The British Ambassador in Rome promises:
“We will not deport Pegah if the woman runs a risk in Iran”

In a letter addressed to Roberto Malini of the EveryOne Group, the
Italian British Embassy manifests quite clearly a commitment
towards Pegah Emambakhsh, the Iranian lesbian woman who took refuge
in the United Kingdom in order to avoid the torture and the capital
punishment that await her if she were to be repatriated.

“The United Kingdom repatriates only those who do not need
international protection, those who can return to their Country of origin
without a risk to their life,” writes the Ambassador, who took up his
appointment in Italy last year. It is a solemn commitment, but
will the British Government honour it?

Unfortunately the case records would leave us to doubt it. The
impression we get is that it is an attempt to demonstrate the absurdity
of the situation, that is, that Pegah will not endure any form of persecution
in Ahmadinejad’s Iran and the ruthless Islamic courts.

We must remember that Edward Chaplin is very familiar with the lack of
laws that protect human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, seeing he is
an important expert in Middle Eastern culture and politics, and also
because the stages of his brilliant career have taken him many times to
the Middle East to take up appointments of great responsibility.

In 1981 Edward Chaplin was sent as desk officer for Lebanon,
Israel and the Occupied Territories and in 1985 was assigned to Tehran as
Head of the Political Section. On returning to London in 1996, he became
Head of the FCO’s Middle East Department, during a period dominated by the
international community’s dealings with Iraq and Iran.

Then, in 2000, he was appointed Ambassador to the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan. He was recalled in 2002 to serve as FCO’s
Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
In 2004, after the demise of Saddam Hussein’s regime, Mr. Chaplin
was appointed British Ambassador to Iraq, re-establishing the new
Embassy after an interruption in relations between the two countries
lasting 13 years.

For the EveryOne Group: Roberto Malini and Matteo Pegoraro


EveryOne Group
 roberto.malini@annesdoor.com
t: 0039-338-706-3972
 matteo.pegoraro@infinito.it
t: 0039-334-842-9527



The text of the letter of the British Embassy:

Dear Mr. Roberto Malini,
Dear Mr Malini,

Thank you for your comments.

All applications for asylum are carefully considered by trained
caseworkers based on up-to-date information, taking
all the circumstances of the application in account.

We only repatriate those who the asylum decision making and independent
appeals processes have found I give not need international protection
and who can therefore return safely. We consider it reasonable to
expect an individual in that position to return to their source
country, and if they I give not depart voluntarily we may enforce
their return in two course.

It is an important part of ensuring an effective and fair asylum
system that those found not to be in need of international protection
are removed from the UK. We before examine with great beloveds each
individual houses removal and we will not remove anyone who we
believe is at risk on their return.

Regards,

British Embassy
Press and Public Affairs Section