MULHOLLAND DEMANDS ACTION FROM PRIME MINISTER ON DEPORTATIONS

12.35.47pm GMT Thu 20th Mar 2008

In Prime Minister's Questions today Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West, called upon the Prime Minister Gordon Brown to prevent asylum seekers from being deported to countries where they face serious risk of persecution as a result of their religious beliefs or sexual preference.

Raising the case of his constituent, Mr Ali Pourakaberian, who faces deportation to Iran where he faces persecution as a result of his Christian religious beliefs, Mr Mulholland called upon Mr Brown to face up to the Government's human rights responsibilities and intervene to prevent such deportations.

Commenting Mr Mulholland said:

"It absolutely cannot be right that there are people facing deportation to countries where they will face persecution and worse as a result of their sexual preferences or religious beliefs.

"The Government must face up to its fundamental human rights responsibilities and halt deportations where a credible and serious risk of persecution, brutality and torture exists.

"These people are seeking refuge from often brutal and oppressive regimes; we cannot turn our backs on them."