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Loading ...Iranian gay couple granted asylum in Canada
02.12.2009 5:00pm EST
(Toronto, Ontario) A gay couple who fled Iran in 2005 to escape arrest and a possible death sentence for homosexuality have been given asylum in Canada.
The men, Ali, 32, and Mohammad, 25, arrived in Toronto Wednesday night. Their family names are being withheld to protect family members still in Iran.The Islamic state routinely rounds up gays. A number have been placed on trial and sentenced to death according to international human rights groups although the government officially has said the executions were for other offences.
In 2005 Ali and Mohammad fled Iran for India where they sought and obtained help from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to relocate in Canada the Toronto Sun reported Thursday.
UNHCR made an “urgent and high priority” plea for their resettlement at the Canadian embassy in New Delhi, Arsham Parsi, of Iranian Queer Railroad, told The Sun.
The organization is modeled after the Underground Railroad that helped slaves from the US South escape to Canada in the mid 19th Century. Iranian Queer Road says it has helped more than 60 gay Iranian refugees resettle in Canada, the U.S. and Australia.
“There are many more Iranian queer refugees who are still being processed,” Parsi told The Sun.
Ali and Mohammad were staying with friends in Toronto on Thursday.
“It took them three years to get here,” said Parsi. “Canada is a gay-friendly country and they will be successful here.”
It was asylum granted in this case. Others have been denied. Remember that Stephen Harper is still PM, and as long as he’s there, wingnuts like Stockwell Day will also be there. Just because an arbiter can’t deny a Canadian citizen or a landed immigrant their basic rights, doesn’t mean they won’t take the opportunity to act on their ignorance or bigotry and deny asylum.
I am so proud and grateful to be able to live in a country that is moving towards and has been recognized as a standard bearer when it comes to human rights issues. While there are still pockets of resistence from individuals and some religious groups in this country, Canada is generally held as a country of welcoming people who respect and honour a individual’s equal rights and freedoms. For Ali and Mohammad to endure the severe oppression and brutality of their homeland and for them to find the courage and conviction to want for a better life for themselves, is a incredible story of the human spirit. A welcoming perfect ending to their love story is the opportunity to live without fear, to live in peace as future spouses, if that is their choice.
Oh,Canada!!! What a beacon of hope for a better and more egalitarian world.
A Aislingtheach,
An bfhuil Gaeilge agatsa? Agus, as Eirinn thu?
Translation (aistriuchan):
do you speak Irish (Irish form of the Gaelic language) and are you from Ireland?
Murchu (Morgan)
For anyone who wants to bring a tear of joy and hope to their own eyes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jesusland_map.svg
Wouldn’t it be nice?
Hello, Canada?
Would you please invade the United States and conquer us.
My partner and I will do anything in our power to aid you.
I think there would be a great deal of support from the citizens of the USA, so, um, think about it, okay?
Goddess bless Canada, one of the greatest countries on the face of this planet.
Unfortunately, what Matt says is true. Many canadian arbiters have denied LGBT refugee status on the basis of claimants not «looking gay» enough. They’re worried someone might make a false LGBT refugee claim, so they try to ascertain someone’s sexual orientation by his «looks» (I must say I don’t know if they’re doing the same thing with women, haven’t heard such cases so far).
Some arbiters also rule against a claim because they believe LGBT refugee claimants could live in their country of origin without being troubled if they do not «broadcast» their sexual orientation. It indicates how they think little of the impact of this double standard (same-sex couples do not need to hide they are in a relationship – unless, in some cases, they are not maried) here and elsewhere, and how they are blissfully disregarding the pressure to marry with someone of the other sex.
Thanks to Canada. It would be nice to live in a country that took its constitutional guarantee of equal rights under the law seriously, and that was a leader in human rights. Maybe President Obama will take us there.
Sorry but I forgot to mention India. If it hadn’t been for India they may now have not been able to get out of Iran in the first place. It was great that India did accept them and they acually saved their lives.
Thanks for your comments, Peter-Nicholas and Shawn, but unfortunately we have severe problems with dealing with LGBT refugees. Our refugee arbiters, who are political appointees and whose decisions are not subject to appeal on the merits, suffer from a woeful lack of training on LGBT issues which has led to some truly appalling far-fetched decisions based on the most offensive stereotypes and ignorance.
I am very happy for Ali and Mohammad for their successful application and hope that their life here is everything they want it to be.
Go Canada! You truly are the new land of freedom. Dumbass americans have always been and always will be jealous of your freedoms, I however support you wholeheartedly!
They are very lucky. I wish them well and kudos for Canada, a truly great country!