Pegah Emambakhsh

Pegah Emambakhsh is a 40-year-old Iranian lesbian. She became a refugee in the United Kingdom in 2005 to escape Iranian prosecution against homosexuality, after her partner was arrested, tortured, and sentenced to death by stoning. [ [http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/08/379484.html UK Indymedia - Pegah Emambakhsh Must Stay ] ] [http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-5234.html Iranian lesbian deportation delayed- from Pink News- all the latest gay news from the gay community - Pink News ] ] [ [http://www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/07/Aug/1601.htm Gay Iranian Woman Gets ‘Eleventh-Hour Stay’ On UK Deportation Order ] ] At first, her asylum demand was refused by the UK government. Emambakhsh was arrested on 13 August 2007 by the UK authorities in Sheffield. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,,2155893,00.html Italy asks Britain not to deport Iranian lesbian | UK news | guardian.co.uk ] ] Her deportation to Teheran was planned for the 28 August. After a campaign and a protest involving several homosexual and human rights organizations like Amnesty International, Emambakhsh was freed on September 11 and is now a refugee awaiting asylum. [ [http://de.indymedia.org/2007/09/194152.shtml de.indymedia.org | Pegah Emambakhsh is free! ] ]

On 7 March 2008 it was reported [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/now-iranian-lesbian-who-fled-to-britain-faces-deportation-792819.html Now Iranian lesbian who fled to Britain faces deportation - Home News, UK - The Independent ] ] that Pegah Emambakhsh may be deported to Iran after losing the latest round in her battle to be granted asylum. If this happens then she faces a possible death penalty, on the grounds of her sexual orientation.

Pegah is also mother of two children. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/story/2008/03/080308_me_gay_iranian_asylum.shtml British government under pressure to protect the Iranian Lesbian | BBC Persian] ]

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