Asylum seeker loses fight to stay

All of Shahin Portofeh's appeals have been rejected

An Iranian asylum seeker who sewed up parts of his face to protest against being deported has lost an appeal to stay in the UK.

Shahin Portofeh, who has been living in the Hillfields area of Coventry, sewed up his eyes, ears and mouth last year after his application was turned down.

Mr Portofeh claims he faces 74 lashes of the whip and death by stoning if he is forced to return to Iran.

But the Home Office has told the 24-year-old he cannot stay in the UK.

Dave Goodfield, chairman of Coventry's Stop the War coalition, said he was disgusted by the government's decision.