Signed, and written a letter to print out at work and send tomorrow! (Ex-pat, but still a UK-registered voter!)
It does come down to the fact that she'd have to stop living as a Lesbian, as homosexuality is punishable by up to life imprisonment there... no general danger indeed.
Ugh, we recently celebrated the Ugandan Martyrs at my church in Stockholm (the English-language mass community is very multi-cultural). Brief address from the Ugandan ambassador n'all. It was presented as them having died for the faith, but they rather kept quiet about the homophobic connection.
This policy the UK government have of returning LGBT asylum seekers because they'll be fine if they remain closeted is extremely vexing. It's not the first case, but I've forgotten the other lad's name - maybe you remember? he was a young Iranian guy who was told that he would be in no harm as long as he lived 'discreetly', ie was closeted. It's not on.
Yes, can you imagine doing that in the case of other reasons for persecution? Like, if someone had been persecuted and tortured for being a Christian, and they were told they had to go back, because they'd be safe so long as they moved to another part of the country and didn't practice their religion openly?
Actually, that's a darned good point, I should put it in my letter.
Second thoughts, probably best not. It might give them ideas.
That _is_ a good point, although some would argue that religion can be seen as a choice, whereas sexual orientation can't. I wouldn't be among their numbers, but there are those who see choosing to follow a specific religious path as much more voluntary than homosexuality or gender dysmorphia. For me as a nonbeliever not brought up in any religious tradition, it's something of a stretch to imagine faith so strong that it would be a serious violation of your rights not to be able to publicly practise it, but I do accept that it's like that for others. Essentially, I'll always look askance at fundamental elements of people's identity and happiness being described as 'lifestyle choices'. It's a very different kind of privation, though.
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It does come down to the fact that she'd have to stop living as a Lesbian, as homosexuality is punishable by up to life imprisonment there... no general danger indeed.
Ugh, we recently celebrated the Ugandan Martyrs at my church in Stockholm (the English-language mass community is very multi-cultural). Brief address from the Ugandan ambassador n'all. It was presented as them having died for the faith, but they rather kept quiet about the homophobic connection.
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This policy the UK government have of returning LGBT asylum seekers because they'll be fine if they remain closeted is extremely vexing. It's not the first case, but I've forgotten the other lad's name - maybe you remember? he was a young Iranian guy who was told that he would be in no harm as long as he lived 'discreetly', ie was closeted. It's not on.
Reply
Actually, that's a darned good point, I should put it in my letter.
Second thoughts, probably best not. It might give them ideas.
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