The Refugee Decisions That Have Catholics Bemused

Wednesday, 7 February 2007, 3:50 pm
Article: Kevin List

The Refugee Decisions That Have Catholics Bemused

In the last few days the case of an Iranian granted refugee status due to his sexual orientation has been in the news. This has caused some consternation among champions of another Iranian seeking refugee status in New Zealand Thomas Yadegary.

Mr Yadegary was denied refugee status in 2004 despite the NZ authorities conceding that those who converted to Christianity (namely Catholicism in Mr Yadegary's case) were in danger of persecution. Mr Yadegray has been held in a New Zealand jail for the last two years as he is unwilling to sign papers that would allow New Zealand to repatriate him to Iran.

The case regarding Christianity was heard before Refugee Appeals Authority members D J Plunkett (Chair) and A N Molloy (Member). The case regarding sexual orientation was heard before Refugee Appeals Authority members E M Aitken Chair) and RJ Towle (Member). E M Aitken was also one of the three members of the RSAA that found former Algerian politician Ahmed Zaoui to be a refugee.

Below are the two decisions by the New Zealand Refugee Appeals Authority. One allowing an Iranian who had who was allowed to stay in New Zealand because of fears he would be persecuted for his sexual orientation and the other conceding that an Iranian who converted to Christianity.

ENDS

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