My name is Rachael Mauney (they/them), and I am queer artist and activist who has created this page on behalf of queer Iranian asylum seeker Ashkan, with whom I am in regular contact. He is currently in Istanbul, and his visa expired in March 2023. He is now living illegally in Turkey, facing pending deportation back to Iran, where he faces certain execution at the demand of his family, community, and the authorities.

Here you have Ashkan´s own words describing his situation:

My name is Ashkan, I'm an Iranian queer photographer, visual storyteller, and LGBTQ+ activist. I escaped Iran to Turkey almost 2 years ago because my family and government were after me for being gay. After my family found out about my sexuality, I was disowned and threatened with rape and death by them, and when I couldn't hide from them in Iran anymore, I fled from Iran to Turkey. Since then, I have tried to start a new life in Turkey. First, I tried to get a press visa to stay here longer, but because the government of Turkey knew that I'm an activist working on LGBTQ+ issues in the MENA region, after so many attempts, they denied giving me one. Then I was arrested, beaten, and humiliated when I was doing my job by the Turkish Police just because I was gay; my interview with the French newspaper Le Monde is on the internet about this series of events. So now my touristic residency permit is going over in 5 months, and I will be forced to leave Turkey. Since I can not go back to Iran because my father told the officials that I'm gay, an activist, and a journalist working for Americans, the Iranian government is after me, and when I go back, I will face the death penalty. So I have no choice but to seek asylum.

//

I hope you will understand the deep emergency of this situation, and do whatever you can to help our queer community member arrive to a safe place. With the support of Largo Residencias in Lisbon, PT, we have the means and support to bring Ashkan to the EU, but require more funds to access and process the visa application. The Portuguese consulate in Turkey has informed Ashkan that these funds will provide access to his visa to arrive in Lisbon.

Your financial contribution will be made 100% transparent, and will be used for Ashkan´s visa, evacuation, and basic resettlement fees. Share this page, share his story, share his brilliant and important art and activism which is an absolute necessity to be witnessed, as we strive for truth and justice.

I will let Ashkan´s own words again speak through his story "Love, Fear, Freedom":

//

LOVE, FEAR, FREEDOM

Iran

The existence of gay men is undeniable in Iran but for over 40 years the Islamic Republic of Iran has denied their existence in the country. In Iran, gays risk execution for their sexual orientation, and the publics' mindset is completely closed to same-sex relationships. Everyday existence is difficult. In post-revolutionary Iran, any type of sexual activity outside a heterosexual marriage is forbidden and the gay sex is punishable by death based on the laws of Sharia. As a result, gay men and women live with systematic suppression, discrimination, family rejection, and judicial problems. They live their lives in fear every day. The idea of freedom still seems remote.

Love, Fear, Freedom follows the story of Ashkan Sh*****, an Iranian photographer and member of the LGBTQ+ community himself. After his family found out about his sexual orientation, Askhan was disowned and threatened with rape and death. Ashkan had to escape Iran and leave his partner Eli for his welfare. Now in a safer place, Ashkan was able to reveal a world unknown to many – sharing the actual trauma of the harrowing experience he and his partner have been through.

//