Amnesty Switzerland says that an 18-year-old Cameroon man threatened with deportation will see his case re-examined by the Swiss authorities.

The non-governmental organisation had launched a protest action in support of the man, who said he would face prison in his home country because of his homosexuality.

Amnesty said that the Federal Migration Office had indicated that it was prepared to reconsider the man's request for asylum and had released him from detention.

In all, 500 letters calling for the man's human rights to be protected were sent to the migration office – the first action of this kind by Amnesty in Switzerland for 20 years.

According to Amnesty, the man would be threatened with several years' prison in Cameroon and possible abuse because of his sexual orientation.

The migration office said that it has taken note of the protest action, but that it was the content of the re-examination request which had caused the change of heart.

Asylum requests linked to sexual orientation are still rare in Switzerland and most are normally rejected, added the migration office.

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