Immigration Minister should exercise discretionary powers in Hossein case
20 April 2007
The Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) has called on Federal Immigration Minister Chris Evans to exercise his discretionary powers under the Immigration Act to grant a substantive visa to a gay man fearful of persecution if returned to his homeland of Bangladesh.
The man, Biplob Hossain, has spent the last six years in Australia, three of them in immigration detention. Since October 2006, the man has been free from detention but not allowed to work nor receive social security payments. This has left Mr Hossein without any form of income to live.
ACE spokesperson Rod Swift says the plight of Mr Hossain is intolerable, and the minister must act immediately.
"The Minister for Immigration can act now to provide a substantive visa for Mr Hossain which would allow him refugee status and the ability to start building his life in Australia," Mr Swift said.
"If the Minister cannot make an immediate decision on refugee status, then he should move to allow Mr Hossain the ability to work so that he is not left destitute."
Mr Swift said that as a signatory to the UN Convention on Refugees, the Federal Government had a responsibility to protect refugees fleeing persecution from their homelands on the basis of sexual orientation.
"Australia has accepted refugees on the basis of sexual orientation in the past when they have well-founded fears of persecution. It should do so again immediately in Mr Hossain's case."
Gay and lesbian Bangladeshis often face persecution through national law and community vigilante action.
