Mehdi Kazemi
Mehdi Kazemi(مهدی کاظمی, born 1989) is an Iranian man who is wanted in Iran forsodomy.Originally in the UK to study, he was grantedasylumby Britain in 2008.
Background
[edit]Since the 1979 Iranian revolution, the legal code has been based on a conservative interpretation of IslamicShari'alaw. All sexual relations outside of heterosexual marriage (i.e. sodomy or adultery) are illegal and no legal distinction is made between consensual or non-consensual sexual activity. Homosexual relations that occur between consenting adults in private are a crime and carry a maximumpunishment of death.
Asylum case
[edit]Kazemi then fled to theNetherlandsto apply forpolitical asylum,but was refused in accordance with the 2003Dublin Convention,which prevents application for asylum in more than one EU country. Kazemi was held in adetentioncentre pending return to the UK. If he returned to Iran he would have been at risk of imprisonment. After a sustained campaign by several supporters, includingSimon Hughes,Michael CashmanMEP,Peter Tatchelland Middle East Workers' Solidarity,Home secretaryJacqui Smithagreed to review his case when he returned to the UK.[1]He was refused asylum in the Netherlands[2]and returned to the UK April 4, 2008.[3]
On March 22, Middle East Workers' Solidarity[4]and National Union of Students staged a protest oppositeDowning Streetin defence of Kazemi. SeveralLGBTstudent organisations also attended, including the Manchester, Bradford, and Leeds University LGBT Societies. The demonstration demanded that Kazemi should not be sent to Iran, and that he should be allowed to stay in Britain.
On May 20, it was confirmed that Kazemi's case for asylum had been accepted by the British government.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Gay Iranian deportation reviewed
- ^Mehdi Kazemi: On his way back: Dutch "We have confidence in a good outcome"
- ^Mehdi back in UK
- ^"Middle East Workers' Solidarity: Action to defend Mehdi Kazemi March 22nd".Virgin Media.Archived fromthe originalon 29 July 2012.Retrieved17 September2011.
- ^Gay Iranian wins UK asylum fight
External links
[edit]
- Iranian Queer Organisation
- IRAN: UK GRANTS ASYLUM TO VICTIM OF TEHRAN PERSECUTION OF GAYS, CITING PUBLICITY,Passed to the Telegraph by WikiLeaks, 04 Feb 2011 (original date: 5/22/2008)