Arsham Parsi Calls for Urgent Action on LGBTQI Refugees
Arsham Parsi advocates for swift support and evacuation of LGBTQI refugees in Turkey.
Key Points
- • Arsham Parsi received the Rainbow Warrior 2025 award in Stockholm.
- • He urged the EU and Sweden to expedite evacuations for LGBTQI refugees stranded in Turkey.
- • Parsi founded organizations helping over 300 Iranian LGBTQI refugees find safety.
- • He stresses the need for accountability in financial aid directed to Turkey.
Arsham Parsi, an acclaimed Iranian-Canadian LGBTQI activist, visited Stockholm recently to accept the Rainbow Warrior 2025 award, where he highlighted urgent calls for Sweden and the European Union to expedite support and resettlement for LGBTQI refugees trapped in Turkey. Parsi emphasized the life-threatening situation these individuals face every day, stating, "EU must monitor how the funds to Turkey are used and ensure that the refugee process actually speeds up. Every day in limbo risks lives."
With a history of activism that started after fleeing Iran in 2005, Parsi has founded organizations that help LGBTQI refugees, enabling over 300 individuals to find safety primarily through Canada's private sponsorship refugee program. The activist underscored the responsibility Europe has in addressing the refugee crisis, linking it to financial aid provided to Turkey which he insists should be directed towards genuine refugee support rather than symbolic initiatives.
He urged Sweden to take a leading role, calling for accountability regarding taxpayer funds sent to Turkey and demanding a proper audit of how these resources are utilized. "If you can halt a trade agreement for labor rights, you can also demand an end to the executions of LGBTQI individuals," he asserted, emphasizing the necessity for sustained diplomatic pressure on Iran. Parsi's remarks shed light on the increasingly precarious situation for LGBTQI individuals in Iran, which has seen intensified repression amid recent conflicts.
In conclusion, Parsi's advocacy not only seeks immediate action but also aims to change the narrative around LGBTQI rights in a repressive regime, aiming for a future where such individuals can live freely and without fear.