Queer Refugees - Media Releases

REFUGEES RIGHTS ARE A QUEER ISSUE

April 10, 2006

We live in a world where out of 204 countries where the information is available, a total of 77 countries (50 for lesbians) carry some form of punishment for homosexuality. 9 of them are known to still carry the death penalty. Prison sentences are common (8 carry life imprisonment).

When people face this kind of homophobia, it is no wonder that they come to Australia to escape. Associate professor Jenni Millbank has identified 200 cases of people seeking asylum in Australia on the basis of homophobic persecution between 1996 and 2000.

Coming out is hard enough in Sydney, the home of Mardi Gras, but imagine coming out to the Refugee Review Tribunal when your life is on the line. Until recently, refugees fleeing from homophobic persecution were not even considered for asylum in this country. The case that overturned this involved a Bangladeshi couple. They fled Bangladesh when they were attacked by a homophobic mob and their families disowned them. They were housed in separate compounds in Villawood detention centre – because they were queer they didn’t count as a couple. They were told by the Refugee Review Tribunal that if they returned to Bangladesh they could be discreet about their sexuality to avoid persecution. But the high court ruled in their favour and now queer refugees can seek asylum in this country.

But that is not the end of the story – now queer refugees are denied asylum if they cannot prove they are gay. Even if refugees can prove they were tortured by homophobes, they are being denied asylum if they can’t prove they are gay. And the Refugee Review Tribunal has some strange ideas of what it means to be gay – one man from Iran was denied asylum because he hadn’t heard of Madonna.

The refugee rights movement had some important victories last year. Let's keep fighting until we win. Stand up for queer refugees. Come to Villawood detention centre on the 15th of April to protest.

CAAH MEDIA CONTACTS
For further comments contact:
Simon Margan 0438637037 (CAAH Co-Convenor)
Farida Iqbal 0412109160 (CAAH Co-Convenor)

Contacts Details: CAAH_Sydney-Owner@yahoogroups.com

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QUEER ACTIVIST WINS LANDMARK CASE AGAINST REFUGEE REVIEW TRIBUNAL

September 3, 2007

Motahar Hussein, a queer Bangladeshi man locked up in Villawood Detention Centre for two and a half years was finally accepted as a refugee by the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) for the purposes of the UN Convention. Hussein's claim for protection was rejected twice by the RRT. However Federal Court ordered the case to be reheard over the denial of natural justice by the Tribunal.

Hussein's third RRT hearing on Friday 31st finally admitted if Motahar went back to Bangladesh he would 'experience trouble'. This signaled the Immigration Department granting Hussein permanent residency. Keeping Motahar Hussein locked up for two and a half years, fighting against his legal challenges has cost the Howard government an estimated half a million dollars.

If sent home Hussein would have suffered persecution. Bangladesh is a predominantly Muslim country with a homophobic law on the penal code - Section 377 which makes 'intercourse against the order of nature' - a crime.

Early within his detention, Motahar Hussein led a successful hunger strike inside Villawood Detention Centre demanding copies of the Migration Act for detainees. He led successful action against Global Solutions Ltd and Delware North Limited who were using detainees for slave labour. When Motahar Hussein was released on a Bridging E Visa in early 2007 he became active in Community Action Against Homophobia's (CAAH) campaign for marriage rights, civil unions and adoption rights. He was elected as CAAH's refugee officer and led a successful campaign against the ban of gay publications SX and SSO within Villawood. Motahar was also involved in climate action campaigning.

Rachel Evans, CAAH Secretary said "Howard and previous ALP Federal governments have tortured people like Motahar through their policy of mandatory detention. The Refugee Review Tribunal has been refusing many queers and sending people back to danger and in some cases, death. They are an arm of the government's inhumane detention policy. Motahar's recent victory over the RRT and his victories against slave labor policy within detention show if we fight - we win. CAAH thanks to all those in the queer and activist community who helped with free Motahar Hussein and those who helped win his permanent visa status. We hope this victory will flow onto the campaign to Free Ali Humayun and end discrimination against all asylum seekers."

