MSP calls on UK to grant asylum to Ugandans outed by newspaper [View all]

[MMcGuire]

MSP James Dornan is calling on Scotland’s Minister for External Affairs to ensure that the UK Home Office offers asylum to Ugandans outed by the Red Pepper newspaper.“The media witch-hunt is back,” tweeted Jacqueline Kasha, a prominent Ugandan lesbian activist who appeared on the list.It also included names and photographs of several Ugandans who previously had never publicly disclosed their sexuality.

James Dornan, the Scottish National Party MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, has written to the Scottish Government’s External Affairs Minister, Humza Yousaf, urging him to ensure that the UK Home Office offers asylum to those Ugandans whose photographs and names were printed in the paper.

The MSP visited Uganda in 2012 with international aid agency, Glasgow the Caring City, to see more about the work that the charity does to support Uganda. He said that whilst he counts himself as a friend of the people of Uganda, he is deeply saddened by the decision of President Yoweri Musevni to approve the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
Mr Dornan said: “This legislation has quite rightly provoked outcry from the international community. It seeks to imprison people for no reason other than the fact that they are gay, and it is right that Scotland speaks out against this along with people such as Desmond Tutu.
“I believe that people in Scotland will be outraged at this legislation, and at the horrific reaction of a tabloid newspaper which seeks to promote lynch mob tactics against gay and lesbian people. I’m confident that Scotland will make it clear to the UK Home Office that we are ready and willing to welcome anyone who requires refuge from this nightmare.”

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/02/25/msp-calls-uk-grant-asylum-ugandans-outed-newspaper/