For more information please contact IRQO at info@irqo.net.
Subject: India, Call for Action: An Iranian gay couple in India need your support
Call for Action: An Iranian gay couple in India need your support
(July 17, 08)
http://www.irqo.net/IRQO/English/pages/147.htm
Dear Friends:
We are contacting you to request your assistance on a very urgent case
involving 2 gay Iranians, Ali and Mohammad.
It is no secret that queer Iranians who flee to other countries continue to
face risks due to homophobia and laws calling for punishment of homosexuals.
This often results in depression and post traumatic stress symptoms.
Ali and Mohammad, a gay Iranian couple, fled to India. Although they have
each been officially recognized as refugees by United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Canadian Embassy in New Delhi has still
not acted to facilitate their resettlement in Canada. It has been one whole
year since the Canadian Embassy began processing their cases!
In India, Ali and Mohammad are illegal queer refugees. They have no
authorization to work. Furthermore, they are at risk because India's penal
code includes punishment for homosexual activity.
The common complications that queer refugees experience are escalated for them
because Mohammad's mental health is deteriorating. He has been counseled by a
UNHCR psychiatrist for 7 months and continues to suffer. Immediate attention
by the Canadian Embassy is critical!
Please show your support by writing to the Canadian Embassy in New Delhi,
India to urge them to expedite the processes for Ali and Mohammad. There are
2 ways you can help:
1. You may copy and paste the sample letter in English into an email and send
it to the Embassy; OR
2. You may write your own letter in support of Ali and Mohammad.
Please send to Canadian Embassy at delhi@international.gc.ca , and also CC to
UNHCR at indne@unhcr.org as well as IRQO at info@irqo.net for tracking
purposes.
You may also fax letters to the Canadian Embassy at: +91 (11) 5178-2020 or
call them at: +91 (11) 5178-2000 ATTN: Canadian High Commission.
If you choose to fax your letter, please email a copy to info@irqo.net.
Thank you for your support.
Ali and Mohammad's Story
We are and Ali and Mohammad, an Iranian gay couple. We fled Iran and came to
India, but we are facing difficult circumstances here and need assistance!
We are both refugees recognized by UNHCR in New Delhi, India. Mohammad was
recognized as a refugee in August, 2006, and I, Ali, was recognized as a
refugee too, in March, 2007.
UNHCR submitted our case as "urgent" and "high priority" for resettlement to
the Canadian embassy in New Delhi. The Canadian embassy started processing on
our application on May 17, 2007, and we completed interviews with the Canadian
embassy on July 19, 2007. We even received our health checkups in the same
week. However, we are still waiting for our process to be complete so that we
can resettle in a safer country.
Under Indian Penal Code No. 377, sexual activity between men is officially a
crime and is punishable with imprisonment for up to 10 years. Homosexuality
is forbidden by both the Indian government as well as by Indian society.
In addition to dealing with homophobia and anti-LGBT laws, we lack visas and
are not able to work. We are without income and we also face many problems
because of our sexual orientation.
Due to this complicated situation, Mohammad's mental health is disturbed and
he has been on medication prescribed by UNHCR's psychiatrist for over 7
months. Even Mohammad's doctor sent a letter to UNHCR and to the Canadian
embassy to describe his condition and asked them to speed up his process so he
can leave India as soon as possible.
Mohammad's health is in danger and he cannot handle this condition any longer.
It is so important that he reach a safe country very quickly.
We need your assistance and help to leave India as soon as possible.
We are waiting for your help.
Thanking you,
Ali and Mohammad
Sample Letter to the Canadian Embassy
To: delhi@international.gc.ca
CC1: indne@unhcr.org
CC2: info@irqo.net
Re: File Number B051747780
To the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi:
This letter particularly concerns the cases of Mohammad and Ali with file
number B051747780. Mohammad and Ali were recognized by the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2006 and 2007, respectively. UNHCR
forwarded their case to you for quick processing, noting that this case should
be treated as high priority. Mohammad and Ali completed interviews and health
checkups in July, 2007. A whole year has passed and they are still waiting
for your Embassy to complete their processes.
You must be aware of the perils that queer refugees in particular face in
India. The Indian penal code calls for punishment of homosexuals and the
Indian society is homophobic. Because of this, refugees like Mohammad and Ali
deal with escalated risks. Confronting these risks often leads to mental
health problems and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. It is
essential that such individuals resettle in a country deemed safe and
appropriate for homosexuals, such as Canada, as quickly as possible.
We, as supporters of queer Iranians, urge that you expedite Mohammad and Ali's
case, because they are suffering in New Delhi and Mohammad's mental health is
especially deteriorating. He has been medicated by a UNHCR psychiatrist for
seven months. We are concerned about their emotional states in India, and
urge you to bring them relief from their unhealthy situation.
We realize you have many resettlement cases to work on. However, due to the
exigent circumstances especially facing queer refugees, we urge you to assist
Mohammad and Ali, and help them resettle in Canada promptly.
