Three Ugandan lesbians to be deported from Denmark
Three Ugandan lesbians are to be deported from Denmark after having asylum request denied.
Authorities said they found inconsistencies in the women’s accounts, but gay rights groups have criticised the decision saying sexual orientation should qualify them for asylum.
The women have already appealed once, and have a final chance to appeal the court’s decision.
If unsuccessful they will be deported on 2 August.
The three women are being held in a detention centre authorities have confirmed.
According to LGBT Asylum, the women should be released, given the issues faced by LGBT people in Uganda.
“Homosexuals risk persecution from other civilians, their families and clan members as well as blackmail and assault. Homosexuals cannot expect police protection if they are attacked, threatened or killed,” said spokeswoman Hanne Gyberg.
This is the first time since the group was set up that a deportation has taken place.
“We believe that the decisions in their asylum cases were made based upon an incorrect foundation. Their sexuality was not considered in the rejections [and] we believe the Danish authorities should look at the cases again,” Gyberg added.
A lawyer acting for one of the women has asked the Danish Refugee Appeals Board to appeal for her.
“My client has been active with LGBT Asylum. Some of those things have been shown online and are known in Uganda, so it would be very terrible for her to go back. It always is for homosexuals, because Uganda has very strict laws,” her lawyer, Jytte Lindegaard, added.
A spokesman for the Danish Liberal Party has not commented specifically on this case, but told the Local that in such cases, people should not be deported, especially if they face persecution.
“In general, we should from the Danish side of course live up to the rules, including when people are considered to be persecuted in their home countries because of religion, sexuality or something else. Then we have a special obligation to protect them,” spokesman Jacob Jensen said.
