Three years ago this month, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad famously told a New York audience that Iran doesn’t have any homosexuals. An aide later clarified that Ahmadinejad meant that Iran doesn’t have many homosexuals compared with America. Human rights groups say the Islamic republic continues to execute homosexuals. Gay and lesbian Iranians are increasingly among those fleeing the country. One young Iranian who fled to Turkey says he was targeted by authorities for two offenses: going public with his homosexuality and taking part in last year’s post-election anti-government protests.

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