Asylum Seeker's Application Denied Due to Doubts About Sexuality

 

Monsur Ahmed Chowdhury, a 38-year-old man from Bangladesh, has had his asylum application denied in the UK after a judge expressed skepticism about his claims of being gay. Chowdhury fled Bangladesh to escape persecution and arrived in the UK as a student in 2009, seeking a safe space to be his authentic self.

His asylum claim was rejected by a First-Tier Tribunal in March 2018, with the judge concluding that Chowdhury was "not truly gay" and was merely trying to "pass himself off as gay." The ruling highlighted a perceived lack of evidence supporting Chowdhury’s sexual orientation, with the judge describing being gay as a "lifestyle." The court questioned why Chowdhury did not present someone who could corroborate his experiences as a gay man and dismissed evidence presented by his witnesses.

The judge found Chowdhury's participation in LGBTQ+ Pride events and nightclubs insufficient to validate his claims. Additionally, a photograph showing him viewing same-sex pornography was labeled as "staged." The judge noted, “There is, quite clearly, a great desire on the part of the Appellant to try to present this picture that he is a gay man," adding that this desire undermined his credibility.

After the rejection, Chowdhury reapplied for asylum through the Home Office, but his application was denied again in June, citing the 2018 tribunal ruling. If his current appeal is unsuccessful, he faces the possibility of being forced to return to Bangladesh.

Reflecting on his situation, Chowdhury shared with Metro, “Life in Bangladesh was very stressful and scary for me, especially because of my sexuality. I couldn’t live openly as a gay man there – if anyone found out, my life would be in danger.” He noted that his sexual orientation remained unknown to most in Bangladesh until he became active on social media.

Chowdhury emphasized the dire circumstances for LGBTQ+ individuals in Bangladesh, where homosexuality is illegal and societal acceptance is virtually non-existent. “If I were sent back to Bangladesh now, my life would be at serious risk. Since my sexuality is now publicly known due to my social media presence and activities, I could face violence or even be killed if I returned,” he warned.