UK government proposes to hand lesbian over to the mullahs

[wolfinthewood]

I have just faxed the Home Secretary over the case of Pegah Emambakhsh, an Iranian lesbian who who sought asylum in the UK in 2005 following the arrest of her lover (since believed executed). The UK Border and Immigration Agency are planning to return her to Iran, a country notorious for the brutal persecution of gay and lesbian people. At a quick glance, probably the fullest report on the case is here on Indymedia. There was a report on the Guardian website on Friday. Some reports say that it is crucial that any representations on her case should be received by the Home Secretary before this coming Tuesday; at any rate, it is clear that the time is very short.

Update, August 28: I heard by email this evening that all current deportation orders against Pegah Emambakhsh have been lifted.

Comments

[artnouveauho.livejournal.com]

This deportation is shocking and shameful, and even more so is the fact that I haven't heard about this till now. Hope she has a good lawyer who will help her appeal this awful decision.

[wolfinthewood.livejournal.com]

I didn't hear about it till this evening.

[artnouveauho.livejournal.com]

Hmm. A search of bbc.co.uk reveals... nothing. If Italy's got involved, surely this story is now newsworthy?

[wolfinthewood.livejournal.com]

It's my opinion, for what it's worth, that these days the BBC is running scared of the government over all kinds of issues. But of course, if the story becomes big enough they will have to take note of it.

[morgan-dhu.livejournal.com]

Would any kind of representation from someone not in Britain do any good?

In a horrible irony, I was just watching a documentary news piece last night on the CBC about the situation of gays and lesbians in Iran. One gay man who took part in the documentary has since been granted official refugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The documentary is on YouTube, in three parts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAzMuHyg8Eg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QMcfSuJkMo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUZiMCsNNcQ

[wolfinthewood.livejournal.com]

I don't know, is the truth. Probably would, actually - shame them. There is a lot of agitation about the case going on in Italy.

[morgan-dhu.livejournal.com]

Don't know if it will help any, but I've just written to the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister and the Opposition foreign affairs critic urging them to raise the issue.

[wolfinthewood.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much. And thanks for your post on your journal.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for drawing my attention to this.

I've just emailed the text of a letter to my aunt with instructions for her to print it out and sign my name and send it first class.

It's awful that this can even be contemplated. It shouldn't come to this. It makes me inarticulate with fury just thinking about it.

[wolfinthewood.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It appals me, too.