Negotiating Queer Identities Following Forced Migration (NQIfFM): A Comparative Study of Iranian Queer Refugees Living in Turkey, the UK and Canada

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

This study will investigate the processes of identity transition of Iranian diasporic queers seeking international protection in countries generally seen as being of transition, destination or resettlement. It will develop concepts of postcolonial sexual identity, augment life histories of exile, explore trauma-based cultural politics, consider more carefully creative methods, and make a nuanced contribution to emerging queer studies of migration, transnationalism and exile.Globally, LGBTQ+ rights are under increasing threat as nations criminally punish forms of consensual adult same-sex relations. Iran is one of 11 nations where 'sodomy' is punishable by death even though the Quran is silent on the exact punishment. Most Muslim theologians from the medieval period (Al-Tusi 2010) to recent times (Kadivar 2013) have denounced same-sex desires. Post-revolutionary Iran adopted a restrictive interpretation of Shia Islam, which persecutes non-normative sexual and gender roles. There is a growing body of literature on Iranian queers but scholars have problematized seeing Iranian same-sex relationships through the lens of modern Western categories such as 'LGBT' (Afary 2009; Najmabadi 2005, 2012, 2014). With some notable exceptions (e.g. Karimi 2018, Korycki & Nasirzadeh 2016, Mahdavi 2012, Najmabadi 2005), Iranian queer realities are still seriously under-researched and replete with Western stereotypes of Islamic sexualities whose unitary concept of Islam elides significant shifts in the opinion of reformist Muslim theologians who have developed more tolerant approaches to same-sex relations (Alipour 2018). More importantly, the legalism of Western-centric perspectives on Muslim queers fails to register creative ways in which Muslim queers articulate, negotiate and practice their sexual identities. Our study addresses this gap.We will explore the lived experiences of Iranian queers in exile (IQIEs), enquiring: a) how migration affects IQIEs negotiation of sexual and gender identity from Iran to 'the West'; b) how culturally specific categories such as 'LGBTQ+' are negotiated; c) how poetry or other creative practices help IQIEs express or construct such journeys for 'sexual liberty'; and d) how poetic forms might help articulate the 'hidden experiences' of IQIEs.We compare IQIEs in three countries: Turkey is generally the first destination and mainly transitional country where asylum claims are lodged with UNHCR officers. Canada is a primary destination for Iranian queer refugees due to its perceived hospitality/liberalism. In the UK, many queer Iranian nationals struggle being recognised as queer refugees and are re-traumatised by this process. Such differing scenarios make these countries highly appropriate for a comparative analysis.We will carry out semi-structured life-history interviews with 20 participants in each location, online or in person, identified with the help of stakeholders and the researchers' professional networks. We will include anyone who identifies themselves as LGBTQ+ (under any category). We will also conduct 20 online interviews with LGBTQ+ persons residing in Iran, conducted with complete confidentiality, safety, and digital anonymity. Our methodology uses creative practices because in Iran there are strong artistic and folk traditions of poetry. Poetry in Iran is indeed a communal countercultural discourse for political dissent. Queer romance has a long history in Persian poetry (Afary 2009). Poetic inquiry will gain insight into the emotional and symbolic aspects of identity renegotiation following forced migration. First, we will ask respondents taking part in a workshop to talk about a familiar poem that they feel expresses their refugee journey, exile, and potential sense of (un)belonging in their host country. Then we will work 1:1 with each respondent, in person or online, to create short poems that express their journeys.