Taken from uk.gay.com

1.8.05

Two European countries have blocked the deportation of gay asylum seekers from Iran, following the hanging of two gay teenagers last month.

The Netherlands and Sweden have halted the returning of gay asylum seekers to the country, which has been criticised internationally for the killings.

Mahmoud Asgari, 16, and Ayaz Marhoni, 18 were publicly executed for having sex with each other.

After an international outcry began to swell, the government also announced the boys were accused of raping a 13 year-old boy, although human rights campaigners have questioned these claims.

According to some protestors, Iran is now hunting other boys named by the two executed, in a bid to “stamp out” homosexuality in the country.

The Dutch government said it would investigate the situation in Iran while the block was in force.

It had been facing increasing pressure from influential lesbian and gay campaigners COC in recent days, as it emerged some asylum seekers were due to be returned to Iran despite fearing they would also be killed.

Sweden has also instigated a halt, due to its opposition to the death penalty for minors.

The UK government is yet to respond to calls to protect lesbian and gay asylum seekers from deportation to homophobic states.

Civil rights groups want assurances that lesbian and gay people from Iran will not be deported.