Gay Saudi Diplomat Fears Death if Denied Asylum

by Alex DiBranco · 2010-09-15 16:44:00 UTC
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Ali Ahmed Asseri, a Saudi diplomat currently living in Los Angeles, really doesn't want to go home. It's not just that he loves the L.A. weather and attractions, although Asseri happily made use of the nightlife during his stay in America. Unfortunately, he was caught by fellow Saudis frequenting gay bars in the city. And let's just say that Saudi Arabia is severely lacking in rainbow pride.

As Michael A. Jones writes on the Gay Rights blog, being outed plus a friendship with a (gasp) Jewish Israeli women was enough for Saudi Arabia to demand that he get back home. Right. Now.

But homosexuality is a criminal offense in Saudi Arabia, punishable by the, uh, "mild" sentence of public lashing (perhaps 7,000 lashes) or, at the worst, execution. The more eager Saudi officials are to get their diplomat back, the less Asseri wants to comply. Somehow, I don't think they're so enthusiastic about him returning so that they can throw him a parade.

Asseri fears that even in the United States his life is in danger from homophobic countrymen, and since his sexuality became public knowledge, has taken the opportunity to hide out while he begs for asylum. In Saudi Arabia, however, there won't be anywhere to hide: he can expect to be tossed into jail the moment he sets foot on his native land.

Despite Saudi Arabia's extreme human rights abuses, of which the treatment of LGBTQ people is just one aspect, America's government has a history of being rather buddy-buddy with the royal family, swapping arms deals and keeping an eye on the black gold. But in America, homosexuality is not a crime, and we have a duty to protect people within our borders and not throw them to the wolves. Make sure the Department of Homeland Security keeps this in mind by asking them to approve Asseri's asylum request.

Photo credit: informatique

Alex DiBranco is a Change.org Editor who has worked for the Nation, Political Research Associates, and the Center for American Progress. She is now based in New York City.
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