October 20th 2024.
Monsur Ahmed Chowdhury, a 38-year-old man from Bangladesh, recently had his asylum claim rejected in June. Monsur is a gay man who fled his home country to escape persecution for his sexuality. He came to Britain in 2009 as a student, but never felt safe enough to openly express his true self in his native country. He has been in the process of seeking asylum for years, but unfortunately, his latest application was denied after a judge accused him of trying to deceive the court by pretending to be gay.
The judge, who presided over the First-Tier Tribunal, stated in a letter that Monsur was not a genuine gay man and that he was simply "trying to pass" as one. The judge also questioned why Monsur did not have anyone to support his claim of being gay and dismissed the evidence provided by his two witnesses. Despite Monsur's attendance at LGBTQ+ events and clubs, as well as his submission of text messages and receipts to prove his sexuality, the judge deemed it all as "manufacturing and posturing" and concluded that it undermined Monsur's credibility.
Being gay is not accepted in Bangladesh, where same-sex relationships are illegal. Monsur, who is currently living in London, explains that life in his home country was extremely stressful and scary for him. He had to hide his true self and feared for his safety if anyone were to find out about his sexuality. It wasn't until he left Bangladesh and became active on social media that people became aware of his sexuality.
Returning to Bangladesh, where LGBTQ+ rights are virtually non-existent, is not an option for Monsur. He could face violence or even death because his sexuality is now publicly known. Despite his fears and evidence, the Home Office rejected his asylum claim in June, basing their decision on the 2018 ruling. Now, Monsur is waiting for the outcome of an appeal, which could determine whether he will be forced to return to Bangladesh or not.
Monsur's case is not unique. Many LGBTQ+ individuals seeking asylum in the UK face a "culture of disbelief" in the Home Office. They have to convince officials they've never met that they are who they claim to be. In 2022, only 2% of asylum claims in the UK included sexual orientation as part of the basis for their claim. To be granted refugee status, claimants must provide a credible "fear of persecution."
However, LGBTQ+ asylum seekers often face intrusive and inappropriate questions during their interviews. Inspectors have found that some interviewers ask questions about sexual acts and demand proof of their sexuality. Caseworkers have also been known to disbelieve applicants for not conforming to expected stereotypes or not having an "emotional journey" of self-realization. This skepticism and lack of understanding put LGBTQ+ individuals at risk of being deported to countries where they could face violence and persecution for their sexuality.
Monsur's first asylum claim was made in 2017, after years of struggling to extend his student visa. He explained to immigration officials that returning to Bangladesh would violate his human rights, as he suffers from depression and anxiety and has had suicidal thoughts. In Bangladesh, same-sex sexual activity is punishable by imprisonment, and LGBTQ+ individuals face discrimination, censorship, and lack of legal protection.
Despite all of this, the Home Office has dismissed Monsur's claim and stated that he does not qualify for refugee status. They do not believe that he has a well-founded fear of persecution and claim that the healthcare system in Bangladesh would be able to support him if his mental health declined upon his return. Monsur's future remains uncertain as he awaits the outcome of his appeal, hoping to be granted asylum and able to live openly and safely as a gay man in the UK.
Monsur Ahmed Chowdhury's recent asylum claim was turned down in June. He had fled from Bangladesh, his home country, to escape persecution due to his sexual orientation. Despite his efforts to seek refuge in the UK, a judge rejected his application, claiming that he was pretending to be gay.
At the age of 38, Monsur came to Britain as a student in 2009, leaving behind the city of Sylhet in northeastern Bangladesh. He had never felt safe enough to openly express his true self in his home country. After numerous attempts to obtain asylum and presenting evidence to support his case, Monsur's application was denied by a judge in March 2018. The judge did not believe that Monsur was truly gay and accused him of trying to deceive the court.
In a letter obtained by Metro, the judge stated that Monsur's behavior did not align with that of a gay man and questioned why he did not bring someone to testify on his behalf. Even the evidence presented by Monsur's two witnesses was deemed insufficient. The judge described being gay as a "lifestyle" and pointed out the lack of documentation to prove Monsur's identity as a gay man.
It is worth noting that same-sex relationships are illegal in Bangladesh. The fact that Monsur attended LGBTQ+ Pride events and visited gay clubs did not seem to convince the judge. In addition, a photo of Monsur looking at same-sex pornography was dismissed as staged.
The judge's ruling had a significant impact on Monsur's life. He reapplied for asylum with the Home Office, but his claim was rejected in June, based on the previous ruling. Now, Monsur is in limbo, waiting for the outcome of an appeal that could ultimately force him to return to Bangladesh.
For Monsur, openly expressing his sexuality was never an option in his home country. He spent decades hiding his true identity, fearing for his safety. "Life in Bangladesh was very stressful and scary for me, especially because of my sexuality," he tells Metro. "I couldn't live openly as a gay man there. If anyone found out, my life would be in danger. Even when I was in Bangladesh, I kept my sexuality a secret. It was only when I started using social media that people became aware of it."
Returning to Bangladesh, a conservative country where being gay is outlawed, is not an option for Monsur. He has submitted various forms of evidence, including text messages and receipts, to prove his identity as a gay man. "LGBTQ+ rights in Bangladesh are virtually non-existent," says Monsur, who is currently living in London. "If I were sent back, my life would be in serious danger. With my sexuality now publicly known, I could face violence or even death."
Sadly, Monsur's experience is not unique. LGBTQ+ individuals seeking asylum in the UK often face a "culture of disbelief" within the Home Office. They are required to convince strangers of their identity, and any deviation from expected stereotypes can result in their application being rejected.
According to statistics, only 2% of asylum claims in the UK in 2022 included sexual orientation as part of the basis for the claim. In order to be granted refugee status, claimants must provide a credible "fear of persecution." This often involves giving oral testimony to a Home Office official. However, inspections have revealed that some interviewers ask intrusive and inappropriate questions, making it even more difficult for LGBTQ+ individuals to prove their identity.
Research has also shown that caseworkers often disbelieve LGBTQ+ individuals seeking asylum. They may reject their claims on the basis that they do not conform to expected stereotypes or have not had a specific "emotional journey" or "self-realization" about their sexuality or gender identity.
Monsur first applied for asylum in 2017 after struggling to extend his Tier-4 student visa. He told immigration officials that he would be persecuted if he returned to Bangladesh, which would violate the European Convention on Human Rights. He also suffers from depression and anxiety and has had suicidal thoughts at times.
In Bangladesh, same-sex sexual activity is punishable by imprisonment, and the authorities use colonial-era laws to arrest and harass LGBTQ+ individuals. The country does not have marriage equality or anti-discrimination laws, and the majority of the population does not support LGBTQ+ rights.
Despite all of this, the Home Office decision-maker in Monsur's case stated that he did not qualify for refugee status. They claimed that there was no evidence to suggest that Monsur would face persecution in Bangladesh and that the country's healthcare system would be able to support him if his mental health declined upon deportation.
Monsur's story is a reminder of the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals seeking asylum, particularly in a system that often fails to understand and recognize their identities.
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