Gay celebrities joined a 50 strong protest outside the Iranian Embassy in London yesterday against the execution and torture of gay people.

The protest was part of an on going series of global demonstrations against the Iranian government’s arrest, imprisonment, whipping and execution of gay men.

Jeremy Sheffield, Q Boy, Scott Cappurro, Josh Rafter and out gay Labour MP Chris Bryant took part in the protest, which was backed by Matt Lucas, Simon Callow and Boy George.

“We are here to condemn Iran’s execution and torture of gay men, and to demand international action against the tyrannical Iranian regime,” said Peter Tatchell from OutRage!.

“The international community should issue an ultimatum to Iran: either respect human rights, or face economic sanctions.

“There can be no normal relations with an abnormal regime that executes gay people, unchaste women, Muslims who renounce their faith, and political, religious and ethnic minorities.

As well as the celebrity speakers, the protest was addressed by Iranian exiles, representing pro-gay opposition groups that are battling against the butchers in Tehran.

Thousands of axm readers signed a Homophobia Kills petition which the Iranian Embassy refused to accept.

Instead, the petition will be delivered by openly gay Labour MP Chris Bryant to the UK Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, with a request that he calls on the Iranian government to halt its persecution of the LGBT community in Iran.

Outrage! claim that since 1979 the Iranian government has executed an estimated 4,000 LGBT people. They are urging people to “email, phone, fax and write your protests” to the Iranian Ambassador.

The protest was organised by gay magazine axm and queer rights group OutRage!