Poor Mehdi Kazemi. The 19-year-old Iranian student was studying in Britain in 2005 and applied for asylum there after learning that his male lover in Iran had been executed for sodomy. Yes, executed. After British authorities rejected his application for asylum, he fled and applied for asylum in the Netherlands. Upholding a ruling by the Dutch government, the Council of State said Britain is responsible for his case because that’s where he first applied for asylum. Apparently European Union rules say the member state where an asylum seeker first enters the bloc is responsible for processing that person’s claim. Because of Iran’s persecution of homosexuals, the Netherlands typically relaxes its tough asylum rules when considering applications by gay Iranians — virtually guaranteeing asylum to any who apply here. However, because Kazemi had already applied for asylum in Britain and been rejected, the Dutch government refused to consider his case, insisting he return to Britain. While Britain’s Home Office doesn’t comment on individual asylum applications, Britain’s Border and Immigration Agency has issued a statement that could give Kazemi hope: “We examine with great care each individual case before removal and we will not remove anyone who we believe is at risk on their return.” Let’s hope he’s not sent back to the douchebag persecutors in Iran.

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