CAAH MEDIA CONTACTS
For further comments contact:
Motahar Hussein 0401665916
Rachel Evans 0403798420 (CAAH Activiste) e. GrrRach@yahoo.com

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Press Release
September 22, 2006

Queers protest refugee detention and visit Villawood.

Queer activists from Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) and New South Wales Queer Student Network (QSN) will meet with detained refugees in Villawood on 23rd September.

“Many refugees locked up by this inhumane government are queers fleeing homophobic persecution”, said Rachel Evans, CAAH Co-Convenor. “Associate professor Jenni Millbank has identified 200 cases of people seeking asylum in Australia on the basis of homophobic persecution between 1996 and 2000,” she noted.

“Howard’s refugee policy is racist and homophobic” said Karlee Jones, Queer Student Network NSW spokesperson. “We live in a world where out of 204 countries, where information is available, a total of 77 countries (50 for lesbians) carry some form of punishment for homosexuality with 9 of them known to still carry the death penalty. Prison sentences are common (8 carry life imprisonment).” Jones concluded.

“Instead of accepting queer refugees and their cases, John Howard and the Refugee Review Tribunal are making these refugees lives harder and denying that they are queer and that they suffer persecution in their home countries,” said Simon Biber, CAAH Co-Convenor.

“Queer refugees are denied asylum if they cannot prove they are gay. Even if refugees can prove they were tortured by homophobes, they are being denied asylum if they can’t prove they are gay. And the Refugee Review Tribunal has some strange ideas of what it means to be gay – one man from Iran was denied asylum because he hadn’t heard of Madonna” Biber noted.

“With all the evils perpetrated by Authoritarian regimes, we who wish to support humanity may not know where to begin, but here is a clear evil in our own backyard. Locking up refugees is perpetrated in the name of the Australian public, in conditions far worse than convicted criminals face. I have been visiting detainees for over a year now, offering contact with the outside world, solidarity, commitment to the spirit of freedom, a sympathetic ear and a little practical support. From this I gain an informed perspective when lobbying policiticians, and the knowledge that when the authoritarians started the concentration camps in my country, I actively stood on the side of humanity.” – norrie mAy-welby, CAAH refugee spokeswoman and long time social justice activist.

“We have had recent victories for refugees. Due to the strength of the refugee rights movement Howard couldn’t pass the recent ‘Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill’. While this was a victory we will not rest until all the refugees are free and mandatory detention is history”, said Rachel Evans.

CAAH and QSN will visit Villawood Detention Centre on September 23rd. Meet Central Station at 12:15pm or Villawood Station at 1pm.

Call Rachel 0403 798 420, Karlee 0401 664 858. Simon B 0425 208 363
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Press Release: QUEER PROTEST FOR REFUGEE RIGHTS

LGBT activists are organising a “Queer Bloc” to protest at Villawood detention centre. The Queer Bloc is part of the national convergence on the detention centre from the 14th to the 17th of April.

“We have been in touch with several queer refugees. They have escaped from horrific persecution and human rights abuses in their home countries, including homophobic violence, torture, imprisonment or the death penalty. In some countries these things can be used as punishment for homosexuality. Australia has got to take a stand,” says Simon Margan of Community Action Against Homophobia.

“People escape from homophobic human rights abuses in their home countries, only to face equally abhorrent human rights abuses when they arrive in Australia. Mandatory detention has got to go!” says Rachel Evans of the National Union of Students.

“The Refugee Review Tribunal is harsh and unrealistic in its treatment of queer refugees. The excuse they use to refuse them asylum is that they can’t prove that they are gay. Even if they can prove they have been tortured or received death threats, they are being knocked back on the grounds that they can’t prove they are gay. This is ridiculous! The Australian queer community has got to take a stand. This Easter, queers will protest for refugee rights at Villawood detention centre.”

Community Action Against Homophobia:
Simon Margan 0438 637 037
Farida Iqbal 0412 109 160

National Union of Students:
Rachel Evans 0403 798 420

Queer Students Network
Karlee Jones 0401 664 858

Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations
Michelle Sparks 0410 664 456