Advertisers:
advertise on this site


Steve Clemons interviews Eli Pariser

Former Executive Director of MoveOn.org, Eli Pariser discusses his new book "The Filter Bubble" and how the architecture of the internet is evolving to match our interests and filtering out information that might challenge our opinions.

Steve Clemons on Obama's Approach to Libya

Steve Clemons argues that in addittion to being ineffectual militarily, a no-fly zone will change the narrative of the Libyan uprising and shift the focus from the decisions of the Libyan rebels to the actions of Western nations.

Ian Bremmer On the War Between States and Corporations

Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer discusses the political and economic impacts of the economic recession, as well as rising economic powers.

More videos are available on the Video Archives Page

The Washington Note is now a member of the Political Insiders advertising network:
Find out more...

VA Loan and VA Refinance
Information from VA Mortgage Center



ADVERTISE SEND FEEDBACK OR TIPS CONTACT DETAILS
Support The Washington Note

Using PayPal

UK and Netherlands on Gay Iranian Youth: Don't Ask & Deport

Share / Recommend - Comment - Print - Thursday, Mar 20 2008, 1:56PM

mehdi kazemi.jpgA 20-year old gay Iranian, Mehdi Kazemi, who had been studying in the UK suffered the loss of a boyfriend who was hanged in Iran for his homosexuality. He asked for asylum in the UK and was denied. He then fled to the Netherlands, and Dutch courts also rejected his plea.

However, the European Union has actually stepped up and has done what its member states could seemingly not and provided Kazemi with a human rights waiver from the deportation order he was facing in the UK.

The Human Rights group, Every One, played an enormous role in this effort -- and what I hope is done at this point is that Mehdi's case becomes a template for managing persons in similar kinds of distress.

Does anyone think that either the Dutch government or the British government would have survived the pubic protests had Kazemi been deported to Iran and immediately executed?

This is time to revisit the EU member state's practice of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and Deport. But bravo from this side of the Atlantic to the increasingly impressive European Parliament.

-- Steve Clemons



« Previous Article - Who Would Be al Qaeda's Candidate?
» Next Article - America's Economic Mess Aggravated by Iraq War

Reader Comments (7) - post a comment

Posted by Chicagoan, Mar 20 2008, 2:30PM - Link

I find it beyond belief that he had to go through all this, but at least the right thing happened. Let's hope some people with some means step up and provide him with the support and networks he'll need to finish his education and make a new life for himself.

Posted by Ben Rosengart, Mar 20 2008, 2:52PM - Link

Thanks for shining a light on this, Steve.

Posted by PissedOffAmerican, Mar 20 2008, 10:18PM - Link

Can't we just bring him over here and insert him into the White House press corps, and send Jeff Gannon to Iran instead?

Posted by Mr.Murder, Mar 20 2008, 10:42PM - Link

Perehaps the initial Judicial decisions brought more scrutiny to this case?

What appeals process is there for such matters?

That Europe would fail to heed rights in such an instance would higlight the need for this as a human rights declaration.

Posted by Carroll, Mar 21 2008, 12:06AM - Link

Yes...I think the US and the UK govs would survive any outcry from the public if he had been sent back to Iran and hanged.

We have made outcrys about people being hacked to death in SA, we have made outcrys about Palestine children being killed by the nazi Israelis, we have made outcrys about China killing protesters.

Like our old friend on here has said...our government is full of monsters...they don't care.

Over to Percy for the solution..

'Rise like Lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number,
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you -
Ye are many - they are few.

- Percy B. Shelley

Posted by Jet, Mar 24 2008, 2:57PM - Link

Mehdi is not completely safe yet and he needs all the support he can get!

Please visit http://www.madhikazemi.com/ and
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/UKMADHI/signatures.html as well.

Thnx in advance,

Jet

Posted by dutchmarbel, Mar 24 2008, 7:35PM - Link

A little clarification: the Dutch refused him asylum because he had allready applied in the UK. EU asylum rules are that someone can only apply in one country. So the Dutch had to send him to the country he'd initially applied to.

The Netherlands doesn't send homosexuals back to Iran (at the moment). I think they shouldn't send homosexual asylumseekers back to the UK either, since there is a real risc that they will be send back to Iran. For me it is comparable with not sending criminals to countries where they might be sent to death, even if you have a treaty with the country to normally exchange suspects.

But most homosexuals don't re-apply in the Netherlands so I think it is even more important that the UK stops sending homosexuals back - if need be by EU directive. Because Mehdi is appareantly save - but will Pegah Emambakhsh be save too?

Leave a comment:


(required)
(required)
- only for verification, not for display or any other use.

(required)

Type the characters you see in the picture above.


The Washington Note - Steven ClemonsHome - About - Archives - Published - Recommended - Advertise - Privacy Policy - Contact
THIS SITE IS COPYRIGHT © 2010 THE WASHINGTON NOTE. ALL RIGHTS ARE RESERVED.
En ligne pas cher tadalafil 20mg acheter cialis sans ordonnance en France les informations relatives au mode d'action et les effets secondaires. Le jeu en ligne est devenu une industrie millions de dollars avec des joueurs de partout dans le monde des paris sur les jeux de casino en ligne. La gamme exclusive de jeux de casino soutenu par caractéristiques exceptionnelles et des avantages a surpassé le glamour de casinos terrestres. Même les gens qui n'ont jamais été à un casino sur terre, ou joué tout jeu de casino jamais, deviennent attirés par le monde exceptionnel de jeux en ligne. Vous pourriez vous demander ce qui rend le jeu en ligne si populaire, quand il n'y a pas de concessionnaire réel, pas de vraie foule, pas de serveuses glamour et pas de boissons gratuites. Ci-dessous sont cinq raisons fondamentales pour lesquelles un grand nombre de joueurs de casino se dirigent vers les casino en ligne aujourd'hui. Le Casino en ligne contient également un certain nombre de formateurs de jeu pour les jeux les plus populaires de casino en ligne! Vous pouvez jouer gratuitement ici sur le site et recevoir des conseils de stratégie de l'entraîneur sur le chemin. Notre dévotion au jeu en ligne nous met en mesure de vous proposer les meilleures affaires en bonus avec les meilleurs casinos en ligne. Cela signifie plus d'argent dans votre poche. Restez branchés pour les bonus de casino plus rentables et les promotions à venir.