Dear friends,
Being gay is illegal in Afghanistan, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Many gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Afghans have fled abuse, prosecution, and death threats.
Those who have found safety in the United Kingdom are now facing a new threat: the UK Home Office says gay asylum seekers can be deported back to Afghanistan.
Their advice: "Just pretend you're straight."
If immigration authorities follow this guidance, LGBT people will be sent back to danger. We need to speak up NOW and tell the Home Office to withdraw this absurd policy and keep gay asylum seekers safe.
It's not like the British government doesn't know how dangerous life is for LGBT Afghans. The Home Office's document lays out threats from families, Afghan laws, and Taliban insurgents who consider homosexuality a crime punishable by death.
But this is apparently not dangerous enough. The UK immigration office's January 2017 guidelines actually state, "it may be a safe and viable option for a gay man to relocate to Kabul" as long as they don't "attract or seek to cause public outrage."
If UK authorities follow these reckless guidelines, LGBT asylum seekers will be sent back to an uncertain future in Afghanistan. We need to speak out and urge the Home Office to take back the rules and keep LGBT refugees safe.
Thanks for going All Out,
Matt, Pamela, Mathias, Sarah, and the rest of the All Out team.
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