Sheffield, September 12, 2007  –  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.

She had been in Yarl’s Wood for almost a month awaiting deportation back to Iran after her asylum application was rejected by the Home Office’s Border and Immigration Agency, reportedly because she was not able to prove she was a gay woman. 

On August 16, Ms. Emambakhsh came within hours of being put on a British Airways flight to Tehran, prompting a massive international campaign which included an appeal to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith MP from Paula Ettelbrick, the executive director of the New York-based International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.

The Sheffield supporters of Pegah Emambakhsh said in a brief statement issued today that the Court of Appeal had agreed to hear her case against the Border and Immigration Agency and her deportation.

The statement from Friends of Pegah Campaign in full:

“We have some good news at last!  Pegah was granted bail this morning, is now out of Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre and back with  people who will love and care for her.

“The Court of Appeal has also agreed to hear her case.  It will be listed within the next couple of weeks and will be heard sometime in the next few months, we believe.

“There are also other actions that we know are being taken on her behalf, by influential organisations at a high level in the UK.

“We really don't think that we would have got this far without the fantastic work [everyone has] put in supporting Pegah. 

“She is truly grateful and gives her heartfelt thanks to you all – as do we. 

“It is impossible to overstate the value of your support.

“This does not mean that Pegah is out of the woods but she is now in a much more hopeful position.

“As you will understand Pegah needs time to recover from the ordeal of the past few weeks.  She also needs to get back in touch with the ordinary business of living her life in some peace and tranquility.

"Love and solidarity to you all,” the statement concluded.

SEE ALSO

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)

Pink Panthers in Paris Support Iranian Lesbian Facing Deportation from UK.  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.  (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)