Ignoring Asylum Requests from Mauritanian Lesbian Women Despite Real Dangers

 Exploiting LGBTQ+ Issues to Obtain Asylum

In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the number of Mauritanian men who have successfully obtained asylum in European countries, the United States, and Canada by exploiting laws protecting the LGBTQ+ community. Many of these men falsely claimed to be gay, which is a blatant deception of the countries granting them protection. In some cases, these men were assisted in obtaining visas and asylum by local organizations and individuals who vouched for their homosexuality, despite these organizations lacking expertise in LGBTQ+ issues.

This kind of exploitation distorts the true suffering of the LGBTQ+ community in Mauritania, particularly lesbian women who face real and double oppression, yet struggle to receive recognition or international support for their protection.

International Neglect of Lesbian Women's Rights

While asylum claims from men who falsely claim to be gay are taken seriously, Mauritanian lesbian women, who face genuine threats, suffer from significant international neglect. The asylum requests submitted by these women are often met with rejection or indifference, even when clear evidence demonstrates that they face persecution and violence due to their sexual orientation.

This gender-based discrimination in how asylum claims are handled highlights the large gap in understanding and addressing the issues faced by lesbian women in Mauritania. Failing to fully acknowledge their struggles perpetuates their oppression and leaves them with little chance of obtaining a safe and secure life.

 The Role of Local Organizations in Deceiving Embassies

One of the most concerning aspects is the involvement of certain local organizations, which lack proper expertise, in facilitating Mauritanian men’s asylum claims by falsely affirming their homosexuality. These organizations are not concerned with LGBTQ+ rights and are not equipped to verify such claims. Nevertheless, embassies sometimes rely on the testimony of these organizations and individuals to confirm the sexual identity of asylum seekers.

These practices represent a clear deception that exploits international sympathy for human rights issues, undermining the very system that is supposed to provide protection for those genuinely at risk. As a result, real LGBTQ+ individuals are deprived of the support they need, while others exploit the system for personal gain.

 Societal Denial of Lesbian Women's Existence

Despite facing real dangers of persecution and violence, lesbian women in Mauritania remain entirely invisible within their local society. The Mauritanian community either denies the existence of lesbians altogether or completely ignores them. This denial increases the difficulty these women face in obtaining any form of support, whether within their country or from the international community.

This dual marginalization, as women first and lesbians second, makes them highly vulnerable, with no chance of escape from their harsh realities. In a society that does not acknowledge them or respect their basic rights, lesbian women in Mauritania remain in a constant state of isolation and threat.

The Need for International Review of Asylum Policies

With the increasing cases of deception and exploitation of the asylum system, it has become essential for international institutions to reconsider their policies regarding asylum claims based on sexual orientation. There must be thorough and accurate investigations to ensure that those who receive international protection are genuinely at risk and in need of this protection.

Decisions should be based on reliable evidence that distinguishes between real and false claims, with priority given to lesbian women who face serious and genuine persecution in their communities. If international institutions continue to ignore this group, they contribute to the ongoing injustice faced by Mauritanian lesbian women.

 The denial of the existence of Mauritanian lesbian women by local society, coupled with the international community’s disregard for their suffering, represents one of the greatest obstacles preventing them from obtaining asylum, protection, and the right to live in peace. This situation must change through increased awareness of their issues and ensuring that international policies are applied fairly and justly for all individuals in need of protection, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.