A gay teenager who faces being hanged if sent back to Iran is a step closer to being forced to return today, after the Netherlands followed Britain in refusing his appeal for asylum. Mehdi Kazemi, 19, came to London to study English in 2005 but says he later discovered that his boyfriend had been arrested by the Iranian police, charged with sodomy and hanged. According to Iranian human rights campaigners, more than 4,000 gay men and lesbians have been executed since the Ayatollahs seized power in 1979. Mr Kazemi says he was forced to claim asylum after being told by his father in Tehran that his boyfriend had been questioned about his sexual relationships before his execution in April 2006 and named him under interrogation. He added: “I cannot stop my attraction towards men. This is something that I will have to live with the rest of my life. I was born with the feeling and cannot change this fact but it is unfortunate that I cannot express my feeling in Iran. “If I return to Iran I will be arrested and executed like my former boyfriend.” Peter Tatchell, of the gay rights campaign group Outrage, and one of Mr Kazemi’s supporters, said: “Gay men in Iran are hanged from public cranes using the barbaric method of slow strangulation, which is deliberately designed to cause maximum suffering." The TimesOk, this is not connected to Tameside, but elections are close at hand and before I decide who gets my vote it would be interesting to see how those involved in the political scene who oppose asylum applications would deal with this scenario. Would you grant Mehdi asylum on humanitarian grounds or send him back to face death at the hands of the mad mullahs?
Tameside Citizen
17 comments:
But aren't we told Islam is a religion of peace?
Islam is indeed a religeon of peace but I noticed you dare not give your opinions on what you would do if this mans life was in your hands.
Thank goodness that we have a tolerent society which allows freedom of political, religeous and sexual expression for all - regardless of how disagreeable most of us may find these practices.
"Thank goodness that we have a tolerent society which allows freedom of political, religeous and sexual expression"
Where do you live? Not Tameside?
Cllr "women are thick" Wareing
Cllr "Paddies are useless" Oldham
Cllr "The innocent have nothing to fear" Quinn
The comment about women was taken out of context.
The comment about Irish is untrue - I should know!
Tameside is a safe place to live and the innocent do have nothing to fear.
Nice try at avoiding telling us what u would would do this young homo facing execution upon his return ti iran.
Silence is golden!
Goodnight all - have fun thinking how u r going to get out of this one.
I'd send him out of the country.
If he can find somewhere else to find asylum ok by me...if the Iranians murder him it's their guilt not mine.
I was in the council chamber and the "Murphy" comment was derogatory as was the "housewife" comment.
As for Cllr Quinn's trust in the CCTV cameras and his innocence I ask "If he is innocent why is he watched,,,,,,,why are any of us" When the innocent are watched then that is a police state, oh yes, being innocent did not help Stefan Kisko.
As for the Tameside CCTV cameras I ask a few questions.
1) Are the operaters "badged" yet? IE officially registered by the industry watchdog or are they still not yet legal?
2) Will TMBC make public the result of it's investigation into the operating company following information given to TMBC regarding it's sub-contracting policy and the use of an Isle of Man bank
Tameside VIP said:
"freedom of political, religeous and sexual expression for all - regardless of how disagreeable most of us may find these practices."
Let me repeat the last bit. "regardless of how disagreeable most of us may find these practices." Most of us Sean? Speak for yourself! Looks like the nasty Labour party is on hand again.
As for Councillor Wareing's and Oldham's comments, I heard them very clearly. None were to be taken out of context as the comments were all made crystal clear. Again your party isn't the liberalist party you like to claim it to be. A party of repression more like.
Back on topic. Regardless of his sexuality, there are many people in the same situation as this man who get deported each day back to countries with massive human rights abuses. His sexuality should not give him any advantage - we are all equal. I obviously don't agree with what is going on Iran. The reality is that we can't be absorbing all the asylum seekers as we don't really have the cash to accomodate. I hope that Mehdi Kazemi finds another suitable Westernised country to stay.
A stenographer was present at the council meeting, who took a verbatim account of the meeting. In due course we will find out how good her hearing was.
Oh really, the minutes always seem to have an omission for Councillors rants. Perhaps she wasn't there to listen to the councillors, but what was being said in the public gallery.
Tameside VIP the comments regarding the Irish are true and the real disgrace was the local press never covered it even though they had several letters.
Regarding the main topic each case should be looked at different and to weigh up the pros and cons
Now this man might have a legitimate case but there has been a large amount of false cases lay just to stay in the country as they say they'll be killed back home.
It's like the old story "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" when the Wolf came no one believed him.
One last this Tameside VIP i'm glad your dad got bail!!!
SPP's dad got bail? For what? You can't leave us on a cliffhanger like that.
He should be sent to Madagascar.
who sean parker-perry?
Roy, why do you say such things? Are you in the closet yourself?
RUMOUR ON THE STREETS OF DUKINFIELD IS ROY WEST WILL WIN IN MAY.
"It's like the old story "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" when the Wolf came no one believed him."
So you think people should prove to the home office that they are gay? How?
"RUMOUR ON THE STREETS OF DUKINFIELD IS ROY WEST WILL WIN IN MAY."
How can it be a rumour? It is an election for christ sake. No one knows. That is if you are planning something underhand yourself...
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