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Gay Iranian denied refugee status by UN
UN
A gay couple who fled to Turkey from Iran have been denied refugee status by the United Nations
"Since Iranââ¬â¢s revolution in 1979, human rights groups claim up to 4,000 gay men and lesbians have been executed"
Partners Kamal and Reza arrived in Turkey in December 2006 in hope to start a new life together without fear of being punished for their sexuality. However they have just been informed that they risk separation after it emerged that Kamal would be recognised as a refugee but Reza wouldn’t.
While Reza is permitted to appeal against the verdict, the couple risk separation until a further decision has been reached by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The Office of the UNHCR is meant to protect refugees and support their return or resettlement.
Since Iran’s revolution in 1979, human rights groups claim up to 4,000 gay men and lesbians have been executed. This has led to millions of people fleeing the country and settling in Turkey or claiming refugee status and emigrated.
Turkey has a history of being a safe haven for refugees. In the seventy years between WW2, the Cold War and the Gulf conflicts an estimated 1.6 million people have fled to Turkey.
