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STATEMENT SUPPORTING A MORATORIUM ON THE REMOVAL OF IRANIAN LESBIAN AND GAY MEN ASYLUM SEEKERS 


12TH MARCH 2008 
 

UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group (UKLGIG) strongly supports an EU wide moratorium on the removal/deportation of Iranian lesbians and gay men.  Being gay or lesbian is strongly condemned by Islam and the Islamic code of law (Sharia law) adopted in Iran and is punishable by death.  Many genuine lesbians and gay men (although lesbians hardly ever make their way to safety in the UK) who claim asylum on the grounds of their sexuality are being refused in the UK.  They are at risk of removal/deportation and ultimately they are at risk of being executed on return to Iran. 

Those who are believed to be gay are often asked by UK Immigration Judges to return to Iran and hide their sexuality (“to be discreet”) and/or to relocate in another part of the country.  UKLGIG fervently believes that these requests to be discreet and to internally relocate breach the basic human rights of many lesbians and gay men.

Therefore when lesbians and gay men are found to be credible the Home Office and Immigration Judges should respect the basic human rights of these men and women.  Asking a gay man to go back to Iran and be discreet means, amongst other things, asking him to get married, potentially destroy the life of his spouse, to never have an honest loving relationship, to never be himself.  To ask an individual to do this is in itself persecution. 
 
 

UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group was founded in 1993 to assist same-sex, bi-national couples win the right for foreign partners to remain in the United Kingdom on the basis of their relationship.  The work of the group resulted in the first ever legislation in this country giving rights to lesbian and gay couples.  From 1997 the group achieved increasing steps towards equality and with many of its recommendations being included in the Civil Partnership Act, immigration equality for same-sex partners was finally achieved in December 2005. 

Since 2004 UKLGIG has shifted its focus towards the problems faced by lesbian and gay asylum seekers.  The group is receiving more and more calls for help from lesbians and gay men seeking the protection of the UK, because they are persecuted in their home countries.  There is currently very little support available for them and the group’s asylum seeker project is a vital lifeline - a place to meet others struggling with similar issues, a source of quality legal advice, of support and importantly of hope.

For further details please contact:

UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group
Tel: 020 7922 7812

 

 

... UKLGIG, UK Border Agency, UKVisas

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UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group      -     Registered Charity No 1101400     -      PO Box 51524, London SE1 7ZW