Gay refugees face prejudice across the world

Biplob Hossain, a gay refugee from Bangladesh who is seeking asylum in Australia, and Joaquin Ramirez, facing deportation to El Salvador, have highlighted the plight of gay men who flee their countries to escape persecution.

Mr Hossain, 25, moved to Australia on a student visa when he was 19.

He applied for asylum on the basis that he would suffer persecution in Bangladesh. He was placed in a detention centre for 29 months.

After three rejections by the Refugee Review Tribunal and a failed High Court bid, Mr Hossain is hoping for a personal intervention from the Minister for Immigration, Senator Chris Evans.

He was released from Villawood Detention Centre in October 2006, but is not allowed to work or collect social security benefits.

Sandi Logan, a spokesperson for the Immigration Department, told Australian SX News:

"A person's sexual orientation does not of itself enable that person to be granted asylum.

"We provide protection for asylum seekers under the UN definition of a refugee, under the Convention 67 protocol, which doesn't include their sexual orientation or their fears of persecution associated with that orientation."

Bangladeshi law states that gay sex acts are illegal and will be punished with deportation, fines and life imprisonment. See Gay refugees face prejudice across the world
PinkNews.co.uk, UK