News13 mins ago
Medhi Kazemi
34 Answers
Medhi Kazemi is a 19-year-old homosexual Iranian who was originally in the UK to study. While he was abroad his lover at home revealed that they had a sexual relationship - illegal in Iran.
Kazemi applied for asylum and was refused. He then fled to the Netherlands. There he seems to have applied for asylum, then to a local court and then a national court who won't consider it. On March 11, it was ruled that he be sent back to Britain - where he will likely be deported. He could yet appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
Deportation will very probably mean a death sentence. His case has a much higher profile in Iran.
What do you think?I shall express my view once I've listened to the debate a bit.
(I've tried to get as many decent links as possible, hence the inclusion of some crap ones)
The Independent
CNN
BBC
this rather surprising diary entry (first para only) is the best I could find for the Guardian.
I can't find the story on the Telegraph's site...
Kazemi applied for asylum and was refused. He then fled to the Netherlands. There he seems to have applied for asylum, then to a local court and then a national court who won't consider it. On March 11, it was ruled that he be sent back to Britain - where he will likely be deported. He could yet appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
Deportation will very probably mean a death sentence. His case has a much higher profile in Iran.
What do you think?I shall express my view once I've listened to the debate a bit.
(I've tried to get as many decent links as possible, hence the inclusion of some crap ones)
The Independent
CNN
BBC
this rather surprising diary entry (first para only) is the best I could find for the Guardian.
I can't find the story on the Telegraph's site...
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"oneyevic im well aware of the diffrence between the 2...there isnt a lot really is there?" Well, that pretty much sums you up then. Its pretty much the equivalent of saying that there isn't much difference between murder and manslaughter.
You said earlier ...its a poor excuse for wanting to stay here - what the fact that he will possibly be killed for returning to his country for being homosexual? If that is not a good excuse, I wonder what you think would be?
its do gooders like you who are ruining this once great country. I'm sorry that you feel that trying to protect people who are in fear of their life is a bad thing. Maybe next time you seem something bad going on, you can just walk past and ignore it - I'm sure that must make you great.
You said earlier ...its a poor excuse for wanting to stay here - what the fact that he will possibly be killed for returning to his country for being homosexual? If that is not a good excuse, I wonder what you think would be?
its do gooders like you who are ruining this once great country. I'm sorry that you feel that trying to protect people who are in fear of their life is a bad thing. Maybe next time you seem something bad going on, you can just walk past and ignore it - I'm sure that must make you great.
Gave it an hour...
Folks, you are entitled to your opinion. I'll defend it to my last, but I'm now going to use my right of reply.
You speak of this case like it's hypothetical, and doesn't really matter. Look at this photo - this is what faces that young man because his sexuality offends islam.
http://direland.typepad.com/direland/2005/10/s hocking_new_ph.html
Some comments state that the Iranians have said that execution is a 'remote' possibility. That it's a possibility at all is exactly the reason this man should not be returned to his homeland.
Some say 'it's not our problem'. Only it is - he'll be in UK custody so anything that happens thereafter is on the conscience of the person making the decision.
As far as accepting a lashing or imprisonment for being gay... that's just not acceptable to me.
And as for that moron that keeps popping in to liken gay people to murderers - you have your right to speak, I have a right to call you a moron.
Louisa 69 summed this up by stating "To me this isn't an immigration issue, but a human rights one".
Not some concept that doesn't apply - human rights. The right to live without fear of pain because you were born different. This is a real, living, breathing young man. His life is worth more than this. He's committed no crime.
Folks, you are entitled to your opinion. I'll defend it to my last, but I'm now going to use my right of reply.
You speak of this case like it's hypothetical, and doesn't really matter. Look at this photo - this is what faces that young man because his sexuality offends islam.
http://direland.typepad.com/direland/2005/10/s hocking_new_ph.html
Some comments state that the Iranians have said that execution is a 'remote' possibility. That it's a possibility at all is exactly the reason this man should not be returned to his homeland.
Some say 'it's not our problem'. Only it is - he'll be in UK custody so anything that happens thereafter is on the conscience of the person making the decision.
As far as accepting a lashing or imprisonment for being gay... that's just not acceptable to me.
And as for that moron that keeps popping in to liken gay people to murderers - you have your right to speak, I have a right to call you a moron.
Louisa 69 summed this up by stating "To me this isn't an immigration issue, but a human rights one".
Not some concept that doesn't apply - human rights. The right to live without fear of pain because you were born different. This is a real, living, breathing young man. His life is worth more than this. He's committed no crime.
fagidill: Grow up. I'm just saying I didn't make the thread to discuss immigration. I don't want the thread derailed into political shouting matches (which is what immigration threads invariably turn out as), so I'm just pointing that out.
My thoughts:
I think this case does indicate a very flawed policy on Iranian homosexuals seeking asylum. The official policy is that we don't give it because if Iranian homosexuals are 'discreet' then they can get away with it. This is not the case with Kazemi through absolutely no fault of his own. He has not failed in being discreet if his partner named him under duress (and possibly torture)
However (and I say this as a homosexual man), it is too late now. However flawed the specific policy is, Kazemi has been refused asylum and to expect the government to reverse on its decision now would be expecting the government to break its own laws. It's just not possible.
On the precedent issue: Given that they have specific guidelines for Iranian homosexuals, they probably have guidelines for most other asylum-seeking groups. Thus if we change the guidelines on one, we can keep the others as they are.
My thoughts:
I think this case does indicate a very flawed policy on Iranian homosexuals seeking asylum. The official policy is that we don't give it because if Iranian homosexuals are 'discreet' then they can get away with it. This is not the case with Kazemi through absolutely no fault of his own. He has not failed in being discreet if his partner named him under duress (and possibly torture)
However (and I say this as a homosexual man), it is too late now. However flawed the specific policy is, Kazemi has been refused asylum and to expect the government to reverse on its decision now would be expecting the government to break its own laws. It's just not possible.
On the precedent issue: Given that they have specific guidelines for Iranian homosexuals, they probably have guidelines for most other asylum-seeking groups. Thus if we change the guidelines on one, we can keep the others as they are.
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