COLLEAGUES ASKING THE GOVERNMENT TO SPAIN safe haven for LGBT BE PURSUED IN THE WORLD

Madrid, 17 December 2009. The Spanish Confederation COLLEAGUES Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender want to congratulate the Spanish government for granting political asylum to a gay Iranian who suffered torture and persecution because of their sexual orientation. This is the first specifically applied for asylum based on sexual orientation persecution, as contained in the newly adopted Law on Asylum and Refuge. This last law incorporating explicitly the grounds of persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity, has been a long battle for COLLEAGUES claim and other human rights organizations. "Ali has been very lucky to get out in time for Iran before swelling the long list that currently has 10 young gay men sentenced to death for the crime of lavat (sodomy) in Iran and are awaiting appeals or his impending execution.


Spain and Europe can not remain unmoved by the human drama of these young people, and should push strongly to the Iranian theocratic regime to prevent the hunt inhumane, "said Paco Ramirez, secretary of organization of colleagues. "From COLLEAGUES encourage you to press the Iranian embassies and consulates to force a change in judicial policy of the Persian country. Through the campaign COLLEAGUES FOR IRAN (www.colegasporiran.tk) trying to raise awareness and help make this change possible, "added Ramirez. "For colleagues, Spain continues to be a world leader in social progress and respect for human rights. There are many homosexuals and transsexuals who are currently risking their physical integrity or even their lives by not hide their sexual status in many countries. We therefore invite the Spanish government that Spain will become a safe haven for those persecuted for their sexual status, "said Paco Ramirez. "Spain should be more generous in granting political asylum can not be a policy of words without deeds, and now Spain is one of the 7 countries of the European Union unless attaches homes, accepting even less than 5% of the requests for asylum made. Spain gives 11 times less homes than Italy, 30 times less than France, 32 times less than Germany and 50 times less than the UK, "said Ramirez.