Iran Alert: Filmmaker Firouz Faces Deportation From UK

Reports reached us on Monday of the imminent deportation from Britain of Iranian filmmaker and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) rights activist Kiana Firouz. Firouz's request for asylum has been turned down, and she now fears she will be charged with homosexuality if returned to Iran:

Homosexuality in Iran is a sin and offence which is subject to harsh punishment. According to the Islamic law, repetition of this offence will be punished by death. The punishment for lesbianism involving persons who are mature, of sound mind, and consenting, is 100 lashes. If the act is repeated three times and punishment is enforced each time, the death sentence will apply on the fourth occasion (Articles 127, 129, 130 penal code). The ways of proving lesbianism in court are the same as for male homosexuality. (Article 128).

According to Bitch Magazine, Firouz's new film, Cul De Sac, "includes explicit lesbian sex scenes, [and] is based heavily on Firouz's life and struggles as a lesbian in Iran." Coilhouse, which appears to have strongly fact-checked the case, adds, "When clips of her video documentary work featuring the struggle and persecution of gays and lesbians in her country were acquired by Iranian intelligence, agents began to follow Firouz around Tehran, harassing and intimidating her. She fled for England where she could safely continue her work and studies." Her status in the UK is now in doubt.



The person who may hold sway over Firouz's fate is new Home Secretary Theresa May, whose voting record on LGBT rights has been generously described as "mixed". Yesterday, however, she released a statement in support of International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, promising the UK government would, "[use] our international influence to put pressure on countries where LGB&T people are persecuted."

Earlier this month, Britain's deportation of Bita Ghaedi was postponed after the European Court of Human Rights ruled it could not be carried out.

Kiana Firouz's full statement, a letter to Theresa May, and a link to a petition can be found at LGBT Asylum News.

[Original link via amealyapple]

Comments

[Dave]

"According to the Islamic law, repetition of this offence will be punished by death."

**********

Meanwhile, the political elites continue to castigate Islamophobes...like me. Go figure...

You can't make this stuff up.