faces the death penalty, said yesterday that he will only feel safe if the Home Secretary personally guarantees his right to remain in Britain.

Mehdi Kazemi, 19, who lost his asylum claim in Britain even though it was alleged that his former boyfriend was executed for sodomy, spoke openly of his distrust of the Government.

His case has already provoked a public outcry, forcing the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, to agree to reconsider his claim for refugee status. But speaking from a detention centre in Rotterdam, where he is being held after fleeing to the Netherlands, Mr Kazemi said he fears for his future. "I know what Jacqui Smith has said about my case and that of course is a good thing," he said. "But I know what this government can do to me. They tried to take me at Christmas time two years ago when everyone was away, even my lawyer."

It was only the intervention of his MP, the Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes, which prevented his deportation. In an 11th hour appeal, Mr Hughes persuaded the Home Office to halt the deportation so that he could look into the case.

"I can not be confident they won't try this again, perhaps in the Easter holiday," Mr Kazemi said yesterday. "These things have happened to me before. What they haven't done is promise me I won't go back to Iran."

A Dutch appeal court ruled on Tuesday that Mr Kazemi could not claim asylum in the country.

He is allowed just one hour a week when he can meet visitors. Last week he used it to see family friends, and asked for CDs and science fiction books.

But his attention has now turned to his transfer to Britain. "If I am allowed to stay in this country I want to continue with my English studies. I like it in England, I felt safe and much freer. If I go back to Iran it will be most certainly death for me."

During his asylum appeal the Government told Mr Kazemi he would be safe in Iran if he was discreet about his sexuality. This is something that he believes is impossible to do. He said that for gay people in Iran it was "like a genocide no one will talk about". Mr Kazemi says he misses his family in Iran, although he knows his father has disowned him. "I miss my mother and my little sister a lot, but by father wants to kill me, he does not accept me."

MPs and gay rights groups were hoping last night that the Home Secretary would grant Mr Kazemi his wish. Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: "It is the strong view of my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I that, in the current political climate, there should be an immediate moratorium on deporting gay people to Iran. To do otherwise is tantamount to the government endorsing state-sanctioned murder."

Announcing the decision to rehear Mr Kazemi's case, Ms Smith said on Thursday: "Following representations made on behalf of Mehdi Kazemi, and in the light of new circumstances since the original decision was made, I have decided that Mr Kazemi's case should be reconsidered on his return to the UK."

Mr Kazemi is expected to arrive next week after the Dutch deputy justice minister has made a statement to the Netherlands parliament about his case.

Source: [Link]

welshgirlyUK · 03-17-2008, 06:31 AM

I honestly dont understand our govt sometimes, they deny asylum to people who really need it and grant it to people who are just here to take advantage. It blows my mind.

julie_chelson · 03-31-2008, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sum1 (View Post)

Here's The Times on the news:

Gay teenager is facing gallows as his asylum bid is rejected - Times Online

He's being sent back, Holland refused his asylum request.

Human rights campaigners say that over 4,000 gays have been executed in Iran since the 1979 revolution.

4.000? What the *****? I mean in order to express such hate against someone who is gay how many complexes you must have?I really believe that people who dislike gays are deeply insecure for their own self,deeply phycologicaly damaged and stupid people.I don't know what else to say.

**sunnykerr** · 04-01-2008, 06:13 PM

In no way and shape do will I ever condone the horrendous, disgusting policy in Iran to assassinate gay people. At no point in time will it be alright. It is a gross miscarriage of humanity, let alone justice.

Having said that, I'm not sure I'd call it an expression of hate. Not per se. Psychopathy on that wide a scale can't be about emotions.

Mind you, I could be wrong.

But, to me, and I'm looking at the world's entire history in terms of treatment of gay people here, it seems more like deep-seated denial and ignorance.

Doesn't make any of it anywhere-near-a-place-that-would-be-far-enough-to-inhabit-the-same-universe-as-close-to-being right. It's appalling. It's revolting.

I'm just not sure it's hate. Hate, however repugnant, I could understand. It's a human emotion.

This goes so far beyond that level...

I don't know.

**sum1** · 04-04-2008, 09:49 AM

Remember the president of Iran (damned if I can spell his name) saying there were no gays in Iran? I think clearly some people want there to be no gays in Iran.


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