Gay Iranian gets temporary reprieve

She announced his case will be reconsidered after concerns that he could face execution if removed to his homeland.

Ms Smith said: "Following representations made on behalf of Mehdi Kazemi, and in the light of new circumstances since the original decision was made, I have decided that Mr Kazemi's case should be reconsidered on his return to the UK from the Netherlands."

Mr Kazemi, 19, has been refused asylum in the Netherlands and is now likely to be sent back to Britain.

From here he was facing deportation to Iran.

The teenager came to London to study English in 2005 but later discovered that his boyfriend had been arrested by the Iranian police, charged with sodomy and hanged.

He fled to the Netherlands after the Home Office rejected his case late last year.

According to Iranian human rights campaigners, more than 4,000 gay men and lesbians have been executed since the Ayatollahs seized power in 1979.

Liberal Democrat MP for Southwark and Bermondsey Simon Hughes had pledged to support Mr Kazemi if he was returned to the UK.

Chief executive of gay rights group Stonewall, Ben Summerskill, said: "We are obviously delighted that the Home Secretary has listened to the representations that were made in this case. There are overwhelming reasons why people should not be deported to Iran in the current circumstances, and it is important that Britain is seen as a safe haven."