Protest to mark the anniversary of the state killing of two gay teenagers in Iran

dublin | gender and sexuality | event notice Friday July 14, 2006 17:45 by Oisin O' Reilly - BeLonG To Youth Project info at belongto dot org

BeLonG To Youth Project are organising a protest to mark the first anniversary of the state murder of gay Iranian teenagers Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni.

Wednesday July 19th 2006, 5.30pm, The Central Bank, Dame Street

This protest, which will be addressed by Senator David Norris and others, is to show solidarity with LGBT young people in Iran and worldwide who experience state violence and oppression and is part of a global day of protests.

The Persian Gay and Lesbian Organisation, (PGLO) Iran’s leading gay organisation asks people worldwide to support this day of protest. Arsham Parsi, Secretary of the Human Rights Commission of the PGLO says:

“We urge cities all over the world to show solidarity with our freedom struggle. Your solidarity is tremendously important and effective.”

"We feel great pain when we see human rights advocates ignoring the evidence and failing to speak out against the torture and execution of gay people in our country.

"We know first-hand, from the violent abuse of our members and supporters, that the jailing, flogging and hanging of gay people is official state law and policy.

BeLonG To supports the following demands from the PGLO:

1. End all executions in Iran, especially the execution of minors.

2. Stop the arrest, torture and imprisonment of Iranian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and repeal the Iranian penal code's criminalisation of same-sex relationships.

3. Halt the deportation to Iran of LGBT asylum seekers and other victims of Tehran's persecution.

4. Support Iranians struggling for democracy, social justice and human rights.

Please come and bring banners and friends and demonstrate solidarity with all LGBT people who are oppressed and murdered because of who they are.