The Pink Visa Scandal

This irritates the hell out of me. Time and time again we hear stories about how openly gay men from countries like Iran, Bangladesh, etc. are forced to plead for their lives by requesting asylum from other countries. Unfortunately, the wonderful country of Australia, which frequently grants asylum to the homos, is getting duped.

"IMMIGRATION officers are investigating claims that a Sydney migration agent hired a gay sex worker in a bizarre bid to gain political asylum for his clients.

On three occasions in May last year, Raymond Solaiman took Indian and Bangladeshi tourists to visit a male prostitute in Kings Cross.

It is alleged Mr Solaiman paid cash to the escort who agreed to be photographed in sexually explicit positions with the men. He later used the photos as supporting evidence in protection visa applications, which claimed his clients were homosexual and had suffered persecution in their homeland.

The Department of Immigration was alerted to a potential problem last year when as many as a dozen applications arrived, all containing photographs with the same backdrop and male partner."

Wow, this whole story sounds like it could make for a really bad movie (ie Chuck & Larry). Thoughts?

The Pink Visa Scandal

The Deportation Dilemma

In recent months much attention has been given moral dilemma of deporting gay individuals to countries where they face persecution. In early March a gay Malaysian man was denied asylum by the Canadian government and forced to return home; he is currently being sought by the Malaysian police. This sort of story undoubtedly strikes a chord with LGBT South Asians: issues of immigration, rejection, and persecution fall close to many of our personal experiences.

The UK is now reviewing the government's deportation order of Medhi Kazemi, a 19-year-old gay Iranian. His family says Medhi faces execution if he is sent home, where his former boyfriend has already been hanged. UK's Guardian today published an introspective piece on what Britain should recognize as torture to grant asylum. The writer, Scott Long, criticizes the nation for taking steps to disambiguate their definition of torture, sending back individuals who will unquestionably face grave danger.

The article is lengthy, but interesting. Long calls for the UK relieve the burden of proof from Kazemi. Any law "prescribing death or torture for gay Iranians, [those in question] need not demonstrate the details of past persecution" by the State. After reading this article, we'd like to see what you think. What constitutes torture? Is Britain justified in deporting Kazemi? Does Long's argument deserve merit and attention from lawmakers?

The Issue of Torture

Image take from: http://www.slapupsidethehead.com/

Lonely world for some

It's a sad time when Canada, a country that is usually at the forefront of granting LGBT rights, indirectly sentences a man to imprisonment and torture simply because he is gay. Immigration Minister Diane Finley serves as the heterosexist executioner, sending Kulen Amirthanlingam back to Malaysia, where he will surely be imprisoned. Kulen, a Hindu who found love across boundaries with his Muslim partner of 12 years, only receives hate from Finley- with nothing more than an ignorant “no” at the request for asylum, Executioner Finley turns Kulen’s life into a tragedy.

I’m surprised that this story hasn’t gotten as much attention from the media. Then again, I guess that if stories like Kulen’s are commonplace then it isn’t much of a big deal for the media. If you're in the mood to throw sh*t like I am, email Finley at finley.d@parl.gc.ca .

Quebec NDP'er denounces gay deportation