Petrelis Files

Dutch Embassy, Press: Gays May Be Deported to Iran

Earlier today I called the Dutch embassy in Washington to ask for a statement regarding the case of Saba Rawi, a gay Iranian seeking asylum in the Netherlands.

Leftist gay journalist Doug Ireland wrote about Rawi's plight for NYC's Gay City News this week, asking readers to take five minutes to call, email or fax the Dutch embassy, which is exactly what I did after reading what Ireland had to say.

In my voice mail message for a spokesperson in the press office, I requested a formal comment, one that I could post to my blog, and the embassy official sent the following statement:

> Dear Mr. Petrelis,

> Thank you for your voice mail message. Regarding the specific case of the asylum application of Mr. Saba Rawi:
> Mr. Rawi is appealing his asylum case. Pending the final decision on his case, no further steps will be taken. It is not clear when this case will be decided upon.

> In general, the Netherlands Minister for Immigration and Integration is considering lifting the current ban on repatriating gay Iranian asylum seekers whose asylum applications have been rejected. She will make a decision after consulting the Dutch Parliament. It is not clear when Parliament will take up this issue. The Parliament is in recess until March 8.

> If you would like further information, please contact the following Ministry of Justice spokespersons:

> Martin Bruinsma, 011-31-70-370-6266
> Maud Bredero, 011-31-70370-6698

> Sincerely,
Carla Bundy
Press officer
Royal Netherlands Embassy

Nice that the embassy responded so quickly to my concerns, right? I'd say so and I sincerely hope I'm one of dozens or possibly hundred of human rights advocates applying pressure on the Dutch to do the right thing and allow gay Iranians to stay in Holland and not be deported back to Iran.

Unfortunately, Doug Ireland now reports this awful news from Dutch sources:

> The most respected daily newspaper in the Netherlands, De Volkskrant, reports on its front page today that the Dutch Immigration Minister has sent a letter to parliament informing the legislators that the conservative Dutch government of right-wing Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenendehas decided to end the six-month freeze on deportation of gay Iranian refugees from the Islamic Republic of Iran's lethal anti-gay pogrom who live in the Netherlands.

> The revelation of this plan, which the government tried to keep under the radar screen, has already provoked a "big scandal" in parliament, one Dutch reporter informed me late this afternoon. For the details, click on this link.

With the Netherlands about to end the freeze on deporting gays facing death in Iran, it's more important than ever that U.S. gays and our allies contact the Dutch embassy over and over again, on behalf of gay asylum seekers.

If you haven't yet called or emailed the embassy yet, please do so, and, if you've already written the ambassador and his staff, contact them again. The lives of gay Iranians are in jeopardy.

Here's the info you need to contact the embassy:

The Royal Netherlands Embassy
4200 Linnean Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008

The phone number is 202-244-5300; the fax number is 202-362-3430.

The ambassador can be reached via e-mail at webmaster@netherlands-embassy.org.