Cleary Gottlieb secured the successful resettlement of pro bono client Mr. X, a Syrian refugee fleeing persecution due to his sexual orientation and ethnic origin.
Mr. X is a young Syrian national, a gay man, and a member of the Kurdish ethnic group. After the outbreak of civil war in Syria, Mr. X fled the country to escape persecution both of LGBTQI people by the ISIL militia and of the Kurdish population by the Syrian government. After settling in Iraq, Mr. X faced continued harassment from the local community due to his sexual orientation. He received repeated threats to his safety, and his personal details were disclosed on websites whose purpose were to incite hatred and violence against gay men.
Mr. X was referred to the firm by the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP). The team assisted Mr. X in applying for refugee status with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and obtaining resettlement in a safe country. After a two-year process, Mr. X was successfully resettled to the United Kingdom in the fall of 2019. He is excited to start a new life and resume his university studies in Europe.