Iran: Update to Response to Information Request IRN14104 of 28 May 1995 on the treatment of homosexuals, and current information on whether homosexuals have been executed on the grounds of their sexuality
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRN21549.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iran: Update to Response to Information Request IRN14104 of 28 May 1995 on the treatment of homosexuals, and current information on whether homosexuals have been executed on the grounds of their sexuality, 1 October 1995, IRN21549.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac1264.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to The New York Times, Iranian law treats "behaviors like homosexuality and adultery as criminal" (11 Dec. 1994).
According to a Legal Times article, "gays in Iran are put to death" (1 Aug. 1995).
The 14 March 1995 Times article refers to the disappearance and presumed execution of an Iranian lesbian who was deported to Iran after her political asylum application in the United Kingdom had been turned down.
The 8 September 1994 New York Law Journal refers to a claim in a British publication for homosexuals that over 4,000 homosexuals have been executed in Iran since 1980.
According to a National Public Radio program, three gay men and a lesbian from Iran claimed that "Iranian law decrees homosexuality punishable by death, either by stoning, by firing squad, or by being thrown off a cliff" (14 June 1994).
The 28 May 1994 Newsday article cites Amnesty International as stating that homosexuality is "a criminal offense in several countries, and is punishable by death in Yemen, Iran and Mauritania." The 10 February 1994 Capital Times also refers to an Amnesty International report, which referred to "an automatic death sentence for homosexuals in Iran."
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Capital Times [Washington, DC]. 10 February 1994. All Editions. "Amnesty Focus on Gay Bias Hailed." (NEXIS)
Legal Times [New York]. 1 August 1994. Robert Schmidt. "Victory for Steptoe." (NEXIS)
National Public Radio. 14 June 1994. Maria Hinojosa. "Homosexuals May Be Able to Enter U.S. for Asylum." (NEXIS
New York Law Journal. 8 September 1994. "Battling Radically Motivated Crimes." (NEXIS)
The New York Times. 11 December 1994. Late Edition-Final. "Iran Gives Partial Prison Tours to Offset Human Rights Charges." (NEXIS)
Newsday [New York]. 28 May 1994. City Edition. Vivienen Walt. "Gay Games and Asylum." (NEXIS)
Times [London]. 14 March 1995. Peter Tatchell. "'You Can Precipitate Dramatic Change'." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Capital Times [Washington, DC]. 10 February 1994. All Editions. "Amnesty Focus on Gay Bias Hailed." (NEXIS)
Legal Times [New York]. 1 August 1994. Robert Schmidt. "Victory for Steptoe." (NEXIS)
National Public Radio. 14 June 1994. Maria Hinojosa. "Homosexuals May Be Able to Enter U.S. for Asylum." (NEXIS
New York Law Journal. 8 September 1994. "Battling Radically Motivated Crimes." (NEXIS)
The New York Times. 11 December 1994. Late Edition-Final. "Iran Gives Partial Prison Tours to Offset Human Rights Charges." (NEXIS)
Newsday [New York]. 28 May 1994. City Edition. Vivienen Walt. "Gay Games and Asylum." (NEXIS)
Times [London]. 14 March 1995. Peter Tatchell. "'You Can Precipitate Dramatic Change'." (NEXIS)
