UK uses cookies to make the site simpler. Find out more about cookies. E Tufan, Senior Presenting Officer Unless the Upper Tribunal or a court directs otherwise no report of these proceedings or any form of publication thereof shall directly or indirectly identify the appellant. This direction applies to, amongst others, the appellant and the respondent. Any failure to comply with this direction could give rise to contempt of court proceedings. Anonymity Direction 3.
The Judge made an anonymity direction, and no request was made by either party for it to be set aside. I consider that it is appropriate that the order be confirmed and I detail it above. Brief Facts 4. The appellant is a national of Malaysia and is presently aged She is of Chinese ethnicity and is Buddhist. She was in a heterosexual relationship whilst in Malaysia which broke down when she was aged In the aftermath of the relationship coming to an end she became close to a female friend, developing feelings for her.
She then identified herself as lesbian and entered a year-long same-sex relationship whilst in Malaysia.
The relationship was conducted discreetly. She subsequently had a second, discreet, same-sex relationship in Malaysia. She arrived in the United Kingdom in September and later claimed asylum, asserting a well-founded fear of persecution arising from her sexual orientation. She states that she was involved in a same-sex relationship conducted openly whilst in the United Kingdom 8.
It was not accepted that she was a lesbian. I note that the decision letter is silent as to the issue of whether a real risk of persecution exists in Malaysia if the appellant were to establish to the requisite standard that she is a lesbian.
