Gay Iranian Fights For Asylum In Europe

19-Year-Old Man's Plea Initially Rejected By U.K., Says Boyfriend Executed In Iran

(AP)  The Netherlands' highest court rejected a gay Iranian asylum seeker's last-ditch bid to avoid deportation to Britain, where he fears authorities will send him back to Tehran and possible execution.

In a ruling published on its Web site Tuesday, the Council of State said Britain is responsible for Mehdi Kazemi's case, because it was there that the 19-year-old first applied for asylum.

Gay rights campaigner Rene van Soeren said Kazemi's Dutch lawyer was considering an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. The lawyer, Borg Palm, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Boris van der Ham, a lawmaker who has taken up Kazemi's cause, has tabled questions in Parliament asking the junior minister for immigration, Nebahat Albayrak, to lobby British authorities on Kazemi's behalf.

Albayrak should either urge Britain not to send Kazemi back to Iran or offer him asylum in the Netherlands, Van der Ham said in a telephone interview.

"There should be some political leadership," he said. "I hope in Britain they will do it and otherwise we should take the boy."

Kazemi is not expected to be deported before Albayrak has answered Van der Ham's questions.

Justice Ministry spokeswoman Karen Temmink said Albayrak is studying the court ruling and drawing up answers to Van der Ham's questions.

Kazemi's case highlights not only the plight of homosexuals in Iran, but also differences in the way European Union allies deal with asylum seekers.

The Netherlands relaxes its tough asylum laws for Iranian gays - virtually guaranteeing asylum to any who apply here - because of persecution they face at home. Britain, on the other hand, rejected Kazemi's original asylum request.

Kazemi, 19, says he traveled to London to study English in 2005 and applied for asylum in Britain after learning that his lover in Iran had been executed for sodomy.

After British authorities rejected Kazemi's application, he fled to mainland Europe and applied for asylum in the Netherlands.

However, because Kazemi had already applied for asylum and been rejected in Britain, the Dutch government is refusing to consider his case and insists he must be sent back to Britain. It cites the European Union's 2003 Dublin Regulation, which declares that the member state where an asylum seeker first enters the EU is responsible for processing that person's claim.

Tuesday's court ruling upheld the Dutch position.

Palm said last week that Kazemi was in such despair he was on suicide watch in a center for rejected asylum seekers in the port city of Rotterdam.

Britain's Home Office has declined comment, saying it does not discuss individual asylum applications, but it is unlikely authorities would reverse their earlier rejection.

However, Britain's Border and Immigration Agency has issued a statement that could give Kazemi hope.

"We examine with great care each individual case before removal and we will not remove anyone who we believe is at risk on their return," the agency said.

Matteo Pegoraro, president of the Italian-based gay rights group EveryOne, which is lobbying for Kazemi, has said he knows of 10 gay people executed in Iran since 2005, based on reports from nongovernment groups and activists.

[usmcvn2]

He should come to the USA. He have a gas station to
run.

[jjp735i]

Like this kid has a chance in hell*!

[tomanyt]

I thought Iran didn''t have the "gay problem"? Clearly they do. It is rather surprising that the court in the Netherlands rejected his claim.

[tomanyt]

singinrick you should move to Iran. You would fit right in.

[mudrose-2009]

I''m sorry but this is unconscionable and deplorable that any culture would kill people because they don''t fit the script. Wow, I have a great idea, let''s create a country where we respect the rights and freedoms of others. Oh, I forgot, isn''t that America? Ya know that bad, bad country that abuses everybody all over the world? That country that stands for human freedom and is reviled by it''s citizens for helping others attain it.

[quetzal0666]

the Same thing would happen in the U.S. If any Religious Political body were to take over,
Thank God for Separation of church and State.

[mudrose-2009]

the Same thing would happen in the U.S. If any Religious Political body were to take over,
Thank God for Separation of church and State.

Posted by Quetzal0666

Sorry there is no separation of church and state. It says it in the first amendment. Only Congress is prohibited from creating a church state. And if it hasn''t happened in America for over 200 years, I don''t think it''s gonna happen now dolt. See, that''s why people hate people like you. Always picking on the christians. Ugh! Maybe you should turn your attention to muslim teachings that preach this kind of tyranny.

[mudrose-2009]

Why doesn''''t he just come to America''''s modern day version of Sodom and Gomorrah,San Fransicso?
Posted by singinrick

Maybe Mayor Newsom can petition for him to come as an illegal. I hear he''s very big on sanctuaries for illegals. Probably the same for gay Iranians.

