Date: Wed, 06 Aug 1997 09:22:07 +0200 From: ILGA Subject: IRAN ASKED TO END EXECUTIONS OF HOMOSEXUALS Barcelona / Sidney Dated: 4th August 1997 IRAN ASKED TO END EXECUTIONS OF HOMOSEXUALS On the occasion of the new Jatami Presidency in Iran, the co-General Secretaries of ILGA (International Lesbian and Gay Association), Jordi Petit and Jennifer Wilson, have demanded an end to the execution of homosexuals, continually going on since the Jomeini revolution. Figures gathered by ILGA indicate a figure of at least 800 such executions for sodomy in Iran. ILGA urges that diplomatic and commercial relations with Iran be linked to that country's respect for life and human rights, and makes a call for this message to be sent to every Iranian embassy around the world. There follows a letter sent to the Iranian Embassy in Madrid. ILGA COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA COMMITTEE _______________________ Mr Bahram Ghassemi Iranian Ambassador in Spain C/ Jerez, 5 28016 Madrid Tel: +1 345 0102 Fax: +1 345 1190 Dated: 4 August 1997 Your Excellency We have the honour of addressing you on behalf of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), founded in 1978 as a federation of over 300 homosexual organisations from 75 countries throughout the world. Please send our congratulations to your Government upon the election of President Mohamed Jatami, and our protest about the executions for sodomy which are going on in your country. With every respect for your people's religious and cultural traditions, we continue to urge that executions of homosexuals in Iran must cease. Relations between civilised nations, as we understand them, must be based upon respect for human rights, including sexual diversity. Yours faithfully Jordi Petit / Jennifer Wilson Co-General Secretaries ILGA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ILGA - International Lesbian and Gay Association 81 Kolenmarkt, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Phone/Fax +32-2-502-2471, E-mail: ilga@ilga.org A federation of over 300 groups from 80 countries fighting for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We also have over 100 supportive associate and individual members. Will you join us? Contact us for more info!