Immigration minister Rita Verdonk has agreed that homosexual Iranians should be given a residency permit to stay in the Netherlands because of the risk to their safety in their home country.

In March, the minister had announced plans to deport gay Iranians, saying they were not at risk if they kept their sexual orientation secret. That move was heavily criticised by MPs from all parties and human rights groups. Verdonk has also now agreed not to deport Iranian Christians pending more information about the risks they would run back home.