14 March 2008 :

more than 60 peers have signed a letter to the Home Secretary urging the UK Government to halt the deportation of a gay Iranian teenager who faces execution if he is returned to his homeland. Mehdi Kazemi, 19, lost his claim for asylum in Britain, even though his family has told the Home Office that his life is in danger after his former boyfriend in Iran was arrested and hanged for sodomy.
The case has now attracted worldwide attention and, last night, 63 members of the House of Lords signed a letter to Jacqui Smith calling on the Government to show compassion and to grant Mr Kazemi sanctuary in Britain.