The Ministry of the Interior has rejected an application for asylum by [name redacted], a gay refugee from Nigeria who fled his country in fear of his life, RÚV reports.
He fled Nigeria 10 years ago after being caught with his partner and subject to beatings. Rejected from his family, facing possible criminal charges and fearing for his life in a country where homosexuality is illegal and can incur a prison sentence of up to 14 years, he fled to Italy.
He joined thousands of other Africans who have fled to Italy seeking asylum and settled with a group of refugees in Milano, many of whom are homeless and live in poor conditions. His application for asylum was rejected but he stayed there for nine years, living variously on the streets, at friends’ places and in overcrowded refugee shelters.
Last year, he procured a false passport and fled to Iceland, where he was arrested after landing at Keflavík airport. [redacted] was detained while his application for asylum was being processed. In the meantime, he was provided room and board and lessons in Icelandic.
Last month, the Ministry of the Interior confirmed an earlier decision by the Directorate of Immigration which rejected his application and ordered him to be sent back to Italy on the grounds of the Dublin II regulation, which holds only one member state responsible for an asylum application.
As he waits to be deported, Vísir reports of a petition letter that spread like wildfire on the internet yesterday, calling on the Minister of the Interior Ögmundur Jónasson, to review the deportation decision.
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