September 29, 1999
Web posted at: 9:38 p.m. EDT (0138 GMT)

In this story: Asylum granted in 300 cases since '94 Amnesty International says allegations are true RELATED STORIES, SITES

WEST HOLLYWOOD, California (CNN) -- A 29-year-old gay man from China has been granted political asylum in the United States after convincing immigration officials that he was mistreated in his homeland because of his sexual identity.

"I was personally, physically harmed," said the man, who asked to be identified as Tim Z. "I was forced to receive aversion therapy, and I was harassed by the policemen. They beat me up and sexually abused me."

	VIDEO
CNN's Jim Hill looks at the case of Tim Z., who was granted political asylum in the United States after he said Chinese authorities beat him for being gay Windows Media 28K 80K

Tim Z., a former visiting scholar from Beijing University, asked for asylum under the U.S. Immigration Nationality Act, under which gay and lesbian people are covered as a "social group."

Asylum granted in 300 cases since '94

"An applicant can qualify for asylum if they have a well- founded fear of persecution or have been persecuted on the grounds of race, nationality, political opinion, membership in a social group or religious affiliation," said Robert Looney of the U.S. Asylum Office.

Since 1994, about 300 gay men and lesbians, including 18 from China, have been granted asylum in the United States, according to figures complied by the Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Organization.

In a written statement, the Chinese foreign ministry denied mistreatment of its gay citizens, saying, "China's laws amply guarantee legitimate rights to every Chinese citizen."

The statement added, "Some individuals find assorted reasons, even lies, in order to obtain foreign residence permits,"

Tim Z. insists the Chinese government's policy toward gay people is harsh, that it is based on the idea "that gay men are mentally ill and they have a criminal mind and have to be cured."

Amnesty International says allegations are true

Human rights advocates say Tim Z.'s story is consistent with China's stand against "disturbing the social order."

"Amnesty (International) has documented a number of cases in China in which individuals have been arrested under this statute and have been tortured and have been forced to undergo psychiatric treatment," said Michael Heflin of Amnesty International.

However, one expert on China, Li Yinhe, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said there is little evidence of systematic persecution of gay people in China despite Tim Z.'s claims.

"I think 99 percent of homosexuals won't be forced to change. I think his case is extremely rare if what he says is true," Li said.

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