Your timely, informed and sensitive treatment of this case will be much
appreciated.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Call for Action: An Iranian gay couple in India need your support
(July 17, 08)
http://www.irqo.net/IRQO/English/pages/147.htm
Dear Friends:
We are contacting you to request your assistance on a very urgent case
involving 2 gay Iranians, Ali and Mohammad.
It is no secret that queer Iranians who flee to other countries continue to
face risks due to homophobia and laws calling for punishment of homosexuals.
This often results in depression and post traumatic stress symptoms.
Ali and Mohammad, a gay Iranian couple, fled to India. Although they have
each been officially recognized as refugees by United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Canadian Embassy in New Delhi has still
not acted to facilitate their resettlement in Canada. It has been one whole
year since the Canadian Embassy began processing their cases!
In India, Ali and Mohammad are illegal queer refugees. They have no
authorization to work. Furthermore, they are at risk because India's penal
code includes punishment for homosexual activity.
The common complications that queer refugees experience are escalated for them
because Mohammad's mental health is deteriorating. He has been counseled by a
UNHCR psychiatrist for 7 months and continues to suffer. Immediate attention
by the Canadian Embassy is critical!
Please show your support by writing to the Canadian Embassy in New Delhi,
India to urge them to expedite the processes for Ali and Mohammad. There are
2 ways you can help:
1. You may copy and paste the sample letter in English into an email and send
it to the Embassy; OR
2. You may write your own letter in support of Ali and Mohammad.
Please send to Canadian Embassy at delhi@international.gc.ca , and also CC to
UNHCR at indne@unhcr.org as well as IRQO at info@irqo.net for tracking
purposes.
You may also fax letters to the Canadian Embassy at: +91 (11) 5178-2020 or
call them at: +91 (11) 5178-2000 ATTN: Canadian High Commission.
If you choose to fax your letter, please email a copy to info@irqo.net.
Thank you for your support.
Ali and Mohammad's Story
We are and Ali and Mohammad, an Iranian gay couple. We fled Iran and came to
India, but we are facing difficult circumstances here and need assistance!
We are both refugees recognized by UNHCR in New Delhi, India. Mohammad was
recognized as a refugee in August, 2006, and I, Ali, was recognized as a
refugee too, in March, 2007.
UNHCR submitted our case as "urgent" and "high priority" for resettlement to
the Canadian embassy in New Delhi. The Canadian embassy started processing on
our application on May 17, 2007, and we completed interviews with the Canadian
embassy on July 19, 2007. We even received our health checkups in the same
week. However, we are still waiting for our process to be complete so that we
can resettle in a safer country.
Under Indian Penal Code No. 377, sexual activity between men is officially a
crime and is punishable with imprisonment for up to 10 years. Homosexuality
is forbidden by both the Indian government as well as by Indian society.
In addition to dealing with homophobia and anti-LGBT laws, we lack visas and
are not able to work. We are without income and we also face many problems
because of our sexual orientation.
Due to this complicated situation, Mohammad's mental health is disturbed and
he has been on medication prescribed by UNHCR's psychiatrist for over 7
months. Even Mohammad's doctor sent a letter to UNHCR and to the Canadian
embassy to describe his condition and asked them to speed up his process so he
can leave India as soon as possible.
Mohammad's health is in danger and he cannot handle this condition any longer.
It is so important that he reach a safe country very quickly.
We need your assistance and help to leave India as soon as possible.
We are waiting for your help.
Thanking you,
Ali and Mohammad
Sample Letter to the Canadian Embassy
To: delhi@international.gc.ca
CC1: indne@unhcr.org
CC2: info@irqo.net
Re: File Number B051747780
To the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi:
This letter particularly concerns the cases of Mohammad and Ali with file
number B051747780. Mohammad and Ali were recognized by the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2006 and 2007, respectively. UNHCR
forwarded their case to you for quick processing, noting that this case should
be treated as high priority. Mohammad and Ali completed interviews and health
checkups in July, 2007. A whole year has passed and they are still waiting
for your Embassy to complete their processes.
You must be aware of the perils that queer refugees in particular face in
India. The Indian penal code calls for punishment of homosexuals and the
Indian society is homophobic. Because of this, refugees like Mohammad and Ali
deal with escalated risks. Confronting these risks often leads to mental
health problems and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. It is
essential that such individuals resettle in a country deemed safe and
appropriate for homosexuals, such as Canada, as quickly as possible.
We, as supporters of queer Iranians, urge that you expedite Mohammad and Ali's
case, because they are suffering in New Delhi and Mohammad's mental health is
especially deteriorating. He has been medicated by a UNHCR psychiatrist for
seven months. We are concerned about their emotional states in India, and
urge you to bring them relief from their unhealthy situation.
We realize you have many resettlement cases to work on. However, due to the
exigent circumstances especially facing queer refugees, we urge you to assist
Mohammad and Ali, and help them resettle in Canada promptly.
Your timely, informed and sensitive treatment of this case will be much
appreciated.
Sincerely,
Your Name
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