Shahanur Islam
It is known from various unsupported sources that the number of asylum applications from Bangladeshi citizens has increased alarmingly in various European countries, including France, because they are members of the homosexual community and have fled the country to escape state discrimination, oppression, and torture by family, neighbors, and society leaders.
Although many of the Bangladeshi asylum seekers claiming homosexuality have been persecuted in Bangladesh because of their sexual orientation, it is believed that the number of fraudulent asylum applications among the applicants who are not actually homosexual but who have applied for asylum claiming to be homosexual is not less.
Although many receive asylum by fraudulently claiming to be gay in order to secure asylum, such fraudulent events undermine the credibility of genuine gay asylum seekers in the asylum system. As a result, homosexuals who are victims of actual persecution are often denied asylum.
However, it is undeniable that gay people in Bangladesh face massive discrimination, violence, oppression, social exclusion, harassment, even imprisonment, or death threats in a hostile environment just because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and receiving asylum is worth a new life for them.
Despite the specific fears and risks faced in recent times, there are reports that many Bangladeshi gay asylum seekers have been rejected without due diligence in European Union countries, including France.
This is believed to be due to procedural flaws in the asylum process, such as a lack of proper understanding of the problems of the Bangladeshi gay community and not giving sufficient time and attention to the proper assessment of their claims.
While it is important to crack down on fraudulent asylum applications claiming to be homosexual, care must be taken to ensure that such measures do not negatively affect the access to asylum of genuine homosexual asylum seekers who are persecuted.
Therefore, EU countries, including France, must maintain a balance between the humanitarian responsibility to protect the accuracy of the asylum system and the protection of actual victims.
Asylum review officers and judges, therefore, need extensive training on the nuances of homosexuality, cultural sensitivity, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
In addition, arrangements should be made to ensure that gay asylum seekers can easily access and access services that work with gay people, including legal representation, language support, psychological counseling.
In addition, effective measures to promote coordination and information-sharing with international, regional, national, and local organizations and human rights groups working on gay rights so that decisions made on homosexual asylum application cases are based on accurate and up-to-date information to be accepted.
Finally, just as it is essential to address cases of abuse and fraud in the asylum system, it is equally important to protect the rights and dignity of genuine gay asylum seekers who are persecuted.
European Union countries, including France, must maintain their commitment to fairness, integrity, and human rights by treating asylum applications based on sexual orientation and gender identity with the utmost care and compassion.
Only on the basis of that commitment can European Union countries, including France, uphold their status as human rights champions by providing asylum to Bangladeshi gay citizens fleeing persecution to fulfill their moral and legal obligations.
Author: Bangladeshi lawyer living in Paris, France; received advanced training in international refugee law; Founding President, Justicemakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF); Mobile: +330783952315; Email: saikotbihr@gmail.com; Blog: www.shahanur.blogspot.com
============================================================ Advocate Shahanur Islam | An Young, Ascendant, Dedicated Human Rights Defender, Lawyer and Blogger from Bangladesh, Fighting for Ensuring Human Rights, Rule of Law, Good Governance, Peace and Social Justice For the Victim of Torture, Extra Judicial Killing, Force Disappearance, Trafficking in Persons including Ethnic, Religious, Sexual and Social Minority People.
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