We call on BMI to STOP taking part in the forced deportation of refugees, refused asylum applicants and other migrants.

Everyday, an average of 180 migrants are deported from the UK. That’s one person every eight minutes. These people haven’t done anything wrong.

They are criminalised for doing what humans have done for thousands of years: moving in search of a better life. Moving to escape war, persecution, torture, physical abuse, poverty…

The Home Office have clearly stated that there is no legal obligation for airlines to carry out deportations. Deporting refugees clearly violates the European Convention on Human Rights, Article 14 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 1951 UN Convention on Refugees.

Airline companies are a key link in the deportation industry. Without them it would be impossible for the state to implement this aspect of the migration regime and there can be no migration controls without deportations.

People being deported are often handcuffed on the flight and there have been numerous reports of physical assaults on people being deported by the security personnel who escort them.

On 20th September 2008, No Borders South Wales activist Babi Badalov was deported on a BMI flight to Azerbaijan. In an email following the deportation, BMI CEO Nigel Turner said that:

“I do not have the time or resources to investigate each case myself nor do BMI”

But BMI were given plenty of information and time to ‘investigate’. Despite hundreds of telephone calls, emails and faxes to BMI raising objections and concerns, they chose to ignore this and ensured that the deportation took place.

BMI employees told those ringing on the day that they could not refuse to carry people being removed and it was out of their control. However, other airlines have refused to carry out deportations in the past. XL Airways announced in 2007 that they would no longer carry refused asylum-seekers who were being forcibly removed from the UK.

BMI is the UK’s second largest full service airline. By taking part in deportations they do the governments dirty work for them and in the process make money from human misery. In 2007 BMI reported profits of £15.5 million. How much of this was soaked in the blood of migrants who they deported against their will?

BMI must be made aware of the impact of their actions on the lives of the people they deport and how their business may be affected if they continue this practice.

Please contact BMI and register your disapproval at their role in deporting people to places they do not wish to go back to, for whatever the reason this may be. Urge BMI to follow the other airlines who have taken an ethical stance and who refuse to carry out any more deportations.

It is time we let them know that they cannot take part in deportations without consequences.

Please contact BMI today:

Head office
Donington Hall, Castle Donington, Derby. DE74 2SB

E-mail Nigel Turner, BMI Chief Executive Officer at:
 nigel.turner@flybmi.com

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More info on the shut down BMI campaign can be found here:  http://noborderswales.org.uk/category/protest-events/shut-down-bmi/