Man seeks asylum in SA after persecution

A MUSLIM man who was imprisoned in Chad on grounds of his sexual orientation and fled to South Africa after he was released as he fears persecution, turned to court after home affairs officials here refused to grant him refugee status.

- ZELDA VENTER

The man, only identified as MA, on Friday headed to the urgent court at the Western Cape High Court, where he obtained a lifeline. He asked that the decision by the Refugee Status Determination Officer, in refusing his refugee status, be overturned.

Judge Gayaat da Silva-Salie ordered that his application for asylum status had to be heard afresh, by another officer. The judge remarked that the reasons given by the officer for refusing his application were nonsensical.

MA fled to South Africa to join his lover, a doctor working here. He explained that homosexuality is criminalised in his country of origin. He was arrested in Chad in September 2022, after which he was convicted on charges of homosexual activities and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.