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Iran executes 2 Gay Teens.
Global anger grows over teen executions in Iran
Gay.com U.K. and the PlanetOut Network
Monday, July 25, 2005 / 05:22 PM
SUMMARY: International human rights organizations are calling for action to be taken against Iran after officials publicly executed two gay teenagers last week.
International human rights organizations are calling for action to be taken against Iran after officials publicly executed two gay teenagers last week.
The two boys, who were identified only by their initials, were executed for having sex with each other. Homosexuality is illegal under the Sharia law, which allows execution of children as young as 9 years of age.
The teens were also charged with raping a 13-year-old boy, although the majority of news services say this charge has been trumped up by the Iranian state in a bid to avoid international criticism.
Activists believe the boys gave their "confession" after weeks of torture. They were detained and subjected to beatings by local police for up to two weeks before their death.
Now, international groups are calling for stronger action to be taken against Iran. In Tehran Saturday, children's rights activist Shirin Ebadi said that the hangings violated the terms of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Ebadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, told the Associated Press that her campaign to outlaw the execution of minors had "fallen on deaf ears," but vowed that her Center for the Protection of Human Rights would step up the fight.
In the United States, the Human Rights Campaign is calling for Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to denounce the executions.
"As we have seen in recent weeks, the barbarous punishments for sexual acts in these countries run contrary to the letter and the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," the HRC stated in a letter to Rice.
"For that reason, these acts must be condemned."
In the United Kingdom, Peter Tatchell of the London-based LGBT rights group OutRage! criticized the Labour party for trying to forge closer ties with the government of Iran.
"Britain's Labour government is pursuing friendly relations with this murderous regime, including aid and trade," Tatchell said.
"We urge the international community to treat Iran as a pariah state, break off diplomatic relations, impose trade sanctions and give practical support to the democratic and left opposition inside Iran."
Tatchell also said the country had become a "prison," with the ultraconservative state blocking any movement toward a more liberal, democratic society.
Elsewhere, activists are calling for their governments to publicly criticize the Iranian-sanctioned executions.
In Sweden, the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (RFSL) has called on the government to update its asylum policy so that lesbian and gay people are not deported back to Iran.
"I think the Swedish government is extremely cynical when it sends gays and lesbians back to Iran," Soren Andersson told the AFP news agency.
"They keep looking for excuses to send them back there, but it is dangerous for homosexuals in Iran," he added.
However, Iran is standing firm on its decision to kill the two young men. Last week, ultraconservative deputy Ali Asgari stated that the punishment "served them right."
Gay.com U.K. and the PlanetOut Network
Monday, July 25, 2005 / 05:22 PM
SUMMARY: International human rights organizations are calling for action to be taken against Iran after officials publicly executed two gay teenagers last week.
International human rights organizations are calling for action to be taken against Iran after officials publicly executed two gay teenagers last week.
The two boys, who were identified only by their initials, were executed for having sex with each other. Homosexuality is illegal under the Sharia law, which allows execution of children as young as 9 years of age.
The teens were also charged with raping a 13-year-old boy, although the majority of news services say this charge has been trumped up by the Iranian state in a bid to avoid international criticism.
Activists believe the boys gave their "confession" after weeks of torture. They were detained and subjected to beatings by local police for up to two weeks before their death.
Now, international groups are calling for stronger action to be taken against Iran. In Tehran Saturday, children's rights activist Shirin Ebadi said that the hangings violated the terms of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Ebadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, told the Associated Press that her campaign to outlaw the execution of minors had "fallen on deaf ears," but vowed that her Center for the Protection of Human Rights would step up the fight.
In the United States, the Human Rights Campaign is calling for Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to denounce the executions.
"As we have seen in recent weeks, the barbarous punishments for sexual acts in these countries run contrary to the letter and the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," the HRC stated in a letter to Rice.
"For that reason, these acts must be condemned."
In the United Kingdom, Peter Tatchell of the London-based LGBT rights group OutRage! criticized the Labour party for trying to forge closer ties with the government of Iran.
"Britain's Labour government is pursuing friendly relations with this murderous regime, including aid and trade," Tatchell said.
"We urge the international community to treat Iran as a pariah state, break off diplomatic relations, impose trade sanctions and give practical support to the democratic and left opposition inside Iran."
Tatchell also said the country had become a "prison," with the ultraconservative state blocking any movement toward a more liberal, democratic society.
