Please send the following letter to the Home Secretary and the Immigration Minister:

Christian NTIRANDEKURA
Home Office Reference N1101279
DOB 10/05/1958

I write to express my support for Christian Ntirandekura, a Burundian national who has been detained on Tuesday 08 January 2008 at the Reliance House, Liverpool.

Christian Ntirandekura arrived in this country on November 23rd, 2004 and claimed asylum after fleeing persecution in Burundi. He was separated from his wife and children who fled to Rwanda.
His family is now in Holland, where they have been granted asylum for a period of 5 years.

Christian is a member of the Ganwa ethnic group, which is not recognised by the Burundian Government. He is a founder member of the Abahuza Party. He was a self-employed information officer who was dealing with various local political organisations including: Studio Tubane, Radio R.P.A, A.C Genocide, UNOB...

As a relative of the former royal family and because he was a Human Rights and Liberty activist, he suffered political and ethnic persecution by the authorities.

In May 24th, 2003 when travelling to Ngozi to cover a publicity campaign, he was ambushed by soldiers in Government uniform. In April 2004, a grenade was thrown through the window in his house in Bujumbura.

From June 2003 until he sought refuge in this country, Christian was harassed and intimidated by the police many times in relation to his professional activities and his ethnic background.
When it became clear to him that his life was in danger, he fled the country.

His asylum claim has been refused several times because the Immigration Authorities do not find his case believable, even though he now has new evidence for his case.
I feel this is due to the Authorities lack of knowledge of the ethnic tensions and political situation in Burundi.
Given that his wife and children have been granted Leave to Remain in Holland due to fear of persecution, it seems only logical and fair that for Christain to have his case heard fairly by the UK.

Christian is currently being held in a removal centre at the Manchester Airport and risks deportation to Burundi, where civil war has raged for more than 12 years and where his life will be in immediate danger.

I urge you to please reconsider the Deportation of Chritian Ntirandekura and for his asylum claim to be considered.

Yours Sincerely,


Name:

Signature:

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WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

Write and fax the above letter to the Home Office

1. Jacqui Smith, Secretary of State for the Home Office and demand that Christian have the right to stay in the UK Remember to quoteRemember to quote Home Office Ref. N1101279
Fax 020 7035 4745 (+44 207 035 4745) for outside UK

2. Liam Byrne, Home Office Minister of State for Borders and Immigration, and Minister for the West Midlands.
Fax 02070 35 4745