The UK granted a temporary reprieve from deportation to a gay Iranian teen, while they review his previously rejected asylum application. Mehdi Kazemigot, claims he will be executed upon return to Iran. While in England studying English, Mehdi got the word that his boyfriend had been hanged back home on account of his homosexuality. Before being executed, his boyfriend named Mehdi as his partner.
Since 1979, 4,000 gay and lesbian Iranians have been executed. Last year, while speaking at Columbia University, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sparked laughter, and outrage, when he pronounced that Iran does not have the homosexual "phenomenon."
Today's "cooked" elections, which excluded all reform candidates, will yield little change in Iran. Do you think countries like England have an obligation to act as a safe haven for people like Mehdi?
Mishumo
Whistles
Halston
I AM SO OVER THE UK DEPORTING PEOPLE!!!!Yes there are people there who are there illegally but some cases are really truly a matter of life and death. Like the story of the woman who had renal failure and yet they sent her back to Ghana to a certain death, now that F**KED ME OFF!!!!
1Nyar - my husband's British and he is furious over the fact that so many Pakistani people are moving in and basically being handed the world for no apparent reason other than they want to move there, and yet people like Mehdi are being deported when they actually NEED asylum, so I totally agree with you.
It truly is ridiculous. And it looks to me like this young man was not truly there illegally, so much as he'd gone through the proper channels and still been rejected.
Personally, I think when it is a matter of life and death, yes, nations like the UK, US, etc. have an inarguable obligation as human beings to protect people who otherwise are going to be denied of the right to life for doing absolutely nothing wrong. It's one thing to expedite criminals who have actually committed crimes such as theft, child molestation, rape, murder, etc. But someone who has done nothing wrong other than being who they are? I don't think so.
However, if someone was to be put to death for theft, I would argue that is extreme and asylum should be considered.
But in this case, I don't think it should be considered, I think it should be demanded. In my mind, there should be no question in this case.
2That's disgusting. Of course they should give him asylum.
You know sometimes I forget that we live in a pretty great place. The U.S. might not be perfect, but at least we aren't executing people just because they are gay. Truly appalling.
3Thank you matdre how can they just stay his deportation??? In fact why was he ever up for deportation in the first place when has ample proof that he faces certain death on his return home. These nations are educating and funding terrorists and letting the good people slip away, criminas are slipping through the cracks and it's those hard wroking people who ar ebeing returned back home.
4Yeah this angers me! This is ridiculous!
5Absolutely! It is appalling how countries like Iran treat their own citizens. If they want to be taken seriously and have a voice in world affairs, they are going to have to come into line with human rights standards. They can whine and complain all they want about it, but as long as they are executing people for ridiculous reasons they will not be taken seriously.
6I totally agree with you Matdredalia
What is really scary is that I just got done watching V for Vendetta...
7Dear God, I didn't know about this. Horrific! Yes, a safe haven is necessary.
8Me too, Harmony. When I hear things like this, I feel immensely lucky. We have our own problems, but at least we are free to just be.
9Yes, countries like England definitely have an obligation to act as a safe haven. The poor boy has not committed a crime and he is in the country legally - he should not be deported even if he wasn't facing death! And definitely not knowing that he will die if they deport him. This is just ridiculous!
10Beautifully put, Matredalia!
I believe that in order to truly spread democracy and human rights through the world, nations with the privilege of great civil freedoms should focus much more on providing asylum in cases of human crisis like this, than on just bombing whomever they don't agree with. It's a much more effective way of communicating messages of peace and tolerance, IMO.
11Seeing as in the US, you can be fired from your governmental position if you are outed or where health care providers in Michigan can refuse medical treatment of someone is gay on "ethical grounds", it doesn't actually surprise me that they would be so cavalier about deporting him... It just makes me feel freaking enraged.
12Poor man. Of course, he must stay. They would not dare deport him after all this publicity. But what about all the others still there?
13Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.