July 28, 2005
Expulsion Iranian homosexual asylum seeker
prevented
Netherlands stops expulsion homosexual asylum seekers
to Iran
Press release COC Netherlands
Amsterdam, July 28th 2005
Under
strong pressure of COC Netherlands which were followed by questions from the
Democratic party D66, the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Office (IND)has
decided to stop expulsion of homosexual asylum seekers to Iran immediately.
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to start a thorough investigation
to
the position of homosexuals in Iran, after which the Country Report will possibly
be adjusted. The IND will wait for the results of this report before
taking further decissions on the expulsion of homosexual asylum seekers from
Iran.
Important decision
Chairman Frank van Dalen from COC Netherlands: "This is an important
decision; while we were asking for attention for the executions,
and many signed our petition,
on Airport Schiphol an Iranian asylum seeker awaited his expulsion. This expulsion
would have taken place this or next week. The homosexual man had been able
to escape Iran in the late nineties. The Iranian court had
called him to justify
his visit to a gay party in front of the court. He has escaped, unlike his
boyfriend who was hung in the late nineties. The official reading
is that he was prosecuted
for smuggling. If the IND now irrefutable declares this man homosexual, he
will be saved from this destiny."
Continues pressure
COC Netherlands will internationally call for attention for the
changed position
of the IND. Van Dalen: "In other European countries Iranian homosexual
asylum seekers are also waiting for their expulsion to Iran. We must save their
lives as well." COC Netherlands closely follows the adjustments made in
the Country Report on Iran. This should give clarity in future asylum cases.
Besides COC retains its demand for sanctions to Iran, as well retains its demand
that Europe suspends the negotiations on the Associative Treaty with Iran.
Please
contact for more information:
-- Frank van Dalen, chairman
COC Netherlands , tel: +31 654711590 or e-mail: fvandalen@coc.nl
COC Netherlands: P.O. box 3836 - 1001 AP Amsterdam ˆ The Netherlands -
tel: + 31 20-623 45 96 - e-mail: info@coc.nl www.coc.nl
Sent by Davoud Navaian
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