September 5, 2007
You Could Have Just De Facto’d a Nice Aussie Boy, You Know.
We’re delighted that Motahar Hussein, a Bangladeshi gay activist, was granted asylum by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (made even more xenophobic after anti-immigrant John Howard sacked the unbelievably evil Amanda Vanstone) — which, after three years, agreed that Hussein was in danger of homophobic persecution in his native country.
What we don’t understand is why Hussein went to Australia on a student visa in the first place (and then “came to the attention of immigration officials after failing to pay his university fees“). In three years, he could have found a nice Aussie de facto husband to sponsor him.
What we really don’t understand is why Hussein is bitching about the asylum process: “On the whole the tribunal is homophobic, but on this instance they accepted I was homosexual and I would face persecution if sent back.”
Sure, refugees have to jump through hoops (especially in Australia, which treats refugees like human garbage), and gay and lesbian applicants have to jump through even more hoops — but fercrimenysakes, he’s in. If he wanted a comparatively easier process, he could have gone to Canada, or even the U.S. (which, while denying same-sex couples immigration rights, is generally more welcoming to gay asylum seekers).
If nothing else, Hussein is mad as a cut snake to complain before his visa is finalized (right now, he’s on a bridging visa).
Filed under: Australia/NZ, Immigration
