FRANCE/UK/ITALY/JAPAN/IRAN
Pink Panthers in Paris Support Iranian Lesbian Facing Deportation from UK
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Embassy demos also in Rome and Tokyo |
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PARIS, August 28, 2007 – The Panthères Roses of Paris (Pink Panthers) have weighed-in with support for Pegah Emambackhsh, the Iranian lesbian who is facing deportation from the UK back to Iran. Yesterday evening (Monday) the group mounted a demonstration in front of the British Embassy in the French capital. Other demonstration were stage outside the British embassies in Rome and Tokyo. “The English authorities have to measure the responsibilities they can have in the death of Pegah Emambackhsh if her deportation ends by death penalty in Iran,” a Panthères Roses spokesperson said. “The times are really repressive now in Iran, and all behaviour considered as immoral is punished by flagellation and hangings. LGBT people are the direct victims of this violence that can lead to death penalty.” Panthères Roses are among a growing number of overseas groups who are asking British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith not to deport Ms. Emambackhsh and to grant her asylum. “We will stay mobilised as long until we have the guarantee that Pegah Emambakhsh will be able to stay in total legality and safety in the United Kingdom,” the spokesperson pledged. Another demonstration in support of Ms. Emambackhsh was also held yesterday in Tokyo where a petition calling for the British Government to grant asylum to Ms. Emambakhsh was handed-in.
A petition was also handed-in to the Foreign Ministry asking that the Japanese government to make representations on the case to the British government. The signatures were collected using the internet through a Japanese blog created for the campaign. Despite the short notice, more than 200 people responded in 12 hours. A number of Japanese people have signed other online petitions and sent faxes to the British Home Secretary in London. News of the campaign was also reported in the independent Japanese press and in a number of personal blogs. Support continues to grow in Japan where many people feel passionate about this issue of human rights, said a spokesperson for the campaign.
In terms of numbers, the largest
protest was in Rome where the Italian government is reported to have said
that
Ms. Emambackhsh
would be granted asylum in Italy.
SEE ALSO ranian Lesbian Freed on Bail From UK Detention at Yarl’s Wood. Pegah Emambakhsh, the 40-years-old Iranian lesbian who fled to the UK in 2005 seeking asylum, has been freed “on bail” from the Yarl’s Wood detention centre in Bedfordshire. (UK Gay News, September 12, 2007) International Gay Human Rights Group “Troubled” At Planned Deportation of Iranian Lesbian From UK. A leading American gay and lesbian human rights group has joined the world-wide campaign to stop the deportation by the British Government of Pegah Emambakhsh, the 40-years-old Iranian lesbian back to her home country. (UK Gay News, August 28, 2007) Lesbian Iranian Asylum Seeker: British Govt. Dithers Over Possible Deportation, Italy Acts. Gay News ran the headline “Ashamed To Be British” on an article about how a gay Algerian was treated over an asylum application. Two years on, nothing has changed when it comes to the case of Pegah Emambakhsh, the 40-years-old gay Iranian woman who is languishing in Yarls Wood Detention Centre near Bedford facing deportation – and who knows what when she arrives in Tehran. But it’s a different story in Italy. (UK Gay News, August 26, 2007) Gays Worldwide Rally to Aid Iranian Lesbian Facing Deportation from UK. A last-ditch attempt to stop the deportation early next week to Tehran of a 40-years-old lesbian has been mounted by her supporters in Sheffield. But already activists around the world are campaigning against the deportation. (UK Gay News, August 23, 2007) Gay Iranian Woman Gets ‘Stay’ On UK Deportation Order. A gay Iranian woman came within minutes of being put onto a non-stop flight to Tehran at Heathrow this evening as the UK Government’s Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) – part of the Home Office – went through the final process of deportation. (UK Gay News, August 16, 2007) ALSO “All This Torture Just For Being a Lesbian”. An interview with an Iranian lesbian who fled to Europe: "I am a lesbian. For this reason I was arrested countless times. I went to prison and ultimately sentenced to death [by hanging]. I remember the first time I was arrested; I was 21 and a student in Esfahan." (UK Gay News, June 26, 2007) LINKS
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