WHAT YOU CAN DO
1) CALL AND FAX THE AIRLINE ON MONDAY
We are asking that on MONDAY you call Kenyan airlines at Heathrow airport on
on 01784 888 222

Ask to speak to the duty officer and say you want to LOG your concerns for the well being of a woman who is being deported on flight K101 Kenya Airlines to ENTEBBE. Tell them that Faridah is being forced onto the flight against her will. Say that she is very scared and distressed, and likely to cause distress to other passengers. She is on suicide watch at Yarlswood detention centre.

FAX the airline using the model letter attached - or make up your own
Fax 01784 888 311
or 020 8745 5027 (London office) - fax both if you can afford to

2) EMAIL THE GUARDIAN
Liam Byrne the Immigration Minister recently wrote to the letters page of the Guardian in an attempt to justify forced deportation. Write back to the Guardian and tell them that you disagree with the system. Mention Faridah and the fact she is a lesbian with a partner in Newcastle but the Home Office refuses to believe her.

See the story below:
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/immigration/story/0,,1942818,00.html CALL THE HOME

3) CALL THE HOME OFFICE PRESS OFFICE
Ask them if it is true that a vulnerable young woman is being sent back to Uganda
against her will. The Home Office Press Office aims to maintain a positive image for the Home Office. They will not want bad publicity. Some people pretend they are freelance journalists. You will get passed from pillar to post. Don't give up, just keep talking to as many people as you can.

Phone numbers of:
Immigration, International & Community
Assistant Director: 020 7035 3829
Immigration Desk
Wendy Fielder: 020 7035 3815
Jan Kemal: 020 7035 3821
Helen Bower: 020 7035 3816
Rachel Shaw 020 7035 3817

Try any of these. Start at the top and if they don't
answer, work your way down the list!

5) PASS THIS MESSAGE ON to your friends and colleagues. If you have time it would help if you could let us know what action you have taken


6) LEAFLET at HEATHROW on Monday afternoon at the Kenya airways check-in desk.
We need people who are based nearer to Heathrow to go and leaflet passengers to get them to complain about the deportation of Faridah. Leaflets are available by e-mailing  tynesidecar@yahoo.co.uk


Background - About Faridah Kenyini
Faridah Kenyini is a young lesbian from Uganda who came to the UK seeking asylum 2 years ago, aged 17. On entry to the UK neither her age nor that she was a lesbian was believed and her asylum claim was refused.

An attempt to forcibly deport Faridah on Tuesday 7th November failed and she has been given new "removal directions" for Monday 13th November to Uganda Kenya Airways KQ101 at 7pm.

Please help us stop her deportation.

As a lesbian, Faridah faces persecution if she returns to Uganda, both from her family and from the Ugandan government. According to the law, religion and culture in Uganda, homosexuality is criminalized. The official maximum penalty is life imprisonment.

Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda, once proposed the arrest of all homosexuals - though he subsequently modified his position and called for a return to the good old days when "these few individuals were either ignored or speared and killed by their parents". Later, the Minister for Ethics and Integrity Miria Matembe ordered the police to arrest and prosecute homosexuals, adding that she will fight gays until they are wiped out of the country.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission have accused the present government of "a documented record of torture and abuse of lesbians and gay men."

On 8 August 2006 the Ugandan tabloid Red Pepper published a list of names of alleged homosexuals, prompting concerns by human rights groups of a fresh wave of crackdowns.

September 1999 - president Yoweri Museveni instructed Ugandan police to lock up and charge homosexuals.

In October 1999 - five members of the newly formed organisation, Right Companion, were arrested and deported to so-called 'safe houses.' One of the activists was raped twice all were beaten.

June 2000 - Ugandan police cover up the murder of a member of Lesgabix, a lesbian and gay grouping in Kampala.

February 2005 - Mr. Martin Amogor-Locain, Commissioner for Special Needs Education, Counselling and Guidance in the Education Ministry "The spread of homosexuality and lesbianism in secondary boarding schools is worrying the government. Due to spread of the pervert sexual behaviour the government is worried about "what might happen to youths in the country."

August 2006 - Ugandan tabloid publish a list of names of alleged homosexuals

Faridah is an integral part of the lesbian community in Newcastle, and has a partner in this country. Fresh and compelling evidence has now come to light that would provide grounds for a fresh review of Faridah's case. It would be a tragedy if she were deported before all the evidence was fully considered.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SOLIDARITY - TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER!