GAY HOMELAND FOUNDATION
Viktor Zimmermann
Speech during the vigil on 19 July 2007
COLOGNE, 19 July 2007
Commemorate the gay and lesbian victims of the Ayatollah regime in Iran
On 19 July 2005 in the Iranian city Mashhad two teenagers were executed. According to the reports, they were accused of theft, consumption of alcohol and sexual actions with a 13-year-old boy. Local sources reported that Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni were primarily accused of homosexuality, and official accusations were put forward only later for purposes of justification of the judgement.
In any case:
In the past 28 years since the Islamic revolution in Iran, several thousands Gays and Lesbians have been executed. The execution methods reach from hanging at a crane to stoning.
Iranian law prescribes the death penalty for homosexual actions. However, the evidence of four witnesses is required, which cannot be furnished in reality. Therefore, in Iran regularly various criminal offences are put forward, in order to justify a death penalty against homosexuals. Regularly, „ rape“ is the stated reason, in order to discredit the victims. The Iranian authorities speculate on the fact that the public will not stand up for „murderers and rapists“.
On this 19 July, we would like to commemorate all those thousands of Gay and Lesbian victims of the Ayatollah regime. Not all of them were perfect, but all of them have in common that they did not deserve such a barbarian punishment. We want to remember that many Lesbians and Gays cannot lead their life freely.
In Iran of our days, Gay men are entrapped over Internet, arrested by death squads, tortured and murdered. Many commit suicide or subject themselves to unnecessary gender changing surgeries. Lesbians are discriminated against as women and are not allowed to do lead a self-determined life anyway. They must count on punishments of up to 100 whip blows, or face the death penalty if repeatedly indicted.
Iran must terminate the persecution of homosexuals. Those who in the year 2007 punish human beings because of their sexuality with death have left the family of the civilized mankind. The western countries can and must exercise economical and political pressure on Iran, in order to terminate persecution of homosexuals. Sanctions must be imposed against Iran, until the executions have ceased.
We call on the international community to immediately stop deportations of Gay and Lesbian refugees to Iran and to other persecuting states. If the international community is not willing to take care of Gay and Lesbian refugees, it should to consider the establishment of a self-administered territory for the Gay and Lesbian people.
We shall remember that in this age of Gay pride parades and pool parties, a
large part of Gays and Lesbians vegetate in a state of fear of death,
deprivation of any human dignity, and subject to the will of the enemy. Let each
of us consider this day whether we as a community are doing enough to protect
our brethren from persecution.