Asylum seekers from Rwanda and Uganda in Israel will be facing deportation.
The Population, Immigration and Border Authority told The Jerusalem Post that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender asylum seekers did not count as part of an excluded group of people who would not be deported – such as women and children.
Rwanda and Uganda have laws that do not ensure the safety of members of the LGBT community and there have been cases of discrimination and violence. The Israeli government states that they are not refugees but economic migrants who have wrecked havoc in Tel Aviv.
“LGBT people are not part of the groups excluded [from deportation],” a Border Authority spokesperson told The Jerusalem Post. “Each case will be examined on its merits.”
Israel currently accepts about 1% asylum seeker requests.
Featured image from Haaretz.
