Tech & Rights

Dutch Court: Interior Minister Erred in Rejecting Homosexual Refugee

On Tuesday, the district court of The Hague ruled that Klaas Dijkhoff, the Dutch migration minister, had unfairly denied a residence permit for an Iraqi refugee on the ground that he was not homosexual enough. In...

by Eline Mooring
Klaas Dijkhoff, the migration minister, was wrong to deny a residence permit to an Iraqi refugee on the ground that he was not homosexual enough. (Image: EU2016 NL)

On Tuesday, the district court of The Hague ruled that Klaas Dijkhoff, the Dutch migration minister, had unfairly denied a residence permit for an Iraqi refugee on the ground that he was not homosexual enough. In 2015, the 26-year-old fled to the Netherlands because he feared getting killed as a consequence of his homosexuality. The court did not agree: when evaluating homosexuality, it is not sufficient to only look at the process of self-acceptance, also pictures and statements of family and partners should be taken into account. For the time being, the Iraqi can stay in the Netherlands.

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