EU court bans ‘gay tests’ for asylum seekers

EU court bans ‘gay tests’ for asylum seekers

g-stay8Europe’s highest court has ruled that gay asylum seekers will no longer have to undergo “tests” or intimate questioning in order to prove their sexuality.

The European Court of Justice, which oversees asylum policy for all EU member states, said officials will not be allowed to interrogate LGBT applicants about their sexual activity as it undermines the applicant’s dignity and right to privacy, and thus contravenes European law.

Authorities will also not be allowed to request video or photographic evidence as “proof” of homosexuality.

Over the last year, there has been a significant increase in the number of African refugees claiming asylum in the EU, as most African countries still regard homosexuality as a crime, the BBC reports.

Several EU states, as well as the UK, have been repeatedly criticised for their handling of such cases. “What’s happened with European authorities is that there’s been far too much of a fixation in relation to sex and conduct rather than analysis of identity outside the bedroom,” Neil Grungras, the founder of the Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration (ORAM) told Deutche Well.

He argues that asylum officials need to “ask the right questions” and do so “tentatively” so as not to further traumatize applicants.

In the Czech Republic, immigration officials have been condemned by UN, EU and human rights activists for conducting “sexual arousal tests” to determine the sexuality of asylum seekers. Applicants were shown heterosexual pornography and if they displayed signs of arousal, they were denied asylum, the BBC reports.

Home Office officials in the UK have also been criticised for their use of “intrusive and abusive” techniques to establish an applicant’s sexuality, often conducted without the presence of a lawyer. Earlier this year, leaked documents revealed the “shockingly degrading” questions asked by Home Office officials, including “What is it about men’s backsides that attracts you?” and “When x was penetrating you, did you have an erection?”, The Guardian reports.

The revelation sparked widespread condemnation, with gay rights organisation Stonewall saying it was evidence of “systematic homophobia” in the UK’s asylum system.

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  1. Dennis Macauley
    December 03, 04:37 Reply

    My friend was put through this in belgium! He said it was very humiliating. He was asked to graphically describe a sexual encounter, and he had to oblige them as he could not afford to be sent back to nigeria!

    On another note however many straight people are cashing in on it and seeking assylum in these countries. Even “steel core” homophobes (kisses to khaleesi) are pretending to be gay so that they can stay in these countries.

    It’s good sha that I am not the one granting assylum…..if not eh?…..***lips sealed***

    • pinkpanthertb
      December 03, 04:46 Reply

      Hahahahaaa oh i know what those sealed lips aren’t saying 😛

    • Legalkoboko
      December 03, 05:03 Reply

      Dennis biko are you still in touch with your friend in Belgium? I heard the rules for an asylum seeker in Europe, Belgium in particular, is very stringent. How easy/difficult is he finding it?

      • Dennis Macauley
        December 03, 05:13 Reply

        Yes he is still in belgium. He was granted eventually, I had to send in a letter/sworn affidavit and all about somethings that happened to him while he was here!

        It’s was very stringent, but they eventually granted him!

    • Legalkoboko
      December 03, 05:42 Reply

      The problem with asylum seeking is that you are never allowed to go home and see your close relations. You try that, and your asylum status gets revoked. Its a grim decision really.

      • Dennis Macauley
        December 03, 05:57 Reply

        I think you can’t go home for about 5 years or there about! But leave naija people! My friend has been home, he landed in Ghana and came by road to nigeria attended his sister’s wedding and stuff and went back through the same route!

        Naija always finds a way!

      • gad
        December 03, 09:11 Reply

        Someone on asylum wanting to go home? That’s the problem. It brings to the fore the insincerity of the whole thing. You are in danger in your country and you ran to safety.Now you want to go on holidays in the same place where your life was hitherto not safe. Must we call Oyibo people dumbs to their face?

  2. Kryss S
    December 03, 04:52 Reply

    Ah Dennis! U shaa need Jesus in ur life! A na ako nke e mere e tinye nke gi! Lol!
    But this is digusting! Wtf! I get aroused watching heterosexual porn! But its d guys that am fantasizing about! Pornographic evidence? As in sex tap? That is d height of it!! Nd d intimate questions? Me that used shame to sew iro nd buba. I will just shrink! Thank God they r banning such derogatory rubbish test!

    • Dennis Macauley
      December 03, 05:01 Reply

      @kryss, LOL

      Yes na! I will like to inspect the “merchandise” for “signs of entry”

      ***straight face***

      • Legalkoboko
        December 03, 07:35 Reply

        I stick to d primary meaning of cupcakes pls. *winks *

      • Kryss S
        December 03, 07:39 Reply

        Awwwwwwww Dennis!!!!! U r just too nasty! *slaps Dennis flirtatiously on his butt*! Lol!

      • Dennis Macauley
        December 03, 05:15 Reply

        ***ROTFL***
        Sign of the cross

        Me kwa? Spoil? Nooo! I’m still fresh outta the oven!

        LOL!

        Pink Panther help me out here! You know me very well, am I spoilt?

        • Legalkoboko
          December 03, 05:37 Reply

          yea right. You went inside the oven looking for cupcakes getting baked. Little wonder why u looked “fresh” when u came out from the oven. Hahahaha!!

      • Dennis Macauley
        December 03, 05:59 Reply

        Shebi you see yourself? And I am the one that is spoilt!

        See how you have turned something as innocent as cupcakes into something else!

  3. Masked Man
    December 03, 04:58 Reply

    *packing my bags. On my way to Italy*
    Gosh, that romntic country. Surely there are gay Cassanovas there too na.

    • A-non
      December 03, 07:05 Reply

      The recession in Italy at the moment is quite stark…

      Wanna reconsider your country choice?

  4. gad
    December 03, 05:05 Reply

    This is a breakthrough for all asylum seekers. I think it calls for celebrations. Lol

      • victor
        December 03, 05:36 Reply

        If I had the financial resources,this would have been my call to never return,lols

        • gad
          December 03, 09:00 Reply

          Does one need finance to get asylum? The picture I always have of asylum seekers are that of a vulnerable,weak and endangered people. Any, what do I know? I’m just asking

  5. chestnut
    December 03, 07:17 Reply

    When I first saw the title,I asked myself “what the fuck is a ‘gay test’ “?
    …And,”video and photographic evidence as a proof of homosexuality”?
    Who doesn’t get turned-on by straight porn,biko? Even heterosexual dicks will rise if they are patient enough to get to d middle of gay porn!
    Those interrogators are a mess! Ashawo ppl wey wan use style hear gist! I’m surprised they didn’t insist on fingering or blowing anyone who claimed to be gay…as a “proof of homosexuality”. Shior!

  6. FKA Chizzie
    December 03, 07:29 Reply

    This is one test I would’ve easily passed.

    Meanwhile how does one go about applying for asylum in the first place? The Naira has been devalued…Oil prices are crashing…inflation is imminent,there’s a spreading insurgency up north andddddd this heat wave has become unbearable, safe to say this isn’t the best of times to be Nigerian.

    • Legalkoboko
      December 03, 07:33 Reply

      Chizzy you have to be within the territory before you can apply.

  7. trystham
    December 03, 07:36 Reply

    Expose me to heterosexual porn, of course I’d be aroused. There’s a dick in there somewherw. I thot whities were supposed to av sense

    • pinkpanthertb
      December 03, 08:35 Reply

      Hahahahahahahaaa!!! Prejudice has a way of eroding common sense.

  8. KingBey
    December 06, 00:06 Reply

    Me that loves staring at a big black dick…..the straight porn they showing better not have it ….oh ! Thank you EU……#AsylumSeekingModeActivated

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