| |
An Iranian lesbian who has been denied refuge by the British government is due to be deported to Tehran this month, where she faces almost certain death.
Pegah Emambakhsh is currently being detained by British officials.
If she does return to Iran on 28th August as planned, her sexual orientation and her past life in Iran may lead to her being executed.
.....
The 40-year-old Iranian sought asylum in the UK in 2005. She had escaped from her home country after her partner was arrested, tortured, and subsequently sentenced to death by stoning.
Her father was also arrested, interrogated and tortured for information on her whereabouts.
There's more at UK Gay News:
Pegah Emambakhsh is an Iranian national who sought asylum in the UK in 2005. Despite appeals, her claim failed and she was arrested in Sheffield on Monday August 13 2007. A week ago she was taken to London’s Heathrow airport but a short “stay” on the deportation was given by Home Office officials minutes before being put on a British Airways flight.
Last night, her support group Assist (Asylum Seeker Support Initiative – Short Term) pleaded for more letters and emails of support to be sent to the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith MP, who, as Minister for Women and Equality was responsible for steering the Civil Partnership legislation through Parliament almost three years ago.
.....
Tuesday (August 28) is the deadline for the Home Office to receive further representations as to why Ms. Emambakhsh should not be deported. It is thought that if deportation does go ahead, it could be anytime next week.
.....
Speaking in London, Peter Tatchell of Outrage! said that his group had been working all week on getting Ms. Emambakhsh legal representation and preparing a case to put to the Home Office.
“The UK Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) have chosen not to believe that she is in danger if returned to Iran, even though the UK government are well aware of the terrible situation that gay people face there,” he said.
“The BIA will be committing a serious miscarriage of justice and a gross human rights violation if they insist on Ms Emambhaksh’s deportation.
.....
Letters of support [quoting her Home Office reference number: B1191057] for Pegah Emambakhsh should be sent to:
Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith MP
Home Secretary
2 Marsham St
London
SW1P 4DF
Because of the urgency and the holiday weekend, faxing the letter is suggested.
The fax number is: + 44 (0) 207 035 3262.
In either case the letter (envelope or fax) should be clearly marked for The personal attention of The Home Secretary
The Home Secretary’s email address is homesecretary.submissions@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
“So we can keep a record of what has been written please send a brief email to: pegahletters(at)mac.com to let the campaign group know who you have written to and by what form (letters, fax, email),” the Assist spokesperson requested.
Update from Friends of Pegah Campaign
Pegah now has some excellent legal representation. She has a very able solicitor and her barrister comes from the chambers of one of the leading human rights and civil liberties advocates in the UK. We believe Pegah now has the best legal team we could hope for.
Representations will be made by her lawyers and her MP, Richard Caborn to the Border & Immigration Agency on Tuesday 28th August.
We are very grateful for the huge upsurge of support from around the world. Many, many thanks to you all.
Posted by: Friends of Pegah Campaign at August 24, 2007 08:36 PMThanks to a few blogs there's been a huge upsurge of support in Italy, and a government minister, Barbara Pollastrini, actually offered Pegah asylum over there if she is expelled from Britain.
P.S. Why do I get the funny feeling that the case would be all over the BBC and Grauniad if Tony was still PM, and it'd all be his fault?
Posted by: Eugenio at August 25, 2007 12:46 PMPegah Emambakhsh, the United Kingdom review the case, Italy offers asylum and a house.
Rome, 25 August 2007.
Italy declares to be available to receive Pegah, granting her asylum. Roberto Malini, Matteo Pegoraro, Dario Picciau and Steed Gamero of the EveryOne Group have yesterday met the agents-general of the United Kingdom at the British Embassy in Italy.
"The First Minister Gordon Brown is paying particular attention to the case of the Iranian refugee", they have assured, “and we're approaching the case with a solution that respects the conventions for the Human Rights".
The EveryOne Group has provided to the English government some important documents, including a sentence to death emitted and published from the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding Pegah Emambakhsh.
Moreover, for who doubted of the fact that Pegah is lesbian, some letters of lesbian women who live in Iran that testimony the
refugee is subscribed to the GLBT locate community, obviously a clandestine community.
In the meanwhile Barbara Pollastrini, Italian Minister for Rights and Equal Opportunities, after she joined to the appeal of the EveryOne Group, has promoted the plan to receive Pegah in Italy and her initiative has been already undersigned by important political personalities: the firsts to join have been the Minister of Social Solidarity Paul Ferrero, the Minister for the Foreign Affairs Emma Bonino and the Minister of Justice Clemente Mastella. The Mayor of Venice Massimo Cacciari has already found a house for Pegah. The Mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni asks for being able to receive her in the capital city of Italy. The Members of Italian Parliament Franca Bimbi - President of the Committee on EU Policie - and Franco Grillini joined the appeal of EveryOne Group and the proposal of Barbara Pollastrini.