[runningralph]

If this poor soul comes to the US he will have a haven for a while, but the Muslims are gaining more stroke in the US so he wouldn''t be safe for long. When Obama gets in office he will straighten out San Francisco.

[tomanyt]

mudrose...Always picking on Christians. Give me a break. Its the Christians who do all the picking. When was the last time you saw an Atheist run for public office?

[boyrepubelvr]

GOOD CANDIDATES FOR REPUBE BOY FONDLERS.

AND IF MONSTER HILLARY GETS IN, SECRET-REPUBE GIRL FONDLER.

WHAT A PERVERTED SOCIETY SINCE BILL CLINTON AND GEORGE BUSH HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE.

[gangesdak]

Iranian plant in Europe. Nice going Iran!

[tomanyt]

zoe2006...And lets not forget the whole Spanish Inquisition thing.

[wangbang]

mudrose, you seem to be forgetting that for much of America''s history (which started with the theft and invasion of other people''s land), we enslaved a whole race of people and denied equal right to everybody except white men. But for bible thumpers like you, it''s easy to sweep that under the rug while you get on your high horse yelling all of your proclamations about others.

[quetzal0666]

wangbang747...
people like mudrose and singinchick
grew up only looking through ''Waltons" Colored Glasses,
they pick and choose what they want, and disreguard the rest as necessary because its in the bible,
thing is, its their interpretation of it,
and if you question or disagree, then youre evil, blasphemer, etc.
i was called a child of satan just yesterday..

LOL......

[simonsez40]

Unbelieveable.


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Posted by singinrick

OMG the moral majority has spoken - Rick when your closet sparkles only then does your opinion count. All you do is troll these message boards fighting with atheist, muslims and anything to do with homosexuality because you have a fascination with it.....

[simonsez40]

I wonder what the bible states about trolling over internet porn. The body is a temple of God and I believe that is letting filth invade your mind.....

What a hypocrite.....rick

[simonsez40]

In Iran they hang women for adultery against their husbands - they hang you for anything they deem immoral. Funny thing is they don''t hang men for raping women? What a bunch of oppressive and hypocritical men that run this circus of a country.

That man has every right to seek asylum - and from the likes of morons on this board probably has more redeeming qualities than mud and rick combined! I missed that bible verse where it said the infallable like slickrick and mud can judge and send sinners to hell.

The Christian Right eroding our country into the depths of hell one day at a time.

[mcvet]

Why can''t we ALL, everyone of us, practice OUR religion as we see it WITHOUT insisting that OTHER''s live by our rules. Our Founders had it right and it''s a rule the Courts have lived by for over 100 years now. A government, ANY GOVERNMENT, of any people should NOT show preference for ONE citizens beliefs on Religion over anothers. It''s simple and goes all the way back to 1776. The Government should NOT come down on the side of ANY citizen against the Religion of Another Citizen. It''s called MUTUAL RESPECT PEOPLE!! That way we ALL live in Peace! SIEG HEIL BUSH!! SIEG HEIL and AMEN!!!

[mcvet]

-Joseph Stalin ran a government. Nuff said.


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Posted by singinrick at 12:11 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

HE didn''t run for OFFICE you Pathetic Nazi!! I''ll tell you one thing, I''ve stood accross from a bunch of Southern Baptist all decked out in their Hoods and Sheets and THEY fully intended to do to a couple of Blacks what these freaks in the picture are doing to those kids. Let''s not get so Self Rightous here! Sieg Heil Bush!!

[mcvet]

-Practice what you preach big guy. Anyone who boldly disagrees with you on these boards you call a Nazi or refer to the KKK.

You''''re psychotic dictatorship won''''t work in our country pal.


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Posted by singinrick at 12:14 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

THAT''s BECAUSE YOU ARE A NAZI for Gods sake. Tell you what Sparky! I''ll take 12 or so of YOUR post to any independent Political Scientist in GERMANY and debate the issue of IF you are a FASCIST with him anytime. YOU want ONE PARTY, ONE VIEW, ONE RELIGION... EVERYone has freedoms as long as it''s within YOUR rules.. It''s called FASCISM Ricky and it''s been that for a long long time. Sieg Heil Bush!!

[easeup-2009]

The leader of the gay Irani''s is Ayatolla Tollickah Mibahlls.