Elsewhere, activists are calling for their governments to publicly criticize the Iranian-sanctioned executions.
In Sweden, the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (RFSL) has called on the government to update its asylum policy so that lesbian and gay people are not deported back to Iran.
"I think the Swedish government is extremely cynical when it sends gays and lesbians back to Iran," Soren Andersson told the AFP news agency.
"They keep looking for excuses to send them back there, but it is dangerous for homosexuals in Iran," he added.
However, Iran is standing firm on its decision to kill the two young men. Last week, ultraconservative deputy Ali Asgari stated that the punishment "served them right."
U.K.: Gay Iranian denied asylum kills self
Ben Townley, Gay.com U.K.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 / 05:51 PM
SUMMARY: A gay man who was fleeing persecution in Iran has committed suicide after fearing he would be forcibly removed from the United Kingdom, according to an inquest held on Tuesday.
A gay man who was fleeing persecution in Iran has committed suicide after fearing he would be forcibly removed from the United Kingdom, according to an inquest held on Tuesday.
Hussein Nasseri was found dead in his car in Eastbourne last June after shooting himself between the eyes with an air rifle. A coroner ruled Tuesday that nobody else was involved in the killing.
He had been refused asylum for the second time by the Home Office, despite his telling the asylum body that he would be killed if he returned to his home country.
Homosexuality is illegal in Iran and is punishable by death.
According to press reports, Nasseri had already been imprisoned in the city of Tehran because of his sexuality, but had managed to escape. He had hoped that Britain would help him find a safer home.
His friend Nader Ashkani, also from Iran, told the BBC that Nasseri had been upset at the Home Office ruling and feared deportation.
"I saw him two weeks before he died," he said. "He was very upset. He said he wanted to kill himself. He said he had bought a gun to kill himself."
This is the second high-profile case of a gay asylum-seeker committing suicide.
Last year Israfil Shiri, who was also Iranian, set himself on fire last year in protest at being deported by the Home Office. He reportedly feared if he returned he would be subjected to public execution because of his sexuality.
Gay activist group Outrage, which has campaigned for more recognition for gay people seeking asylum, said the two incidents are examples of why the Home Office needs to update its stance on gay asylum-seekers.
"It is absolutely appalling that the Home Office has no specific guidelines to deal with LGBT issues in asylum," campaigner Brett Lock told Gay.com U.K. on Wednesday. "The notion that gay people can simply return to their home countries and 'be discreet' -- as is often requested -- is nothing short of homophobic."
"No British citizen could be expected to live under the same conditions," he added.
Ben Townley, Gay.com U.K.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 / 05:51 PM
SUMMARY: A gay man who was fleeing persecution in Iran has committed suicide after fearing he would be forcibly removed from the United Kingdom, according to an inquest held on Tuesday.
A gay man who was fleeing persecution in Iran has committed suicide after fearing he would be forcibly removed from the United Kingdom, according to an inquest held on Tuesday.
Hussein Nasseri was found dead in his car in Eastbourne last June after shooting himself between the eyes with an air rifle. A coroner ruled Tuesday that nobody else was involved in the killing.
He had been refused asylum for the second time by the Home Office, despite his telling the asylum body that he would be killed if he returned to his home country.
Homosexuality is illegal in Iran and is punishable by death.
According to press reports, Nasseri had already been imprisoned in the city of Tehran because of his sexuality, but had managed to escape. He had hoped that Britain would help him find a safer home.
His friend Nader Ashkani, also from Iran, told the BBC that Nasseri had been upset at the Home Office ruling and feared deportation.
"I saw him two weeks before he died," he said. "He was very upset. He said he wanted to kill himself. He said he had bought a gun to kill himself."
This is the second high-profile case of a gay asylum-seeker committing suicide.
Last year Israfil Shiri, who was also Iranian, set himself on fire last year in protest at being deported by the Home Office. He reportedly feared if he returned he would be subjected to public execution because of his sexuality.
Gay activist group Outrage, which has campaigned for more recognition for gay people seeking asylum, said the two incidents are examples of why the Home Office needs to update its stance on gay asylum-seekers.
"It is absolutely appalling that the Home Office has no specific guidelines to deal with LGBT issues in asylum," campaigner Brett Lock told Gay.com U.K. on Wednesday. "The notion that gay people can simply return to their home countries and 'be discreet' -- as is often requested -- is nothing short of homophobic."
"No British citizen could be expected to live under the same conditions," he added.
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