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11-04-08 17:40
US Presidential Candidates Called On to Stop Deportations of Gay Iranians From UK
Clinton, McCain and Obama urged to write to Brown
PHILADELPHIA, April 4, 2008 – Equality Forum, a US headquartered national and international GLBT civil rights organization, called on Presidential candidates Clinton, McCain and Obama to send letters to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to revoke the deportation orders for the return of gays and lesbians in the UK to Iran.
The UK last year issued a deportation order for 19-year-old Iranian Mehdi K to his homeland where he faces likely execution for being gay.
Deportation was ordered after his student visa expired and K lost his appeal.
“Equality Forum calls on Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama to send letters to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown opposing the deportation of K and other gay and lesbian Iranians in the UK to Iran,” Malcolm Lazin, executive director of Equality Forum said yesterday.
“The K deportation is an opportunity for the presidential candidates to affirm their administration's commitment to a policy opposing human rights deportations.”
Mr. K arrived in Britain in 2005 on a student visa. His boyfriend, Parham, who was the same age, was arrested, tortured, and executed by the Islamic Republic of Iran and he fears arrest, torture and execution if he is returned to Iran.
The young man has two uncles who have lived in England for 30 years and have been British citizens for 20 years.
After losing his appeal of the deportation, Mr. K fled the UK and is currently in the Netherlands, where he was detained as an illegal immigrant. A Dutch court has ordered K returned to the UK.
Last month, the European Parliament issued a resolution citing the expulsion of persons to a country where they would risk persecution, torture, and death, as a violation of European and international human rights obligations.
There are thought to be no fewer than 12 gay and lesbian Iranians living in the UK who are at risk of deportation including a lesbian, Pegah Emambakhsh and “Ramin” who is awaiting the result of a final appeal (original article on plight, from March 2006, is HERE).
Ms. Emambakhsh became a UK refugee after her partner in Iran was arrested, tortured, and sentenced to death by stoning. Like K, Ms. Emambakhsh lost her UK deportation appeal.
■ Unconfirmed reports from the Netherlands suggest that Mehdi K could be returned to UK in a matter of days.
Source: --->UK Gay News click here<---
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26-03-08 18:39
Office of the Bishop
March 13, 2008
The Honorable James Clark
Consul-General
The British Consulate in Chicago
400 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago Illinois 60611
RE: Madhi Kazemi
Dear Mr. Clark:
I am Bishop James Alan Wilkowski, Evangelical Catholic Bishop for the Diocese of the Northwest. It is in my capacity as Bishop that I write to you regarding the matter of Madhi Kazemi, a young Iranian on the verge of being deported back to Iran, via the United Kingdom, and who faces execution for being homosexual. I shall presume that you are aware of the facts of this case and I shall not take up your time restating the issues involved.
However I do wish to take a moment of your time to plead Her Majesty’s government to save the life of this young man, for once this matter is handed back to the United Kingdom; Her Majesty’s government shall have the power of saving this man’s life or sending him to his death.
The Evangelical Catholic Church is unconditionally opposed to the death penalty in any and all circumstances. To condemn and execute someone based upon their sexual orientation is exceptionally heinous and can only be equated with the profiling and executions of the Jewish people by the Nazi during WWII.
Surely, Her Majesty’s government cannot ignore the obvious.
I respectfully ask that my plea to save the life of this man be transmitted to Her Majesty’s Government. I make this plea to Her Majesty’s government as a Catholic Bishop and as a man who shares Mr. Kazemi's sexual orientation.
I thank you for taking the time to consider the merits of my request.
My God’s Blessings be upon you, Her Majesty and Her Majesty’s government as we prepare to celebrate miracle of Easter.
I remain,
Respectfully Yours in Christ,
James Alan Wilkowski
Evangelical Catholic Bishop for the Diocese of the Northwest
Source: --->Bishop Wilkowski click here<---
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