Gay asylum seekers win appeal to stay

[oldironside]

"The Supreme Court allowed appeals today by two gay asylum seekers who faced persecution if returned home.

Both men had been refused asylum in the UK on the grounds that they could avoid ill-treatment by keeping their sexuality secret or behaving discreetly.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: "I welcome the ruling of the Supreme Court, which vindicates the position of the coalition Government."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/gay-asylum-seekers-win-appeal-to-stay-2020354.html

A sign of how far British society has come in the last 20 years. I never thought I'd see a Tory Home Secretary...

[LeftishBrit]

1. Phew! Very good news.

[T_i_B]

2. Ah, but some things never change.

Notably the Diana Express and Daily Fail acting like complete and utter f**kwits over this issue.

http://twitpic.com/23en1s

[dipsydoodle]

3. I'm really pleased for them

but that don't change the fact there is some spoofing with "couples" pretending to be gay to get one of them into the country.

[tjwmason]

4. Where is the evidence for this 'fact'

I don't deny it may be true, but if we're to live in world of facts it's helpful if they are substantiated...particularly when we're talking about potentially sending people to a country where they will be killed for activities which are legal here.

[dipsydoodle]

5. Goes back to a couple of years ago

to where a solicitor, in Essex from memory , was running a scam. It was found that the incoming partner actually spoke no english whatsoever and there were doubts that the two guys concerned had ever communicated with each other at all.

Not the case I mentioned but a similar incident : http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20030202/ai_n12859954/

And associated : http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article391144.ece That was also the subject of a TV documentary.

Scammers have an adverse affect on genuine cases.

[LeftishBrit]

6. Any compassionate provision or programme CAN attract scammers...

but that doesn't mean we should avoid showing compassion to avoid the possibility of scams.

Of course, it's important to check on the genuineness of any application; but it's better that a few illegal immigrants cheat the system, than that people get sent back to a country where they could be killed for being gay. Just as it is better that a few people scam the benefits system, than that poor people should starve for lack of benefits.