Exclusive: ‘culture of disbelief’ excludes at least 3,100 nationals from countries outlawing same-sex acts

The UK Home Office has refused at least 3,100 asylum claims from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) nationals of countries where consensual same-sex acts are criminalised, figures show.

At least 1,197 LGBT Pakistanis were refused asylum after making a claim for protection on grounds of sexual orientation between 2016 and 2018, analysis by the Liberal Democrats of figures published by the Home Office found. A further 640 LGBT Bangladeshis and 389 Nigerians had their claims on same grounds refused during the period.