Ireland preparing to deport gay Iranian

The gay independent Irish Senator David Norris has called for the reversing of a deportation order against a young Iranian man who, he said, would be butchered on return to his homeland.

This individual had left Iran, having been investigated and having openly acknowledged a sexual relationship with his male partner, he said.

Norris told the Irish Seanad:

"He has been served with a deportation order. What kind of people are running these services? Are they unaware, uniquely, because everybody else in Ireland knows, this man will be butchered, as was confirmed by the deputy Iranian foreign minister . . . last week.

"He said 'well, we are not going to do it from a crane on the back of a lorry, but we're still going to do it'. What are we doing? Where is the accountability? I demand in the name of the Oireachtas [composed of Dáil Éireann (House of Deputies) and Seanad Éireann (Senate)] that the practice of deporting someone in that condition should be ceased immediately."

Source: The Irish Times