Tuesday, August 21, 2007


Iranian Lesbian's UK Deportation on Hold Until August 28


These are two messages that have been flying around the web this morning regarding Pegah’s and effort to keep her safe in the UK. The good news that she's been granted a short stay is reason to both rejoice and again commit ourselves to continue working on her behalf until she is granted asylum and does not face being returned to Iran:

Mr. Petrelis:

An update on Pegah -

It is 10.15am here. We are going to try and get a High court injunction to prevent Pegah's deportation on Thursday. Our advice is that Pegah can make a 'sur place' claim based on new or emerging evidence. This itself based on the fact that her details with name and photo are now all over the internet in many languages but most importantly in Farsi/Persian and essentially constitutes proof of her sexual orientation - something the Home Office had disbelieved.

It is also the case that the Iranian government closely monitor IRQO and all related sites so by now they will know that Pegah is gay and so it is not safe for her to be deported to Iran.

Please do anything that you think might help Pegah. The UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group (very experienced) are on the case and we still have hope but we are getting desperate here.

Kind regards,

Lesley

-

All

We have just had some good news! - Richard Caborn, Pegah's MP has managed (together with the 'global' campaign, I think) to persuade the Home Office to defer Pegah's deportation until Tuesday 28th August.

Sarah Lawrence RC's PA [Royal Crown Public Advocate/Defender?] has just told me, “That Pegah will be deported on Tuesday 28th August, unless representations come in from Richard Caborn and others before that date."

Wilson & Co (solicitors) are currently looking at Pegah's papers and Sebastian at UKlgig [UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group] expects to be able to tell me what they think sometime this evening. Will keep you all posted.

Everyone - Many heartfelt thanks for your all your support - we couldn't have got this far without you...we still need to keep up the campaign though - no flagging now!

Lesley

PS: Immigration people told Sarah Lawrence they had heard there was to be a demonstration at the airport - don't know who is organising this but they are clearly worried. Sarah believes that they are now in the business of covering themselves.


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