When talking about prejudice against homosexuals, the first thing that comes to mind are effeminate people who, precisely because they demonstrate their sexual orientation in their mannerisms, tend to be victims of humiliation and violence, because of prejudice and intolerance.
The “natural” order of things went the other way in the life of a young Afghan gay man who left his home country in 2016 and sought asylum in Austria, after being a victim of persecution within his community, since in Afghanistan homosexuality is not permitted and those who are caught in homosexual acts are subject to punishments provided for in Sharia law – the same law that often flogs homosexual men or those suspected of being homosexual in public squares in Indonesia.
The fact is that for the Austrian authorities the man did not “act” or “dress” like a gay person and therefore is not gay.
“The way you walk, act and dress does not even remotely show that you may be homosexual,” pointed out an Austrian government official, according to a report by the German news agency Deutsche Welle.
The boy arrived in the European country in 2016, initially claiming to be of Hazara ethnicity, which is considered inferior and, therefore, persecuted by Afghans with a Sunni majority. Some time later, he appealed to remain in the country given his homosexuality, which is not popular in Afghanistan.
In addition to the lack of manners, the officials responsible for granting asylum to refugees pointed out the young man's aggressive posture that “wouldn't be [the behavior] expected from a homosexual”.
Finally, when asked at what age he discovered he was gay, the boy said he was 12, which was once again contested and considered “quite early” and unlikely because Afghanistan is a society “where there is no public sexual stimulation through fashion and advertising.”
The Austrian Ministry of the Interior declined to comment on the case, but admitted that ministry officials often make decisions based on the “individual impressions” of asylum seekers.
