The following is an open letter from DELGA and the Liberal Democrats to the Home Secretary, in response to the situation of Mehdi Kazemi, a gay asylum seeker from Iran.  We welcome anyone who wishes to add their name - Lib Dem or not.
To JACQUI SMITH MP, HOME SECRETARY:Dear Home Secretary,

We are extremely concerned at reports of the case of Mehdi Kazemi, a 19-year-old gay Iranian who has been refused asylum in Britain.  He had claimed asylum on the grounds that his former boyfriend has been hanged in Iran for his homosexuality and, under interrogation, had named Mr. Kazemi as his partner.  Mr. Kazemi fears that if he is forced to return to Iran he, too, will be hanged.

Please tell us urgently:

1)  Why was Mr. Kazemi refused asylum in apparent breach of Home Office guidelines to immigration officers?

2)  How is this decision justified against our commitments to international agreements on refugees?

3)  How many gay, lesbian and bisexual asylum-seekers have been turned down by the British Government in the last ten years and returned to countries where homosexuality is punishable by death?

4)  Can you assure us that, if Mr. Kazemi is returned to Britain from Holland - where he is now appealing against deportation - that he will be granted asylum here?
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For more information on this see the DELGA website story here from 25th February 2008 or the story from The Independent newspaper on 6th March 2008.
 
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