A York student who returned to his home country earlier this year is at risk of a jail term and possible death penalty if the authorities find out he is gay.
In Luke’s* home country, homosexuality is illegal under federal law and active homosexuality potentially punishable by death by stoning or a severe 14 year jail sentence. Furthermore, there is no legal protection for gay people, meaning that he is vulnerable to persecution and attack from others.
Speaking exclusively to Vision, Luke said: “One cannot help but worry… it’s still hard to comprehend the fact that I’m at a standstill and waking up everyday not been able to look forward to anything is a very depressing thought.”
Luke’s parents only recently discovered that he is gay, when his father read his emails and found evidence of his homosexuality Although the family were reportedly angry and upset at first, Luke says “my parents are pretty silent when it comes to anything that regards me – scary thought!”
He is also newly wary of the dangers of publicising too much of his personal life on Facebook: “I made a big naive mistake of actually putting so much of myself on there that I didn’t realize how much my parents had seen right in the comfort of their living room.”
But despite his extremely vulnerable position, Luke’s family unexpectedly took him back home soon after finding out the truth about his sexuality.
A close friend of the student told Vision that “not returning would have put Luke in a position at odds with his family.” The insider confesses that his friend was so scared about his return that he almost refused to get on the plane back to the African country, but knew he had no choice given family pressures and the requirements of his student visa.
Luke says that he had considered applying for asylum here because of the dangers he faced at home, but decided in the end that because of the “uncertainty and unrealistic thought of getting asylum,” he could not risk it.
“I found out they only handled high profile cases,” he says. “It wasn’t guaranteed and should I fail in getting asylum, I would still have to return which wouldn’t be pretty.”
Ben Humphrys, YUSU LGBT representative, has also criticised the asylum system as being “particularly opaque” and risky for LGBT people to undergo. Claiming asylum on the grounds of being gay alerts family, friends and the authorities back home of your sexuality, meaning that if you are unsuccessful in seeking asylum you are at even more risk.
Humphrys told Vision: “we are worried for Luke’s welfare and hope that he may come back to the country soon to ensure his rights and freedoms.”
Humphrys admits that there may be many other students in Luke’s situation who have “fallen below the radar.” This has prompted LGBT to run a Love Without Borders campaign, in conjunction with the NUS, next term. This aims to identify LGBT students who are at risk in their home countries because of the sexuality and keep them in Britain through the asylum process. Luke says that he defiantly intends to return to the UK when he can. He describes his experience here as an “eye-opener.”
“It has taught me to appreciate many things, what I am and what I am not. No one can take that away from me.”
With his future uncertain, Luke says he is using the opportunity to reflect on his experiences. “I am in a process of re-evaluating choices I have made in the past some of which were good and some bad… [I am trying to] find out what my purpose is and the things I want from life.”
Talking of his friends back in the UK, Luke says: “[They] really came through for me in my most vulnerable state and they really stood strong for me.” Whilst there is hope in the fact that nothing has happened to Luke so far, no doubt these friends will remain concerned until Luke is safely back in Britain.
If any of the issues discussed affect you, please don’t hesitate to contact the YUSU LGBT Officers ([email protected]) or the Academic & Welfare Officer ([email protected]).
*Luke’s name has been changed to protect his identity. We cannot name his country in case it identifies him.