Petrelis Files

Pegah, Iranian Lesbian, Released from UK Detention

I am so pleased that Pegah Emambakhsh has experienced much good news recently, as you can see from the hopeful message from her support team in Sheffield, but she is still facing hassles from the British government and we cannot close the activist file for her.

May our sister Pegah find relief and a degree of happiness upon her release from detention, and I remain very hopeful her expert legal advocates will eventually gain asylum for her, with absolutely no chances of being deported back to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

As many people around the world have worked ceaselessly and prayed for Pegah, enormous and special gratitude goes to the Pegah support team in Sheffield, the Italian gay human rights organization GruppoEveryOne and the lesbians and gays in Japan, all of whom have truly amazed in organizing an international support network.

Once I receive updates from the wonderful friends in Sheffield, I'll share it here.

Let us celebrate this nugget of positive news on the global LGBT advocacy front, and remember that efforts to strengthen international gay solidarity need YOU.

Check out the web site for Gays Without Borders, and also visit our Yahoo! group and sign up for this growing international solidarity network.

Message to sister Pegah: Thank you for allowing us to stand in solidarity with you and may your deportation problems be favorably resolved quickly.

The message today from Sheffield:

Everyone

We have some good news at last! Pegah was granted bail this morning, is now out of Yarls Wood Detention Centre and back with people who will love and care for her. The Court of Appeal have also agreed to hear her case. It will be listed within the next couple of weeks and will be heard sometime in the next few months, we believe.

There are also other actions that we know are being taken on her behalf, by influential organisations at a high level in the UK.

We really don't think that we would have got this far without the fantastic work you have put in supporting Pegah. She is truly grateful and gives her heartfelt thanks to you all - as do we. It is impossible to overstate the value of your support.

This does not mean that Pegah is out of the woods but she is now in a much more hopeful position.

As you will understand Pegah needs time to recover from the ordeal of the past few weeks. She also needs to get back in touch with the ordinary business of living her life in some peace and tranquility.

We will keep you updated as events develop.

Love and solidarity to you all

Friends of Pegah
Sheffield, UK

Contacts:
Friends of Pegah Campaign
c/o Victoria Hall Methodist Church
Norfolk Street
Sheffield S1 2JB
UK