In the meantime, in UK, an important legal office has decided to defend pro bono the Iranian lesbian, so that she receives the asylum she has the right to receive.
Italy, has explained the vice-minister for Foreign countries Patrizia Sentinelli, has activated “all the diplomatic channels" in order to convince London not to deport the woman to the Iranians authorities and “has founded hopes that this initiative goes for good. If Pegah at the end will be expelled, we will be ready to receive her”.
The mobilitation in favour of Pegah, promoted from the EveryOne Group, collects an increasing and cross-sectional consent to the political coalitions.
Also Forza Italia - through the voice of the vice-coordinator Fabrizio Cicchito - declared to be favorable to receive in Italy the woman. Ds, Greens and Italian Radicals today have joined to the sit-in of monday afternoon in front the British embassy in Rome promoted from Arcigay, Arcilesbica and from the EveryOne Group, that it will introduce to the press and the authorities copies of the international norms that regulate the asylum and some European sentences of people that in the same conditions of Pegah have obtained asylum. Emblematic sentences in order to eliminate the chaos that regards the application of the norms of the Conventions and finally to define a common directive, focused to the respect of the Human Rights and not to non homogeneous decisions, often contradicting each other, case by case.
For EveryOne Group, Roberto Malini, Matteo Pegoraro, Dario Picciau. Ahmad rafat, Arsham Parsi, Steed Gamero
Don't stop to undersign the petition: www.gruppoeveryone.helloweb.eu
Website in Italian language: www.annesdoor.com
emails: roberto.malini@annesdoor.com - matteopegoraro@emergentesgomita.com
Posted by: Roberto Malini at August 25, 2007 11:32 PMPegah Emambakhsh, Italy may grant her asylum
Many people ask themselves if the International right allows Italy to receive Pegah Emambakhsh and grant her asylum. Ignoring the fact that regarding the Pegha's case all the international norms for the protection of the human rights have been violated, the answer is yes.
The refugee has the right to chose, even in case of expulsion, the nation where to be transfered as long as that nation fulfill some characteristics, specified in the European convention for the refugees, Appendix III (Twenty guidelines on forced return), Chapter II, Guideline 2 (Adoption of the removal order), Adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in May 2005.
Our country, with the proposal that is going to present to the United Kingdom, completely fulfill the required characteristics described in paragraph 3 of the appendix III of the European convention for the refugees.
Appendix III
Twenty guidelines on forced return(142)
Adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in May 2005
Chapter II – The removal order
Guideline 2. Adoption of the removal order
Removal orders shall only be issued in pursuance of a decision reached in accordance with the law.
1. A removal order shall only be issued where the authorities of the host state have considered all relevant information that is readily available to them, and are satisfied, as far as can reasonably be expected, that compliance with, or enforcement of, the order, will not expose the person facing return to:
a. a real risk of being executed, or exposed to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
b. a real risk of being killed or subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment by non-state actors, if the authorities of the state of return, parties or organisations controlling the state or a substantial part of the territory of the state, including international organisations, are unable or unwilling to provide appropriate and effective protection; or
c. other situations which would, under international law or national legislation, justify the granting of international protection.
2. The removal order shall only be issued after the authorities of the host state, having considered all relevant information readily available to them, are satisfied that the possible interference with the returnee's right to respect for family and/or private life is, in particular, proportionate and in pursuance of a legitimate aim.
3. If the state of return is not the state of origin, the removal order should only be issued if the authorities of the host state are satisfied, as far as can reasonably be expected, that the state to which the person is returned will not expel him or her to a third state where he or she would be exposed to a real risk mentioned in paragraph 1, sub-paragraph a. and b. or other situations mentioned in paragraph 1, sub-paragraph c.
4. In making the above assessment with regard to the situation in the country of return, the authorities of the host state should consult available sources of information, including non-governmental sources of information, and they should consider any information provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The EveryOne Group sent this Appendix to the UK Government, the British Embassy in Italy and the Italian Government.
Roberto Malini, Mateo Pegoraro and Dario Picciau - EveryOne Group - www.gruppoeveryone.helloweb.eu - www.annesdoor.com
Posted by: Roberto Malini at August 26, 2007 03:44 PMSave pegah
Posted by: lucrezia di gregorio at August 28, 2007 10:18 AM