Published on Orato | True Stories, Citizen News, Eyewitness Reports, Free Notices (http://www.orato.com)
Gay Teenager Faces Iranian Gallows
By David Mixner
Created 03/14/2008 - 10:23

mediatype: 
text
Authoring Information
Author Type: 
Citizen Correspondent
Preamble: 

At the tender age of just 19, young Mehdi Kazemi is fighting for his life. And he needs your help. This week, the Netherlands Council of State upheld the Dutch government's decision denying the young gay Iranian asylum. The Council ruled that the teenager's fate rests in the hands of Britain because that is where he first applied for political and personal sanctuary.

Body: 

Kazemi fled to England after his male lover in Iran was executed for being gay. He begged for asylum in the English Isles knowing that he faced certain death if returned to Iran.

The British government turned him down. Then like a neo-Nathan Hale, this 'man without a country' fled to the Netherlands in a frantic attempt to save his own life. The Council's ruling now sends this young man back to England where his life is literally in the hands of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Despite the fact that the death penalty is mandated for homosexual conduct in over a dozen countries, sexual orientation is not a valid reason for asylum in most nations. Usually gays are summarily shipped back to those nations and increasingly, horrifically and inexplicably executed.

Over the last several years we have seen young teenagers hanged and stoned to death in several Islamic nations -- especially Iran, which is ironic since we all recall Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying in his now legendary Columbia University speech that Iran has "no gays." Perhaps he is right. Perhaps there are no homosexuals in Iran because they have all been executed.

Medhi Kazemi, age 19, needs your help to save his life. Please take a few minutes of your time and email Prime Minister Brown at Number 10 Downing Street and urge him to grant asylum to Mr. Kazemi. Just click here [1] to send an e-mail. Please pass this on to your other friends. We must flood the Prime Minister's office to save this young gay man's life. His fate in your hands now.

Pullquote: 
Despite the fact that the death penalty is mandated for homosexual conduct in over a dozen countries, sexual orientation is not a valid reason for asylum in most nations.
Thumbnail: 
homepagehang.jpg
Average: 5 (2 votes)

Source URL: http://www.orato.com/current-events/2008/03/14/gay-teenager-faces-iranian-gallows

Links:
[1] http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/EMAIL_The_PM_form.asp