LONDON, March 24, 2008  –  The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has demanded that the Government clarify its approach to the deportation of gay people to Iran after a spokesman in the House of Lords claimed there was no evidence that gays were being executed because of their sexuality.

“It is quite extraordinary that the Minister can claim that there is no evidence of gays being executed in Iran,” GALHA spokesman Jim Herrick said this morning.

“He seems more inclined to believe the propaganda of the Iranian authorities than the independent reports of organisations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch which testify to the risk of execution faced by gay Iranians.

“GALHA is writing to the Home Secretary, Jacquie Smith, asking for clarification of the Government's stance on this issue, Mr. Hendrick added.

Lat week, during a debate on ssylum seekers, Lord West of Spithead, who is Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office, said: “We are not aware of any individual who has been executed in Iran recently solely on the grounds of homosexuality, and we do not consider that there is systematic persecution of gay men in Iran.” [Hansard 18 Mar 2008 : Column 142]

Despite being challenged by fellow peers, the Minister continued to insist that there is no evidence that “any individual having been executed solely on the grounds of homosexuality”.

A week previously, Lord Avebury drew to the Government’s attention the case of Makwan Mouloudzadeh, a teenager who was executed for a homosexual offence allegedly committed when he was 13.

Lord West responded by saying that in the case of the two teenagers whose execution was shown on television, “they were hanged because they were found guilty of raping a 13 year old boy.  They were hanged for the offence of rape” [Hansard 11 Mar 2008 : Column 1400]

■ On Saturday, some 150 protestors gathered in Whitehall near Downing Street on Saturday calling on the government to halt the deportation of gay Iranian asylum seeker Mehdi Kazemi, and a review of the UK’s asylum system that fails to recognise sexuality as a specific grounds for refugee status.  Report HERE

SEE ALSO

Deportation of Gays to Iran Again Raised in Parliament as Lib Dems Apply Pressure.  The Government is coming under pressure from members of both houses of Parliament, mainly Liberal Democrats, to “come clean” about policies on who are deported to Iran – especially gay men and women.  (UK Gay News, March 19, 2008)

Gay Iranian in Europe: Mehdi Says ‘Thank You’.  Mehdi Kazemi, the 19-years-old gay Iranian currently in a Netherlands detention centre awaiting removal to the UK where, until yesterday he was concerned that he would be immediately returned to Iran, has this morning thanked his many supporters throughout the world.  (UK Gay News, March 14, 2008)

Home Secretary to Review Case of Gay Iranian Teen As Euro Parliament Backs Mehdi.  The UK Government is to review the case of Mehdi Kazemi after the European Parliament expressed its support for a motion tabled by Michael Cashman MEP.  (UK Gay News, March 14, 2008)

Gays in Iran: Lib Dems Attack Home Office While Peers Quiz Government.  The Home Office needs to understand that gay men and women face arrest and execution in Iran, the Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality group DELGA said last night.  (UK Gay News, March 12, 2008)

Gay Iranian Teen Loses Appeal in Netherlands Court – To Be Returned to UK.  Cashman Takes Plight of Mehdi to the European Parliament.  Mehdi Kazemi, the 19-years-old gay Iranian has lost his fight to remain in the Netherlands, a Dutch judge ruled this afternoon.  His uncle, Saeed, was told the news by the Dutch lawyer on the telephone.  (UK Gay News, March 11, 2008)

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