Source: AKI - Adnkronos
Rome, 25 Feb.(AKI) - Human rights groups scheduled a protest in front of the British Embassy in Rome on Monday, aimed at drawing attention to the plight of a 19-year old Iranian gay man.

Seyed Mehdi Kazemi is scheduled to be deported back to his native Iran where he faces the death penalty on account of his sexual orientation.

Kazemi reportedly left Tehran in 2005 to study in London and was pressured to apply for asylum in Britain after the alleged discovery by Iranian authorities of his homosexual relationship with another man, known as 'Parvat' who was sentenced to death and executed in Iran, on April 2006.

"Sentenced to death for his homosexuality. We must stop the umpteenth violation of a refugee's rights by the Brown government," said campaign group EveryOne, after Kazemi's application for asylum was turned down.

According to a report by EveryOne, Kazemi later fled in secret from England, intending to take refuge in Canada, but he was blocked by German border police. After hearing his story, he was sent to The Netherlands and again handed over to the police.

However, the United Kingdom has now sent a formal request to The Netherlands asking for Kazemi's return to Britain, in order to proceed with his deportation to Iran.
The protest was organised by EveryOne, anti-death penalty organisation Nessuno Tocchi Caino and the Italy's Radical Party.

Full article: AKI - Adnkronos international Italy: Protests in Rome against the deportation of gay Iranian refugee