Lawmakers: Gay Asylum Seekers in UK Feel Pressured to Prove Their Sexuality

A British parliamentary committee has slammed the country's asylum system, saying that some gay claimants felt under pressure to prove their sexuality.

The report published Friday by the Home Affairs Select Committee outlined issues from poor housing conditions for claimants to a dearth of relevant interpreters and thousands of cases in limbo.

It also expressed concern about decisions to grant asylum to people "who later emerge to be involved with terrorist activity," saying applicants should be checked against national and international law enforcement agency and security databases.

It also called the assessment of asylum seekers' credibility as "particularly poor" for gay or lesbian claimants, who in some cases feel pressured to submit photos or videos to prove they are gay.