A gay man from Bangladesh is facing potential deportation after his asylum application was denied by the UK Home Office, with a judge questioning his sexual orientation, according to a report.
Monsur Ahmed Chowdhury fled his South Asia country in 2009 to escape persecution due to his sexuality, fearing violence and death if he were to set foot there again, Metro reported.
"I couldn't live openly as a gay man there – if anyone found out, my life would be in danger. While in Bangladesh, no one knew about my sexuality. It wasn't until I left and became active on social media that people became aware," Chowdhury told the outlet.
After many years of undergoing the asylum process, his application was rejected in 2018. The reason being that the judge believed Chowdhury was not genuinely gay and was only pretending.
"I conclude that the Appellant is not truly gay, but he is trying to pass himself off as gay," the judge said in a letter.
The judge sought proof of his sexuality and asked why Chowdhury did not bring someone to "corroborate, in an important particular, how the Appellant has behaved as someone who is gay."
The judge also did not see any evidence of an "emotional journey" as Chowdhury failed to present a detailed list of their same-sex partner's hobbies.
Chowdhury is currently living in London and has appealed the Home Office's decision to deny his asylum application. Despite providing substantial evidence of his sexual identity, such as attending LGBTQ+ events and letters of support, the Home Office remains unconvinced.
"If I were sent back to Bangladesh now, my life would be at serious risk. Since my sexuality is now publicly known due to my social media presence and activities, I could face violence or even be killed if I returned," Chowdhury said.
As he awaits the outcome of the appeal, Chowdhury is at risk of being forcibly returned to Bangladesh.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
