Out Iranian lesbian Kiana Firouz denied asylum by UK

I mentioned this case in a What We Missed post a few weeks back, but Thea at Racialicious posted again about it and I think it deserves a longer mention. Kiana Firouz, an out lesbian from Iran living in the UK has been trying to petition for asylum.
She’s afraid to go back to Iran because of the film, Cul de Sac, which is about lesbians in Iran and focuses on her life. Trailer for the film below, it’s NSFW because of some brief nudity.

Transcript: No narration, just instrumental music.
Kiana published this letter in the blog LGBT Asylum:

I, Kiana Firouz, an Iranian Lesbian, born in 1983 in Tehran/Iran, have sought asylum in the U.K but my application was turned down by the Home Office, despite accepting the fact that I am a lesbian. I accordingly submitted my appeal which was dismissed incredibly by the adjudicator. According to my solicitor’s point of view there is a little chance to grant a permission to appeal against the adjudicator’s decision. It means that I will face with deportation soon.
Homosexuality in Iran is a sin and offence which is subject to harsh punishment. According to the Islamic law, repeatation of this offence will be punished by death. The punishment for lesbianism involving persons who are mature, of sound mind, and consenting, is 100 lashes. If the act is repeated three times and punishment is enforced each time, the death sentence will apply on the fourth occasion. (Articles 127, 129, 130 penal code)

You can support Kiana’s appeal by signing this petition.

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