Gay Saudi Diplomat Seeks Asylum

A gay Saudi diplomat in Los Angeles is reportedly seeking political asylum in the United States because he believes his life is in danger if he returns to Saudi Arabia, the Associated Press reports.

NBC has identified the diplomat as Ali Ahmad Asseri, the first secretary of the Saudi consulate in Los Angeles. He reportedly told U.S. officials that the Saudi government refused to renew his diplomatic passport and terminated his job after they learned he was gay and was close friends with a Jewish woman.

"My life is in great danger here and if I go back to Saudi Arabia, they will kill me openly in broad daylight," he wrote NBC in an e=mail message.

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