Andrea SannaRelevant ECHR ruling
A recent ECHR ruling has saved an Iranian gay refugee from deportation from Switzerland.
The ruling highlights serious human rights violations for LGBTQIA citizens in Iran and the importance of protecting the fundamental rights of asylum seekers.
The 34-year-old Iranian man applied for asylum in Switzerland in 2019, after being insulted and beaten by his own family for being gay. The Swiss authorities initially rejected his application, arguing that he could live discreetly in Iran to avoid persecution.
The ECHR contested this interpretation, pointing out that the socio-political context in Iran made it impossible for a gay citizen to live safely and freely. The ECHR also awarded the applicant the sum of 6,562 Swiss francs for legal costs incurred.
This case is a clear call to the Swiss government to review and adapt its expulsion policy to ensure greater protection and respect for the human rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation.
The judgment of the Court of Human Rights is an important step in the fight for the rights of LGBTQIA people and a strong signal against the discrimination and brutality that these people face in many parts of the world.
