Gay Zimbabwean Fights for Amnesty

A demonstration broke out in Finland in support of a gay Zimbabwean man who faces deportation back to his country of origin, despite three applications for asylum in Finland.

The man, identified only as Farai, is staying in the Metsala Reception Center in Helsinki, according to Finnish gay rights group Seta. He first came to Finland in 2002 to study. He applied for asylum after his first year, stating he feared returning to Zimbabwe because of the government's antigay actions, but was denied. His most recent application for asylum was February 18, while staying at the reception center.

"Zimbabwe cannot have gay rights," Farai said in a translated statement by Seta. "My relatives can not help me, because they would have trouble."

The United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, says the Finnish government's immigration office is not being sensitive to Farai's claims.