[mcvet]

Rick, People like you come on here PRETENDING to be an American but YOU can not allow anyone to discuss problems we ALL face without SELLING them your religion. It''s old, it''s tired and it''s a fraud!! The 14th Amendment gives ME the right to believe whatever I want to believe about religion. The Government has NO right to show any preference toward YOUR religion PERIOD! Now IF you will leave ME alone with YOUR religion I''ll leave you alone in your bigotry. How''s that? Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

-How long does the mental ward you are staying in allow you to hang out on the internet all day mr. psycho?

You need some serious medical attention. FAST.


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Posted by singinrick at 12:20 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

Well I made the offer. Now either be man enough to accept it or shut up. It''s not MY fault you aren''t willing to extend to your fellow citizens the SAME rights you want. YOU want to practice your religion.. well HAVE AT IT! Go charm a snake or do a chant or whatever you want. ALL I ask is that I do not have to "enjoy" it with you. WHAT you and the Religious Reich are practicing TODAY with the Republican Party is NO DIFFERENT than what you were doing to Dixiecrats in the 60''s. It''s called FASCISM!! Sieg Heil Bush!!

[mcvet]

You can''''t have freedom without rules and laws in place, dummy.

Freedom doesn''''t mean anarchy.


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Posted by singinrick at 12:23 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

THOSE rights are outlined in the Constitution. That document SAYS as loudly as it can be said that I have as much right to MY religious Beliefs as YOU do. It also says that YOU have no right to invade or interfer in MY religion. Now if YOU can''t be an American and allow my rights to my religion then we are going to fight. Now IF you can give me a reason as a HUMAN BEING why I should go along with your views, let''s talk. This pretending you are better or more Moral than me because YOU read the bible?? YOU WILL leave that at home or I''ll continue to tell you the TRUTH! Sieg Heil Bush!

[mcvet]

Just tuned in here and who is this MCvet psycho? He obviously has problems - could be a self-loathing homosexual. Many of them are.


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Posted by ritewingman at 12:27 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

You know this how? You Childish Nazi''s are pathetic. You don''t have the intelligence to debate an issue so??? You have to pretend you are superior to me. How do you do that? YOU pretend I''m part of some group that YOU think everyone will hate. It''s called FASCISM you rediculous bootlicker! God you freaks are so stupid!! ROFLAMO Most of us grew out of this when we were 12! Sieg Heil Bush!! You really aren''t the sharpest tool in the old shed are you there swastika breath??? ROFLMAO

[underdogus]

The Government should NOT come down on the side of ANY citizen against the Religion of Another Citizen. It''''s called MUTUAL RESPECT PEOPLE Posted by MCVet ...tell the IRANIANS!! you friggin B.ASTARD!!

[mcvet]

We DON''''T DO THAT IN OUR COUNTRY MCVet.

You might want to, but WE DON''''T.

Seeing articles like this is simply a reminder of how great our country the USA is and how homosexuals, among others, take our freedoms for granted because they aren''''t getting everything THEY WANT.


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Posted by singinrick at 12:28 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

My friend IF you would READ books instead of burning them you''d know WE did as bad or worse in this nation. Guess who brought us out of those bad old times? Hang on to yourself there Ricky... that''s right LIBERALS!! YOU know the people YOU are so bigoted about. SIEG HEIL and AMEN

[easeup-2009]

"Just tuned in here and who is this MCvet psycho? He obviously has problems - could be a self-loathing homosexual. Many of them are.

Posted by ritewingman at 12:27 PM : Mar 12, 2008"

Take it easy on him, he lost a lot of buddies in the war on that fatal mission over Macho Grande, under Lt. Striker.

[mcvet]

What you REALLY want is Christians out of our government, replaced with atheists across the board, isn''''t it MCVEt?


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Posted by singinrick at 12:29 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

I think we should LIVE by our Constitution you nazi! It says as loud and as clear as it can be said that I should be able to run for the office of President and NO ONE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT MY RELIGION!! It says as clearly as BLOOD can write it you MORON that I have a right to run for the office WITHOUT you requiring me to be ANY religion. Remember Kennedy?? Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

The Government should NOT come down on the side of ANY citizen against the Religion of Another Citizen. It''''''''s called MUTUAL RESPECT PEOPLE Posted by MCVet ...tell the IRANIANS!! you friggin B.ASTARD!!


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Posted by underdogus at 12:32 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

IF you Nazi''s would pay attention and LISTEN to the other people in this world you''d know that we are telling them, every day. It just does little good when they can point to OUR OWN and say well don''t tell us to get Religion out of OUR government when you have religious leaders calling YOUR congress back into cession. Kinda looses it''s punch at that point don''t you think?? Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

How can a society function without absolute morals, laws, and principles in place?





