And now for some serious business:

[gnimaerd]

The lesbian Iranian film directer, Kiana Firouz, applied to Britain for asylum because she made and starred in a film called cul-de-sac, about lesbians in Iran, which features her engaging in explicit sex acts with other women and talking about human rights abuses there. Homosexuality is illegal in Iran (punishable by 100 lashings on each offence and after three offences is punishable by execution) and the subject matter of the film means that Kiana is almost certainly facing death if she is sent back to her home country.

The British home office, in their infinite wisdom, denied her asylum, and denied her appeal (most likely because they don't want to piss off the Iranian government). She has one last appeal before she is sent back.

Quite obviously, this is a horrific situation. (You can read more about it here). But essentially, f-listies, what I need you to do is this:

Send an email to the home office (public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk) asking them to reconsider Kiana's case. I have copied and pasted my own email to them under the cut, so all you have to do is copy it, paste it into an email, and send. If the government comes under enough pressure from the public then they MIGHT consider that pissing off Iran is worth saving an actual human being from torture and death.

Dear British Home Office,

Kiana Firouz, an Iranian filmmaker, has petitioned you for asylum in Britain and been rejected. I am writing to ask you to reconsider giving her political asylum. As a lesbian rights activist, and as the maker and star of a film featuring explicit lesbian sex scenes, Firouz will almost certainly be tortured and executed by the Iranian government if she is forced to return to her country. Deporting her would mean condemning her to a terrible death, and would deal a blow to civil rights activists throughout Iran, and strike fear into the hearts of the 10% of British population who are members of a sexual minority, reliant on our government to keep us safe from the brutal homophobia that still runs rampant in many parts of the world. Please reconsider your position on her petition, save the life of this human being, and send the message that no one deserves to be punished, let alone executed, for their sexual orientation.

Sincerely,
[your name]

Please help out, f-listies! It'll only take a second!

Comments

[macey-muse.livejournal.com]

(psst~ 'desserves' -> 'deserves')

[gnimaerd.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Also, there's a new woman writer's group meeting on the 19th - Katie and Jess and me are going - are you in?

[macey-muse.livejournal.com]

argh, it'd have to be that night, wouldn't it. I've got an exam the 18th, 19th and 20th, and the 20th's a morning one - no time to pre-revise. How long / where / when will it be? how often are they on? I'd really love to go. we'll see how unprepared I am on the night, I guess - can always pull an all-nighter.

[gnimaerd.livejournal.com]

Down by the pleasance at 7PM - not sure how long. Don't do it if you're too busy! You can come to the next one or something!

[macey-muse.livejournal.com]

I'm in - hmm. Rome? or Milan? the wedesday after. should be around in June, though. a bit.

[doylefan22.livejournal.com]

That is bloody awful...and yet some of the people they do let stay in this country... *goes to write*

[dr-dischordia.livejournal.com]

Gah, beaurocracy endangering human life. What a wonderful world we live in.

Cranky email sent.

[kitcatcook.livejournal.com]

Sending...

[indes-elfwine.livejournal.com]

Done.

[spectralis.livejournal.com]

That's appalling. E-mail sent from me too.

[babydracky.livejournal.com]

This is such a shame èé

[avalons-apples.livejournal.com]

I wish I'd seen this earlier! I would've sent asn email. But I'm also very glad there is no need for me to send one anymore as I see she's already been given permission to stay. :)