N.z. ‘deplores’ Death Threat (Press, 28 May 1979)
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Summary: N.z. ‘deplores’ Death Threat (Press, 28 May 1979)
On 28 May 1979, the New Zealand Ambassador to Iran, Mr C. Beeby, addressed a reported death threat against Iranian Minister of Justice, Mr Assadollah Mobasheri, allegedly made by a group of New Zealand homosexuals. At a meeting with Mr Mobasheri, Mr Beeby expressed regret over the incident, emphasising that the New Zealand government condemned the threats and that an investigation by New Zealand authorities was underway. This development followed Mr Mobasheri's statement in a newspaper interview in which he claimed to have received a letter from a New Zealand homosexual group that included a death threat in response to the execution of several individuals for sodomy shortly after Iran's revolution in February 1979. In Wellington, Mr R. Duff, co-ordinator of the National Gay Rights Coalition, led an executive meeting condemning the New Zealand government for not adequately protecting its citizens from what they termed as "malicious Iranian Government accusations" regarding the death threats. The Coalition has reached out to the International Gay Association, urging them to challenge the claim that New Zealand homosexuals had issued threats against the Minister's life. Mr Duff expressed concerns that the New Zealand government appeared more focused on trade matters rather than addressing significant human rights violations, specifically the executions of homosexuals in Iran. He stressed the importance of contesting the "malicious lies," advocating for stronger actions against the Iranian government’s treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals and a firmer stance from New Zealand against such violations.
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