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Posted by singinrick at 12:34 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

You think YOU can make laws requiring Morals? ROFLMAO Exactly WHO is going to write such laws? ROFLMAO WHO amoung us has THAT ability? I''ll tell you what MY father told a snake oil salesman who came to our door once. "Your job as a Congressman is to make sure this nation run''s efficiently enough until I can make a living on a 40 hour week and I''ll take care of MY families values". Where the HELLL do you get off telling me what MY morals are to be?? Sieg HEil Bush

[hypnotoad72]

How can a society function without absolute morals, laws, and principles in place?

Posted by singinrick
-----------------------

True. As it stands, are we a society at all? There is no "gay community", anyone who thinks otherwise is too blind*... but on a similar note, despite "corporate personage", there are corporate leaders who find clever means to circumvent said rules too.

* I used to be, and discovered there was not. So nobody has the right to say "Don''t knock it until you tried it". Even then, I still didn''t try some things because they were disgusting, and for other reasons it''s said to be a "no-no" in the first place because, quite possibly, someone else tried it and found it to be wrong too. ;)

[mcvet]

So be humbled! Life isn''''t about getting EVERYTHING YOU WANT in life.

A society CANNOT, I REPEAT CANNOT sustain itself without Absolute Morals, Laws, and Guidelines in place.

This is COMMON SENSE.


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Posted by singinrick at 12:37 PM : Mar 12, 2008
+ report abuse

Well if YOU insist on continuing to decide what is or isn''t moral for me then we are going to fight as we always have. I''ve fought you freaks my entire life and will continue to do so as long as I live. You just keep losing ground though. Just think about how people today view you "Religious Conservatives" (I love that play on words there...) of my teenage days. That''s how YOU are going to be viewed Sparky. Now ask yourself how many of THOSE born again types who KNEW they were superior, are in Heaven today? Hummm?? Sieg Heil Bush... Gotta go but I will return!!

[underdogus]

You know what your "REAL" problem is MCVET: AUTHORITY. Posted by singinrick
yeah AUTHORITY and hot meds....

[honestabe8]

atheism, being more of a philosophy than a religion, would have no use for written down laws. i can only speak for myself, but most of what i think is right and wrong comes from my parents, and from my life experiences.

[honestabe8]

Saying that the absolute morals, laws and guidelines that worked for people 100 years ago (not to mention 2,000 years ago) should be what we accept now is absurd.

[honestabe8]

ritewingman: singinrick is not attempting to use logic. he is attempting to indimidate people (you have a choice, believe what I believe (after all, I speak for "God") or be subjected to the petty god of ancient hebrews. If he were logical, he would know that no one can fear retaliation from beings in which they do not believe. I can only speak for myself, but I do not accept his claim of authority.

[honestabe8]

ritewingman: i agree. but i cannot fear this proxy threat (empty proxy threat, it seems to me).

[honestabe8]

-Is murder "moral" MCVet?

-Is robbing a bank "moral" MCVet?

-Is raping "moral" MCVet?

-Is pedophiling "moral" MCVet?

-Is kidnapping "moral" MCVet?

All these things involve non-compliant others. Society does have an interest in prohibiting such behavior. What one consenting adult does with another consenting adult should not be the business of the law.

[honestabe8]

And, regarding the rape and pedophilia, how old was the girl that god knocked up?

[honestabe8]

ritewingman: is there a reason for the second post?

[crusherking]

Hahaaa Nancy naive!! So its not something you can bash Bush on therefore you just leave?? HAAAHAAAA.. libs..

[easeup-2009]

Do the gay Iranian''s wear purple ghutra''s with gold sequents???

[honestabe8]

easeup: they did until Jerry Fartwell complained...

[simonsez40]

Are you kidding me Jerry Falwell didn''t care he was in the closet like several other ''righteous'' dudes we all know............

[honestabe8]

simonsez...well, it is blessed to come in the name of the lord "oh, goddd, oh jeebus"

[bp19781]

A fascinating discussion. Some real hate and bigotry in this comment board! I recommend those interested read The Rising Storm by Ken Seifert. Might offer some interesting insight about issues of faith and sexuality...

[abdoul_pasha]

Dirty pederasts! It will be super if they go somewhere far away!

[libsrweak]

WOW!!

we need to send these guys to san francisco to personally thank those thousands of its citizens for thier support to the islamic cause...

I cant wait till the DNC takes the white house...time to blend radical islam and radical liberalism together..