Gay teen fears deportation from Britain

LONDON, March 15 (UPI) -- A gay Iranian teenager says he remains afraid the British government will deport him to his native land, where he fears he will be targeted for his sexuality.

Mehdi Kazemi, 19, wants further assurances from British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith that his case will be reviewed and he will not be deported to Iran, The Independent reported Saturday.

Smith has already said she will review Kazemi's refugee status claim, but the teenager says his trust in the government has been weakened by a previous deportation attempt.

"I know what Jacqui Smith has said about my case and that, of course, is a good thing," Kazemi said. "But I know what this government can do to me. They tried to take me at Christmas time two years ago when everyone was away, even my lawyer."

The British newspaper said Kazemi is being held in the Netherlands, where he fled after learning of his possible deportation from Britain. The Dutch legal system has ruled the Iranian teenager cannot claim asylum in the Netherlands and he again faces a possible return to Iran.