Australia, Please Don't Split Up Committed Gay Couple

  • by: Susan V
  • recipient: Australian Immigration Department

Australia is threatening to split up a committed relationship between a Pakistani man and a male doctor from Brisbane. Despite their civil union, the government says it doesn’t see their relationship as “long-standing" and it wants Ali Choudhry deported.

Even though Choudhry was born in Pakistan, he lived most of his life in America and came to Australia a few years ago on a student visa. He and Matthew Hynd, who was working temporarily in New York, developed a long-distance relationship in 2010, and later Hynd returned to Australia to be with Choudhry.

But because Choudhry’s previous home and possessions had been destroyed in a Queensland flood, he didn’t get his visa renewed on time, so the couple decided to apply for a partnership visa. But the government took two years to reject their application, after a change in leadership annulled the couple’s union.

Because of Pakistan’s harsh penalties against homosexuality, it would be cruel to send Choudhry back to his place of birth, and it should be illegal!

Ask Australia not to split up this committed gay couple.

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about Australia’s actions against this couple.

According to news reports, not only does the government fail to recognize their commitment as a couple, it has added insult to injury by referring to Hynd as Choudhry’s “sponsor.”

Furthermore it's cruel not to have shown Choudhry some leniency over his visa renewal after being victimized by a flood, and it’s outrageously cruel to threaten to deport him to Pakistan, where he can be imprisoned for his lifestyle and partner choices.

Hasn’t Australia regressed far enough backward with its policy changes on gay unions, without resorting to such cruelty as splitting up this committed couple?

We request the Australia Department of Immigration do what is right and approve this couple’s partnership visa at once.

Thanks for you time.

Update #110 years ago
News reports say that Australia’s Migration Review Tribunal has granted Mr. Choudhry a temporary visa allowing him to stay in the country while his appeal is being considered.
However, Choudhry says he was given only verbal assurance of this stay on his deportation, although he requested something in writing. Please continue to insist that Australia allow Choudhry to remain in the country with his partner. He and Hynd were one of the first couples in Queensland to register their civil union.
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