Fears for gay refugees under 'swap deal'

[w8liftinglady]

http://sxnews.gaynewsnetwork.com.au/news/fears-for-gay-refugees-under-swap-deal-009061.html

With the proposed asylum seeker swap between Australian and Malaysia due to begin shortly, the Greens and gay and lesbian rights groups have voiced their alarm and concern that refugees who happen to identify as LGBTI may face significant discrimination and persecution once transferred.
The calls intensified after Malaysia – along with Russia and Uganda – was one of only 19 nations to have voted against a recently passed UN resolution promoting gender and sexuality rights

Gay sex is illegal in Malaysia and homosexuals face discrimination from government policies, such as a law that makes sodomy punishable by 20 years in prison.

Earlier this year, the BBC also reported how education officials in the conservative Malay state of Terengganu compelled over 60 boys identified as ‘effeminate’ to attend special religious and physical camps for counselling on masculine behaviour.

Senthorun Raj, from the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, told SX that sexual and gender minorities in Malaysia not only lack recognition, but also experience considerable and serious maltreatment.

“It is extremely concerning that Australia is proposing to 'swap' asylum seekers with a country that is not a signatory to the Refugee Convention.

“If the proposed asylum swap takes place, LGBTI asylum seekers may be caught in an absurd situation where they are held for 'processing' by a Government that not only refuses to recognise their status as refugees, but also persecutes them on the basis of their sex, sexuality or gender diversity,” Raj said.