Iran Executes Man For "Homosexual Act"

The gay witch hunt continues unabated in Iran.

On October 6, 2009, Rahim Mohammadi was executed in Tabriz, a city in northwest Iran, after being convicted of sexual abuse and rape during sexual relations between males (a homosexual act called Lavat). According to Rahim’s lawyer (here), Mr. Mohammad Mostafayi, there was not enough evidence presented to the court to prove such accusations; the court nevertheless decided that once a person is convicted of Lavat, he must be executed. Mostafayi, who had not been informed of the court’s decision once it was handed down - and was only contacted after his client Rahim had been executed - wrote a letter of further explanation to the authorities.

The above-linked story from the Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees notes that many European countries continue to deny asylum to gay Iranians, saying there are "no life-threatening risks in their cases."