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Gay asylum seeker Biplob Hossain has garnered strong support after an SX story on his plight (SX #376) was picked up by activists, charity groups and international media outlets.
Hossain, 25, is seeking refuge from his home country of Bangladesh, where homosexuality is punished by life imprisonment and anti-gay violence runs rife.
After being rejected by the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT), Hossain’s last hope is Federal Immigration Minister, Senator Chris Evans, who has powers to intervene with his case.
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, of London-based activist group OutRage!, urged Senator Evans to show compassion, after learning of Hossain’s plight via SX.
“I support Biplob’s bid for refugee status,” he said. “I appeal to the Immigration Minister to show compassion and mercy, by granting Biplob asylum.”
International attention for Hossain’s plight included articles in PinkNews.co.uk, Gay News Germany, and US blog Queerty.com.
Support for Hossain extended to charity organisation St Vincent de Paul, which paid overdue rent he owed to the Housing Department, who has waived his eviction notice.
However, the charity payment is a one-off and Hossain faces difficulties with future rent instalments. He is on a Bridging E Visa, which bans him from working and prohibits access to Centrelink and Medicare.
Meanwhile, Federal Member for Sydney, Tanya Plibersek, has taken an interest in Hossain’s case, with a member of her staff meeting him last Friday.
In a statement released to SX, Plibersek said: “My strong belief is that no-one should suffer persecution on the basis of religion, race, sexuality or political belief and that if proven, any of these should be a legitimate basis for asylum in Australia.”
However, she would not commit to raising Hossain’s case in parliament, or with the Immigration Minister.
While the widespread attention on the case puts some pressure on the government, Hossain still faces the prospect of imminent deportation.
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