Petrelis Files

Translation of Swedish Story on Iran Protest

Thanks to my good friend H.A. in Washington, we now have a rough translation of the article from Sweden about the protest last week in Stockholm.
^^^

Basically, RFSL and the Iranian Refugees Association were protesting Friday, August 5, against Sweden's government's stand that LGBT-people in Iran are not at risk for discrimination, death, etc.

Theresa Hulthen continued and demanded an immediate stop for all rejections of LGBT refugees from Iran.

She even read greetings from Farnosh Danahkar, who has received several rejections regarding asylum and who now is in hiding somewhere in Sweden.

In Iran 2001, Farnosh (17 years old) was sentenced to 99 lashings for "illegal relations and a certain conduct that is against the moral rules."

His "crime" was that he at a beach had kissed a one year younger guy. Soon after the incident he came to Sweden seeking political asylum. He did not receive asylum and later the Swedish Immigration Department refused to consider several new applications, as it is presumed that Farnosh is not at risk for execution or discrimination if he returns to Iran.

On Friday the Immigration Department informed that at present they are not trying to deport Iranian LGBT-refugees.

We have until further notice about delayed deportations of homosexuals to Iran due to the execution a few weeks back which we are investigating, said Alicia Bengtsson, Information officer, Immigration Department to Stockholm City.