Kiana Firouz

[elaby]

This is really freaking scary. Kiana Firouz, an Iranian woman, is a GLBTQ rights activist, filmmaker, and actress. According to the article linked below, In Iran, punishment for an adult consenting lesbian of healthy mind and is 100 whippings. If the act is repeated three times and punished each time, the death sentence is applied the fourth time (Art. 127, 129, 130). Firouz left Iran for the UK after intelligence agents got hold of one of her films, which explores lesbianism and oppression and Firouz's civil rights activism, and began to follow and intimidate her. She's applied for asylum in the UK as a refugee, but her application was rejected and she's scheduled for deportation. Firouz isn't ashamed of who she is, and I get the impression from these articles that she would be immediately arrested for her "crimes" upon returning to Iran.

Campaign to Save the Life of Kiana Firouze at Risk of Deportation from the UK
Save the life of Kiana Firouz
Petition to stop the deportation of Kiana Firouz

Right now, I think what people are trying to do is verify the facts and raise publicity so that the people with actual pull will take notice. Anything you can do - sign the petition, spread this around - could help save this woman's life.

Note: The lack of rage and despair in my tone re: worldsuck is only because I understand and avoid my own triggers.

Comments

[med_cat]

Signed.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!

[dibsy.livejournal.com]

Signed the petition, sent an email to the Home Office.

The effect of the petition was slightly spoiled by the misspelling 'Lesbain', and the banner ad below it inviting me to meet sexy Iranians.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!

I know O_o I noticed the misspelling, but not the banner.

[templarwolf.livejournal.com]

Depending on what they use as a whip, survival of 100 lashes is not very great.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It sounds awful.

[miss-next.livejournal.com]

Signed.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!

[the-arethusa.livejournal.com]

Yeah, see it's this sort of thing that REALLY PISSES ME OFF about the immigration controversy; that cases like this one, which should be cut and dry are handled so badly.

This has to get more publicity, because there's a very real danger that it will get lost in all the drama that's been going on over here. I think groups like OutRage! are protesting to reform the asylum laws, but I think it needs to get some mainstream publicity.

I have the day off, I think I'll try and scout out some more information.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I know pathetically little about how politics work in the UK, so I'm glad I could let people who know more know about this.

[the-arethusa.livejournal.com]

It just makes me mad to think that we've come so far with LGBT rights, especially under the old Government (or were actually rather brilliant in that regard), but this sort of thing still slips through the net.

Unfortunately, this woman appears to have been caught between two types of fail. Religious bigotry on one side and a crippling fear of actually dealing with and reforming immigration laws on the other.

You can definitely see why I've been angsting so much about UK politics for these last few weeks, can't you. Interesting times and all that.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can totally understand. *hugs*

[coastal-spirit.livejournal.com]

This is chilling.

Done.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Mama :) Yeah, it's awful. It sounds like the word's getting out, though.

[coastal-spirit.livejournal.com]

I hope it helps. Also re: lack of rage and despair in your tone - sometimes calm statement of the facts and giving helpful information about how to remedy a situation are much more effective than a show of emotion. Really. *huggles* Anyone who knows you, or who had an ounce of common sense and decency would realize how you felt about this situation.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

*snuggles* You're the best mama ever :)