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Iran’s
gay exiles seek help in Turkey  (November
27, 08)
http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/10466609.asp?gid=244
 ISTANBUL
- Gays, lesbians and transsexuals suffer discrimination throughout the
world, but in Iran, the difficulties are compounded by the government’s
denial of their very existence.
"There are no gays in
Iran" was the statement made in New York last year by the Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad in response to a question on the
difficulties gays faced in Iran. It was met with incredulous smiles from
the American audience he was addressing, but certainly could not have been
more hurtful to the gays of his country.
Aside from negative social reactions toward people who are gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, the Islamic government of Iran
recognizes homosexual intercourse as a "crime," penalized, at worst with
the death penalty, at best a whipping.
This is why Iranian LGBTs, like many other oppressed groups, are looking
for ways to flee their home country and many use Turkey as a temporary
stop, until their asylum applications elsewhere are approved.
Arsham Parsi, an Iranian gay rights activist and founder of the
Canada-based organization
 "Iranian
Queer Railroad," tries to help asylum-seeking Iranian LGBTs during the
lengthy and often painful asylum process. As he was a refugee himself in
the past, Parsi knows personally the difficulties Iranian homosexuals
endure while trying to escape, having experienced it first hand on his own
"trip" from Iran to Canada, through Turkey.
The name of his organization is inspired from "The Underground Railroad,"
which was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses for black
slaves, who wanted to flee the southern United States in the 19th century.
"In 2001, two of my gay friends committed suicide, as their families found
out about their sexual orientation. I decided then to found an
organization for LGBTs." Parsi told Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review
at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport on Thursday, after completing a visit to
some central Anatolian provinces where most Iranian LGBT asylum seekers
are to be found.
Parsi left Iran in 2005 and came to Kayseri, in central Anatolia, after he
realized that Iranian police were looking for him because of his LGBT
activities. "Turkey and Iran do not require visas for trips between them
and transportation between the two countries is easy. We have buses
everyday and also trains and planes," Parsi said. Currently there are
around 160 Iranian LGBTs refugees throughout the world, 100 of who are in
Turkey.
One of the most significant problems faced by Iranian refugees is a
financial problem, Parsi said. These people, mainly young Iranians in
their early 20s, meet with poverty after they run away. They need money
for food, shelter and health care. Mistreatment from local residents, and
sometimes from security forces, also makes their lives difficult. "They
are beaten up for being homosexual and when they call police officers they
do not let them file a compliant," Parsi said. "When I was in Kayseri, I
was attacked and called the police. They asked me why I was outside and
told me to stay at home."
Locals and police are not gay-friendly, Parsi said. For instance, finding
a house in the city is difficult, as landlords do not rent houses to
single people. LGBTs then, try to find a gay-friendly couple and rent a
house through them. It is also difficult to find jobs if they decide to
work because they do not have a work permit. "They look for jobs like
dish-washing or waiting. They work for almost a month and are then
dismissed without being paid," Parsi said. Parsi, however, is also
grateful to the Turkish government for allowing refugees to stay in
Turkey.
The authorities settle refugees in Anatolian provinces such as Kayseri,
Isparta, Konya and Niğde, which are known as conservative cities. The
majority of LGBT Iranians stay in Kayseri, which is very conservative,
although Isparta is a little bit better because the number of university
students is high among the town’s population, Parsi said.
"I tell my fellows that Turkey is a secular country, but the people are
religious, whereas Iran has a religious government but Iranians are
secular," Parsi said, comparing the two countries.
Needing a sister organization
Parsi said there was a need for a sister organization in Turkey to
support LGBT Iranians. He is familiar with both Kaos GL and LAMBDA
Istanbul, two leading Turkish LGBT organizations. More efficient
cooperation is needed, however, to ease bureaucratic processes, increase
financial assistance to refugees and support their health care needs. "I
also considered registering an ’Iranian Queer Railroad’ in Turkey," Parsi
said. |
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