Edson Cosmas faced stoning, beating, imprisonment, and family disownment in his home country of Tanzania. Now, the British government wants to send him back there.
Earlier this month, Cosmas applied for asylum in the UK. If he returns to Tanzania, he would face a 30-year prison sentence just for being gay.
This is the point at which you might expect (or at least, hope) that the government would say, “oh this is a very serious matter indeed, let us investigate.”
But no. Instead, he was “seized” and placed in a “detention center,” which is a nice was of saying “arrested” and “jail.” And then, after a few days, they made their decision: no asylum, and back to Tanzania he must go.
How about we take this to the next level?
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It’s not clear why the Home Office didn’t take his application seriously. They’re required to grant asylum to gay immigrants who face persecution in their home country. Something to consider if you’re looking to relocate, Floridians!
Cosmas’ next hearing is tomorrow, the 24th.
David Gervais
Canada has similar problems with our immigration and refugee system as well. The front line decisions are made by bureaucrats with little special training. As the process moves into the hearing and then, if needed, the appeal stage, the qualifications of the decision makers gets better and the decisions get better.
Nevertheless, he needs a lawyer (barrister in UK, I think) to help with the process.
paulcanning
We have more background on why asylum was denied here http://madikazemi.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-one-gay-tanzanians-asylum-rejection.html
Giselle
I was going to ask if there is a petition, but the madikazemi link Paul Canning’s comment provided does have a link to it! Thank you.
alan brickman
stop this!!