Iranian lesbian granted asylum
An Iranian lesbian has finally been granted refugee status in the United Kingdom after a four year wait for authorities to give her the green light.
Pegah Emambakhsh, 41, will be allowed to stay in the country after escaping from Iran in 2005 after her girlfriend was arrested, tortured, and sentenced to death.
Her requests for asylum were initially rejected by UK Immigration. In 2007 she was arrested and sent to be deported before the Home Office intervened at the last moment.
A highly publicised campaign by gay rights groups and MPs compelled the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, to reconsider Emambakhsh’s request.
She claims her sexual orientation may have led to her to being executed if she returned to Iran.
It is the second time a gay Iranian has been granted asylum in the UK. Mehdi Kazemi, a 20 year-old student, was allowed to stay in May last year.
Although rights advocates have called on the British Government to introduce a delay period for returning gay and lesbian refugees to Iran, the Home Office has ruled out making a sweeping exemption.
Homosexuality is a crime in Iran and is punishable by death.
