The comprehensive resource for vacations and hotels marketed to the LGBT community
HOME
| ARCHIVE | EMAIL US | TRAVEL SECTION
UNITED KINGDOM
Gay Iranian Woman Wins Battle to Stay
in UK as Refugee
|
LANGUAGE OPTIONS This article is only available in English. For online instant translation in selected other languages, see below. |
SHEFFIELD, February 12, 2009 – Pegah Emambakhsh, the gay Iranian woman who in 2007 was within hours of being deported from UK as a failed refugee seeker, can now stay in the UK, it was revealed last night.
She fled Iran for the UK almost four years ago when her sexuality became known to the religious authorities – her same-sex partner was arrested and subsequently tortured and sentenced to death.
But her application for refuge fell on deaf ears at the Home Office and in the summer of 2007 she was told she would be returned to Iran.
Hundreds of people around the world lobbied the British Government who postponed the deportation while “the case was reviewed” in August 2007.
“We have just been informed that Pegah Emambakhsh … has finally been granted refugee status in the UK after almost four years,” Arsham Parsi, the executive director of IRanian Queer Railroad (IRQR) said last night in Toronto.
“This is fantastic news and a great reward for all the hard work you supporters put in to ensure she was not sent back to Iran.”
Mr. Parsi said that he had received a telephone call at 11pm (UK time) from Ms. Emambakhsh.
“I could not believe it,” she told Mr. Parsi. “A few hours ago I received a phone call from my lawyer to say that I have been granted refugee status.
“I will meet my lawyer tomorrow [Thursday]. I have to read that paper several times to make sure I am free from now.”
IRanian Queer Railroad has been following Ms. Emambakhsh’s case since 2006.
“We remember the day that the British authorities decided to deport her back to Iran and hundreds of people protested this inhuman action,” Mr. Parsi said.
“Pegah’s supporters sent a multitude of emails and faxes to the British Home Office and their Members of Parliament to stop her deportation.”
The widespread international campaign to save Ms. Emambakhsh from deportation, and probably her life, involved government institutions, human rights organisations, LGBT activist groups, intellectuals, experts in international law and thousands of people who have come to love Pegah, Mr. Parsi added.
A spokesperson for the Sheffield-based Friends of Pegah group said: “This has been a long struggle but it is a real vindication of what can be achieved when we all work together.”
SEE ALSO
Iranian Lesbian Freed on Bail From UK Detention at Yarl’s Wood. Pegah Emambakhsh, the 40-years-old Iranian lesbian who fled to the UK in 2005 seeking asylum, has been freed “on bail” from the Yarl’s Wood detention centre in Bedfordshire. (UK Gay News, September 12, 2007)
Pink Panthers in Paris Support Iranian Lesbian Facing Deportation from UK. The Panthères Roses of Paris (Pink Panthers) have weighed-in with support for Pegah Emambackhsh, the Iranian lesbian who is facing deportation from the UK back to Iran. (UK Gay News, August 28, 2007)
International Gay Human Rights Group “Troubled” At Planned Deportation of Iranian Lesbian From UK. A leading American gay and lesbian human rights group has joined the world-wide campaign to stop the deportation by the British Government of Pegah Emambakhsh, the 40-years-old Iranian lesbian back to her home country. (UK Gay News, August 28, 2007)
Lesbian Iranian Asylum Seeker: British Govt. Dithers Over Possible Deportation, Italy Acts. Gay News ran the headline “Ashamed To Be British” on an article about how a gay Algerian was treated over an asylum application. Two years on, nothing has changed when it comes to the case of Pegah Emambakhsh, the 40-years-old gay Iranian woman who is languishing in Yarls Wood Detention Centre near Bedford facing deportation – and who knows what when she arrives in Tehran. But it’s a different story in Italy. (UK Gay News, August 26, 2007)
Gays Worldwide Rally to Aid Iranian Lesbian Facing Deportation from UK. A last-ditch attempt to stop the deportation early next week to Tehran of a 40-years-old lesbian has been mounted by her supporters in Sheffield. But already activists around the world are campaigning against the deportation. (UK Gay News, August 23, 2007)
Gay Iranian Woman Gets ‘Stay’ On UK Deportation Order. A gay Iranian woman came within minutes of being put onto a non-stop flight to Tehran at Heathrow this evening as the UK Government’s Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) – part of the Home Office – went through the final process of deportation. (UK Gay News, August 16, 2007)
ALSO
“All This Torture Just For Being a Lesbian”. An interview with an Iranian lesbian who fled to Europe: "I am a lesbian. For this reason I was arrested countless times. I went to prison and ultimately sentenced to death [by hanging]. I remember the first time I was arrested; I was 21 and a student in Esfahan." (UK Gay News, June 26, 2007)
CLICK HERE FOR PRINTER FRIENDLY PAGE
Seed Newsvine
Got an opinion on this article? Leave your comment here.
How to contact UK
Gay News
Email:
editorial(at)ukgaynews.org.uk Phone
0789 999 5439
(UK)
+44 789 999 5439 (international)
AIM messenger: UKGayNews;
Skype messenger: ukgaynews
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Licence.
|
Posted: 12 February 2009 at 00:00 (UK time) |
