FIONA HALL INTERVENES IN ASYLUM CASE

12.00.00am GMT Thu 6th Mar 2008

Fiona Hall has signed a letter to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in support of Medhi Kazemi. Medhi is a 19 year old homosexual from Iran who fled the UK after the Government refused him asylum.

Fearing deportation back to Iran, where he would likely be detained, tortured or killed for his homosexuality, Mr Kazemi fled to the Netherlands, which is currently reviewing his application for asylum there.

Commenting on the case, which has attracted widespread support, Fiona Hall said:

"There are European and international human rights laws that should prevent the deportation of individuals back to countries where they are likely to suffer harm or be killed. There is great concern in this instance due to the initial refusal of the UK Government to grant Medhi asylum.

"I have co-signed a letter to the President of the European Parliament, the EU Commissioner for Justice, Franco Frattini, and a number of EU prime ministers, calling on a common European solution to allow Medhi Kazemi to remain within the EU under asylum or international protection status.

"It is not acceptable that this man be allowed to be deported. The EU is globally respected for upholding ideals of tolerance and freedom and I will do all I can to ensure that Mr Kazemi not be deported."