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Gina--A journalist detain in Yarls wood

Hashmi | 11.04.2007 21:56 | Anti-racism | Globalisation | Migration

Her name is Gina Khachatryan and she is being held with her husband VAHAN and daughter ELEN. The Home Office officials took them from Blandford Road, Salford in the early hours of Easter Monday, 9th April. They closed off the street and gave them 30 minutes to pack a few clothes. They are to be deported on Friday at 10.50 on flight KM101 to Malta, then on to Moscow and Armenia

THE EAGLES WING
The Mosses Community Centre
Cecil Street
BURY
BL9 0SB
Manchester

Dear Friends

HELP GINA AND HER FAMILY TO STAY IN THE UK!
We are a mutual support group of asylum seekers, refugees and local people who meet regularly at the Mosses Centre. We are appealing to you to help one of our members, who is being detained at Yarlswood Detention Centre, pending deportation to Armenia on Friday, 14th April.

Her name is Gina Khachatryan and she is being held with her husband VAHAN and daughter ELEN. The Home Office officials took them from Blandford Road, Salford in the early hours of Easter Monday, 9th April. They closed off the street and gave them 30 minutes to pack a few clothes. They are to be deported on Friday at 10.50 on flight KM101 to Malta, then on to Moscow and Armenia.

They arrived in the UK on 21st September 2003 and lived in Heywood before being moved to Bury and then, last year to Salford. Elen, 5, has carried on attending the school in Heap Bridge that she attended when she lived in Bury, despite now living in Salford. She speaks English and a few words of Armenian. She enjoys being with her friends at school and is very upset to be in the detention centre.

Gina was a television reporter in Armenia but also worked for a parliamentary candidate. She says that she witnessed vote rigging and that when she raised it she was taken to a women’s prison where she was held for 40 days until family and friends found her and got her out. She and her family fled.

Since coming to England she has used her skills to help others in our group, has helped visiting Russian students at our local High School and has begun a child care course at Bury Adult Centre. She has worked hard to integrate and to learn English, and she is remarkably fluent in such a short time.

The family have no legal representation. Gina can be contacted on 01234 821000 in room 250. Her Home Office Ref is 03/09/029112 and her date of birth is 26.8.76

WE ASK THAT YOU DO ALL YOU CAN TO ENABLE THIS YOUNG FAMILY TO STAY IN THE UK. ELEN KNOWS NO OTHER LIFE AND IS ALREADY DISTRESSED BY THE DETENTION CENTRE CONDITIONS. GINA IS A TALENTED JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN PUNISHED FOR SPEAKING OUT. PLEASE CONTACT THE HOME OFFICE ON HER BEHALF OR FAX THE AIRLINE WITH YOUR CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE FORCIBLY RETURNED TO DANGER AND IMPRISONMENT.

They are due to be deported this Friday at 10.50 on flight KM101 to Malta, then on to Moscow and finally Armenia.

From what I can gather, there hasn't been a campaign around Gina's case. She is known to an organisation based in Bury called Castaways. The contact at Castaways is Sue Arnall, who is happy to talk to anyone about Gina. Her number is 0161 764 9205 .

The family have no legal representation. Gina can be contacted on 01234 821000 . She's in room 250 at Yarlswood. Her home office no. is 03/09/029112, d.o.b 26.8.76 .
How you can help :


1) Fax Liam Byrne MP, Minister for Immigration, . If you write please qoute her Home Office number 03/09/029112

Fax: 020 7035 4745 (or 0870 3369034 )

2)you can write to AirMalta and tell your concern ;

Regional Head Office
Air Malta House
314-316 Upper Richmond Road
Putney
London SW15 6TU
Switchboard : +44 (0) 20 8785 3199
Fax : +44 (0) 20 8788 5164
Email Address

UK Customer Care Office
Email Address
Tel : +44 (0) 20 8785 3199
Fax : +44 (0) 20 8785 7468





Hashmi
- e-mail: rightforall@gmail.com