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Persecuted gay Iranians welcomed in Canada
Persecuted gay Iranians welcomed in Canada
| Published: | 15 Sep at 10 AM |
Canada Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has said that he thinks the country has welcomed over 100 gay Iranian refugees since deciding to stand up for gay rights internationally in 2009.
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird spoke about a number of human rights issues in a speech in front of the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations. Among the things discussed were Canada’s attempts to fight against homosexuality being illegal in certain countries, as well as forced marriages.
Canada severed all ties with Iran last week after calling all diplomats home from Tehran and telling all Iranian diplomats in Canada to leave. Baird has now praised Kenney for his efforts to make the country a welcome destination for persecuted gay Iranians.
Kenney said part of Canada’s work involved getting roughly 800 refugees, almost all of them Iranian, out of Turkey. He explained that he hopes to increase the number of refugees they take from Turkey in order to help gay Iranian refugees as well as journalists, dissidents, Baha’is and Christians who are also at risk of persecution.
Homosexuals can face the death penalty in Iran, a factor that has led to a large number of gays and lesbians fleeing across the border to Turkey. Once in Turkey, they can make contact with the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees, which collaborates with countries such as Canada on resettlement.
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird spoke about a number of human rights issues in a speech in front of the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations. Among the things discussed were Canada’s attempts to fight against homosexuality being illegal in certain countries, as well as forced marriages.
Canada severed all ties with Iran last week after calling all diplomats home from Tehran and telling all Iranian diplomats in Canada to leave. Baird has now praised Kenney for his efforts to make the country a welcome destination for persecuted gay Iranians.
Kenney said part of Canada’s work involved getting roughly 800 refugees, almost all of them Iranian, out of Turkey. He explained that he hopes to increase the number of refugees they take from Turkey in order to help gay Iranian refugees as well as journalists, dissidents, Baha’is and Christians who are also at risk of persecution.
Homosexuals can face the death penalty in Iran, a factor that has led to a large number of gays and lesbians fleeing across the border to Turkey. Once in Turkey, they can make contact with the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees, which collaborates with countries such as Canada on resettlement.
