There's quite a queer contradiction in the United Kingdom's gay policy.

As you know, the international embassies have embraced gay pride, flying the rainbow flag in hostile territories like Poland and Latvia. In addition, the Foreign Office distributed hundreds of "LGBT toolkits," a handy dandy guide to all things gay.

Too bad things aren't the same at home, where international gay refugees have faced uphill battles. Remember Mehdi Kazemi, the gay Iranian teen who finally received asylum after nearly a year in legislative limbo? And then there's Syrian refugee Jojo Jako Yakob, who had been detained in Scotland. He was released last week, but must still face the Home Office. Well, now there's word of yet another queer who faces an uncertain fate.

And officials doesn't seem to give a damn…

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The United Kingdom has finally granted Iranian 20-year Mehdi Kazemi asylum. The move came after months of back-and-forth – literally. Kazemi fled the UK for the Netherlands, which sent him back. The government originally had no interest in keeping Kazemi, who faced death back in Iran, but finally agreed to let him live in peace. [UK Gay News]

America's next president will have quite a task: boosting our international standing.

In an effort to get the ball rolling, Equality Forum asked Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton if they would help persuade British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to stay 19-year old Iranian Mehdi Kazemi's deportation.

Kazemi's been shuttled back and forth between Britain and The Netherlands as the government decides whether to send him home, where he'll likely face an execution.

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Gay Iranian teen Mehdi Kazemi arrived at Heathrow airport from The Netherlands today and will live with his uncle as the United Kingdom decides his long-running asylum claim. [Pink News]

Scottish politicos are coming out in full force for Jojo Jako Yakob, the Syrian seeking asylum in the United Kingdom. One concerned party said it would be "unacceptable" for the Home Office to send him back, which is totally true, but have they conveniently forgotten the Iranian teen, Mehdi Kazemi? That's an outrage, too. [Pink News]

Uh-oh! Iranian gay Mehdi Kazemi ain't the only gay fighting for his life. Switzerland may soon deport a Cameroonian national, Anatole Zali, who fled his homeland after receiving death threats. Swiss authorities didn't find enough grounds to keep Zali, whose personal appeals have been struck down. That whole neutrality thing cuts both ways, huh? [Pink News]

Two prominent personalities – CNN's Glenn Beck and activist Peter Tatchell – compared asylum seeking gay Iranian Mehdi Kazemi's plight to that of Nazi fleeing Jews. Watch Beck's comments above and Tatchell's after the jump.

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Britain's Interior Minister Jacqui Smith says she and her colleagues are "reconsidering" gay Iranian Mehdi Kazemi's asylum plea. [POQ]

Nineteen-year old Iranian national Mehdi Kazemi returns to the UK this week from the Netherlands, which denied his pleas and sent him back to Britain. British authorities don't have the best gay track record, so activists want you – yes, you! – to sign a petition to PM Gordon Brown requesting asylum for Mehdi, who faces execution if sent back to Iran. [iPetitions]

The Netherlands denied 19-year old Iranian Mehdi Kazemi's asylum appeal. He will now head back the UK, which may send him back to Iran, where he likely faces death. [UK Gay News]

Britain's Home Office fails again. As officials debate what to do with gay Iranian Mehdi Kazemi, they may force 40-year old Pegah Emambakhsh back to the anti-gay nation. Emambakhsh fled Iran after the government executed her girlfriend. She faces the same fate, unfortunately. [Independent]

Iranian gay Mehdi Kazemi made a last ditch effort to save his hide yesterday.

The 19-year old remains in The Netherlands after delaying his deportation to Britain, which will likely send him back to Iran. Kazemi moved to England in 2004 for university and claims he intended to leave, but stayed after the Iranian government executed his boyfriend.

The British government planned to kick Kazemi out, but the teen hopped off to The Netherlands, which has a moratorium on deporting endangered gays.

Kazemi's case gets a bit complicated, however, when you consider Europe's Dublin Treaty. That measure stipulates that asylum cases must be tried in the nation where the subject applied, which would be England for Kazemi.

He's hoping, however, that British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will take pity on him. In a letter sent yesterday, Kazemi again reiterates that he fears for his life and that he should be punished for his natural attractions.

The British government won't comment on specific cases, but insists they "will not remove anyone who we believe is at risk on their return."

Italian activists gathered outside Britain's embassy in Rome to protest a planned deportation of 19-year old Iranian gay Mehdi Kazemi. The UK may deport Mehdi as soon as this week. [AKI]