So 19 year old Mehdi Kazemi is an Iranian seeking asylum since his country systematically executes homosexual. His ex-boyfriend was a victim of this very practice.

Please get the word out on this. More attention could potentially save his life, and set precedence for future asylum seekers.

Mehdi Kazemi is a gay teenager from Iran. He sought sanctuary in Britain after his boyfriend was hanged for homosexuality. (The Independent, UK; see also Gay City News.)

In 2004, Kazemi's family sent him from Iran to London to study English. Kazemi left behind a boyfriend, Parham. They had begun dating at the age of fifteen, and became intimate some eight months later. Kazemi and Parham kept in touch through e-mail, but then Parham's e-mailing abruptly stopped. In March 2006, Kazemi learned that Parham had been arrested by the Iranian authorities and mentioned Kazemi's name. In April 2006, Kazemi learned that Parham had been executed.

Homosexuality remains a capital crime in Iran.

Kazemi sought asylum in the UK, but in late 2007 was refused. Desperate, he fled to Holland. The UK now is demanding that the Dutch government extradite Kazemi to the UK so that it can deport him to Iran.

An online petition for Mehdi Kazemi by Gay Asylum UK can be signed here.