Britain Refuses Lesbian Iranian Filmmaker’s Asylum Request
Iranian filmmaker, LGBTQ activist and actress Kiana Firouz is facing what could well be a not-so-warm welcome home now that the British government has reportedly rejected her request for asylum after Firouz was driven to flee her native country and seek safety in the UK.
Coilhouse has more on Firouz’s story and the petition to help her cause. –KA
Wait, before you go…Coilhouse:
Kiana Firouz, 27 years old, is an outspoken Iranian LGBT rights activist, filmmaker, and actress. When clips of her video documentary work featuring the struggle and persecution of gays and lesbians in her country were acquired by Iranian intelligence, agents began to follow Firouz around Tehran, harassing and intimidating her. She fled for England where she could safely continue her work and studies.
She plays a starring role in Cul de Sac, a documentary film produced in the UK about the condition of lesbians in Iran, and based heavily on Firouz’s own life story. Directed by Ramin Goudarzi-Nejad and Mahshad Torkan, the movie will premiere in London in a few days. Since the trailer was posted on YouTube in December 2009, Cul de Sac has attracted global media attention, with thousands of views. Apparently, some of those views included members of Ahmadinejad’s puppet media in Iran.
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