For God’s Sake, Save This Poor Man and Put Him Out of His Misery!
To send Mehdi Kazemi back to the barbarism of Iran, back into the hands of the cruel Ahmadinejad would be nothing short of a crime.

We allow all sorts of unsavoury characters into the European Union, so many of whom are illegal immigrants, and so many of whom turn against the state by becoming terrorists and working to undermine the system. This man is harmless. He just happens to be attracted to people of his own sex. Whatever one’s feelings about homosexuality, only an extremely cruel system would send him back to Iran to face his death. And a horrendous one at that! This poor man needs protection, and he needs it NOW.

This man will not turn into a terrorist. He is merely trying to pursue his own happiness. All people, regardless, should have the right to do that. - ©Mark

Photo of Mehdi Kazemi courtesy of The Times
”“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.” - Mehdi Kazemi

TIMESONLINE: 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.

He claimed asylum in Britain, saying that he feared for his life if he returned. However, his case was refused late last year, so he fled to the Netherlands.

A Dutch court today, however, ordered him to return to Britain, leaving the teenager once again facing deportation.

According to Iranian human rights campaigners, more than 4,000 gay men and lesbians have been executed since the Ayatollahs seized power in 1979. Gay student 'faces death' after Iran return >>> By David Byers and agencies | March 11, 2008

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Now Iranian Lesbian Who Fled to Britain Faces Deportation
THE INDEPENDENT: An Iranian lesbian who fled to Britain after her girlfriend was arrested and sentenced to death faces being forcibly returned after losing the latest round in her battle to be granted asylum.

The case of Pegah Emambakhsh, 40, comes a day after The Independent reported on the growing public outcry over the plight of a gay Iranian teenager who fears he will be executed if he is deported to Iran.

Both cases have provoked international protests against Britain and led to calls for an immediate moratorium on the deportation of gay and lesbian asylum-seekers who fear they will be persecuted in Iran.

More than 60 MEPs have signed a petition asking Gordon Brown to reverse the decision on Mehdi Kazemi, 19, who escaped to the Netherlands after the Home Office refused him asylum last year. His case is still before Dutch judges who will decide this month whether he should return to Britain where he faces deportation to a country which has already executed his boyfriend.

Gay rights group claim there are dozens more cases of gay and lesbian asylum-seekers living in Britain in fear of persecution and facing harsh punishments if forced to return to Iran.

Ms Emambakhsh came to the UK in 2005 fearing for her life after her partner had been arrested by Tehran police. Iranian gay rights groups have reported that that partner is in custody under sentence of death by stoning. Speaking through her asylum representative in Sheffield yesterday, Ms Emambakhsh said: "I will never, never go back. If I do I know I will die."

Under the Iranian Islamic Punishment Act, lesbians found guilty of sexual relations can be sentenced to 100 lashes. But, for a third offence, the punishment is execution. Now Iranian lesbian who fled to Britain faces deportation >>> By Robert Verkaik, Law Editor

THE INDEPENDENT:
Simon Hughes: No gay person should be sent back to Iran

THE INDEPENDENT:
Leading article: Squalid priorities

Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)