PRINTER'S NO. 3583
No. 706 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY JOSEPHS, BENNINGTON, FRANKEL, YOUNGBLOOD, LEACH, THOMAS, SIPTROTH AND MURT, APRIL 8, 2008
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, APRIL 8, 2008
A RESOLUTION 1 Opposing the deportation of Mehdi Kazemi. 2 WHEREAS, Mehdi Kazemi, a 19-year-old Iranian, faces 3 imprisonment, torture and execution in his homeland for 4 homosexuality; and 5 WHEREAS, A former boyfriend, executed in Tehran in 2006, had 6 reported Mr. Kazemi's name to Iranian authorities; and 7 WHEREAS, Mr. Kazemi applied for asylum in the United Kingdom, 8 where he was a student; and 9 WHEREAS, British authorities initially denied Mr. Kazemi's 10 asylum request, citing lack of proof of Iranian persecution of 11 homosexuals; and 12 WHEREAS, The European Union allows only one asylum 13 application, in one European country, per person; and 14 WHEREAS, Mr. Kazemi has fled to the Netherlands; and 15 WHEREAS, United Kingdom Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is 16 reviewing the deportation of Mr. Kazemi; therefore be it 17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
1 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania oppose the deportation of Mehdi 2 Kazemi; and be it further 3 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to 4 United Kingdom Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. C27L82SFL/20080H0706R3583 - 2 -