Aug 30, 2007News: Euro-Parliament Takes Up the Case of Lesbian Refugee in UK
By news staff
(EU) - Following a proposal by Italian MEP Giusto Catania (PRC), representing the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) Group in the European Parliament during today's Conference of Presidents - and Graham Watson, President of the Parliament's Liberal Group, European Parliament President Hans Gert Pöettering has accepted to write a letter to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the fate of Pegah Emambakhsh, the Iranian lesbian woman who risks expulsion from Great Britain to Iran.
If deported, Ms Emambakhsh risks physical violence and torture, and without doubt losing her life, because of London's refusal to grant her the status of political refugee on grounds of sexual discrimination.
"Pöettering has the task of explaining to Gordon Brown that Pegah's expulsion to Iran would constitute a serious violation of human rights and international conventions and bring shame not only on a country like Great Britain but also on the European Union as a whole. I suggested to the President that he indicate Italy's willingness to welcome Pegah, who is not guilty of any crime. We strongly support Pegah and I am sure that all European parliamentarians will continue to follow her case very closely", MEP Catania declared.
The European Parliament Presidency has committed to sending the letter without delay.
