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Lesbian asylum seeker may face homophobic violence if deported to Uganda, say supporters (15 April 2014)

Date: 15/04/2014
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Lesbian asylum seeker may face homophobic violence if deported to Uganda, say supporters

The case of a lesbian asylum seeker facing deportation to Uganda is being taken up by Labour MP John Cryer.

Flora Seganne, 55, fled Uganda in 2002 after she was disowned by her family because of her sexual orientation, Pink News reports.

Ms Seganne arrived in the UK on a two-year working visa and now lives in Leyton, east London. She applied for asylum recently but was detained and is currently being held pending deportation from the UK back to Uganda.

She says her parents tried to “cure” her of being a lesbian using medication and she was forced to marry age 18. After marrying, she claims she endured “20 years of abuse” at the hands of her husband.

Ms Seganne told local newspaper the Waltham Forest Guardian that after she was caught with another girl at school, her parents began to cut her wrists and administer medicines to try and cure her of being a lesbian.

“The discrimination is terrifying,” she said.

“If they learn that you are gay, you will be imprisoned and tortured – they know my face and could easily kill me.”

Leyton MP John Cryer has said he will take up Ms Seganne’s case with Home Office officials. Ms Seganne is due to attend a meeting at the Home Office on Tuesday (15/04/14).

On Monday, Mr Cryer said:

“This morning I have liaised with her solicitor and will be making urgent representations to the Home Office about the case.

“All the merits and grounds of her case need to be considered and it is not acceptable that the Home Office are trying to fast-track deportation.”

The Home Office says it is unable to comment on individual cases, but a spokeswoman said:

“The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need it and we consider every claim for asylum on its individual merits.”

Ms Seganne’s case has also been taken up by leading gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who has written to the Home Office. Mr Tatchell said that sending Ms Seganne back to Uganda would put her at risk of homophobic violence:

“As well as threat of arrest and imprisonment, she would be in danger of violent assault by homophobic mobs – and Ugandan police mostly fail to protect LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] people from homophobic violence.”

In February, President Museveni gave his assent to Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which Amnesty International called “draconian” and “dangerous”.

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