An openly-gay actress from Iran is campaigning against the Home Office's decision to refuse her asylum, this week, because she will face execution in her homeland.
Kiana Firouz, 26, has sought residency in Britain on the grounds that her sexuality is considered illegal and immoral under Islamic law.
According to legislation in Iran, the punishment for lesbian sex is 100 lashes.
If the act is repeated three times and punishment is enforced each
time, the death sentence will apply on the fourth occasion.
But the Home Office refused her request for asylum earlier this month, despite acknowledging her appeal was legitimate.
The news comes just one week after the UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group - a charity promoting
equality and dignity through supporting lesbian and gay people who are
seeking asylum in the UK - published the results of a study of 50 Home Office Reason
for Refusal letters, issued from 2005 to 2009, to claimants from 19
different countries who claimed asylum on the basis of their sexual
identity.
Entitled Failing The Grade, the report looked at the decisions of UK
Border Agency at interview stage. They found that although refusal at
this stage is high for all asylum applicants – 73% in 2009 – refusal of
lesbian and gay applicants between 2004 and 2009 was 98-99%.
Now, the actress - who appears in new independent film Cul De Sac, pictured - has created a petition against the decision. To date, 882 have signed the motion in the hope that it will u-turn the performer's fate.
Speaking to DIVA, Firouz said: "This is my last chance. Even if I were heterosexual, the movie I currently star in contains sexual scenes which, in itself, would be subject to death punishment if I return to Iran.
"Now, the only hope remains for me is LGBT’s support."
To offer your support, sign the petition here: http://www.petitiononline.com/kianaf/petition-sign.html