Two gay victims of attempted assassinations by Shia Islamist death squads in Iraq have been granted asylum in the UK following an appeal. Ibaa, 30, worked as a cultural programmes officer for the British Council in Baghdad, and Haider, 29, was a doctor at the Al-Nu'man General Hospital, also in Baghdad. Both men had their initial applications for asylum turned down by the Home Office, despite evidence of homophobic persecution and threats to kill them. But later, with the support of the gay human rights groups OutRage! and Iraqi LGBT they appealed against the refusal of asylum and won. Ibaa says he now wants to do Arabic-English translation work, while Haider already has a new job as a hospital doctor in Scotland. He plans to eventually qualify as a General Practitioner. “No words can express how relieved and grateful I feel. All the years of fear are over,” said Ibaa. “When I heard that I had won my appeal, I cried,” said Haider. “I was very, very happy. The terrible past was over. “This is an opportunity to start my life all over again. I feel like a new person. “Before, in Iraq, I was very scared and had no life. While I waited for my appeal hearing, I was always afraid that I would be deported,” Ibaa admitted. Ibaa's and Haider's full names cannot be revealed to protect their families and friends in Iraq against the threat of violent retribution by Islamist death squads. “Ibaa's and Haider's successful appeals show that gay people who have suffered persecution can win asylum, despite all the obstacles placed in their way by the Home Office,” said Peter Tatchell of the gay human rights group OutRage!, which advised and supported the two men. Read the full story on the link below. Ref: UK GayNews (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Friday, 21st September 2007 - 9:04am