Iran's Mehdi P., from Tabriz; Moshen G., from Shiraz; and Nemat Safavi, from Ardebil, are all awaiting execution for allegedly having gay sex — when they were under 18. Guilty of "lavat" (i.e. sexual conduct between two men, regardless of penetration), the three boys do not yet have dates set for their state-sponsored murders, but one attorney fears it could happen any day, according to Human Rights Watch. Lavat is "punishable by death so long as both the active and passive partners are mature, of sound mind, and have acted of free will" — something that not only conflicts with the boys' age at the time of the alleged "offenses," but also a gross violation of international law, which forbids, under any circumstance, the executive of juvenile offenders.

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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]

The UK's asylum system, which has dragged its feet on granting asylum to a number of endangered gay refugees, including Iranian Mehdi Fazemi, comes under official fire this morning. A detailed independent commission's report details a "culture of disbelief" within the branch's ranks and blasts their "oppressive," "adversarial" attitude toward asylum seekers, which prefers incarceration to freedom. [Independent]

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]

Nope, this story ain't about Iranian gay Mehdi Fazemi. The UK apparently wants to deport yet another teen, a 19-year old Syrian named Jojo Jako Yakob. Yakob claims he fled his homeland after facing anti-gay death threats, but British officials aren't convinced. He plans to appeal, of course. [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]

London's about to have an unnecessarily hungry homo on their hands. Endangered Iranian teen Mehdi will be sent back to England from the Netherlands on February 26th, according to his UK-based uncle. The United Kingdom will likely deport the 19-year old to Iran, where he may face execution. In an effort to raise public awareness and protest his impending doom, Mehdi says he"ll go on a hunger strike that will only end when his safety's been guaranteed. If you ask us, the UK's immigration officials should have enough sense to grant this kid some asylum. Unless they'd rather have him hung, thrown off a cliff or whatever it is the Iranian officials do to gay folk. [UK Gay News]

An Iranian teen didn't have a merry Christmas.

As we mentioned last week, 19-year old Mehdi has been waiting for asylum in The Netherlands, which has a policy against deporting queers back to Iran.

Unfortunately, immigration officials refused to grant Mehdi's wish because the decision would violate the Dublin Treaty, which prevents asylum seekers from applying in multiple EU nations. Mehdi had previously applied for asylum in England, which is where he's most likely headed this week. Mehdi's lawyers plan one final appeal.

The 19-year old fears the Brits will send him back to Iran without giving him a fair shot at freedom. Sending him back may result in his execution, so, if you ask us, they have no choice but to welcome him into their national fold.

A gay Iranian remains in judicial limbo this morning. 19 year-old Mehdi fled his homeland two years ago and made his way to the United Kingdom for an education. He also decided to overstay his visa.

Upon their discovery, immigration officials plotted to send Mehdi back to Iran, where he'd surely be punished for his homosexuality. Obviously intent on remaining relatively free – and alive – Mehdi made his way to The Netherlands, where he's currently waiting a judge's word on his fate:

Mehdi had his “day in court” after the Dutch authorities wanted to return him to the UK – there was no suggestion of him being returned to Iran as the Government in the Netherlands has a moratorium on returning gays to Iran.

“My main worry is that if they send me to the UK, the Home office would try to send me to Iran without any further review in my case,” he said today in an email.

The judge in the Netherlands is now considering the case. She is expected to hand down her decision early in the New Year on whether Mehdi can stay in the country or has to be returned to the UK.

Mehdi and his lawyer hope the judge allows the teen to stay in The Netherlands. The United Kingdom, they fear, could still decide to deport his ass.

Iranian Queer Organization in Toronto received this letter from a 19-year old student:

I have got very surprised, very angry of this article and I do not understand really what is point of President of Iran. If Iran do not have any homosexual then I do not understand who I am then because I am an Iranian Gay and I have so many problem back my country where is Iran because of my sexual orientation my is in danger in Iran then what is that?

My purpose of this letter is to kind of answering President Ahmadinejad and to say that I do exist as an Iranian homosexual and it does not matter where I am.

Best regards,
Mehdi

Mehdi escaped Iran for Britain, but failed to get asylum. He now lives in the Netherlands. He's become a vocal, but exiled champion for gay Iranians.