[removed], arrived in the UK on 20th July 2002 as an unaccompanied minor. She was born in Mogadishu, Somalia on 9th October 1985 and in 1992 was witness to her parents' brutal murder.

An aunt took her to live with her in Kenya, first in a refugee camp and when the camp was closed, in Mombasa, where she lived a very isolated life, as she was not allowed to attend regular school. In 2002 at the age of 15 local Police who demanded residency papers from her, which she did not possess, arrested her. The two arresting officers tortured her during her two days ordeal and she was only released because her relatives were able to find out where she was held and paid a bribe. She was in hospital after her release and due to her poor health; arrangements were made by her relatives to bring her to the UK where she has another aunt.

After her arrival in the UK, she made an asylum claim, which was rejected after her uncle disowned her in court. A subsequent appeal was also refused. Her uncle denied her in court because she had refused to enter an arranged marriage.

Until June 2008 she was in Social Services care in the borough of Hillingdon. Once she completed her education, in which she gained AAT accredited qualifications as a bookkeeper as well as a BA Hons degree in Accounting & Finance, she was told her entitlement to Social Services Care had ended. She made a new Asylum Claim under HR Article 8, asking for her right to a secure life here in the UK. This claim is now (hopefully) under consideration.

Indeed, she has now become a valued and respected member of her community in Hillingdon and still caries on with her voluntary work in Hayes. She has integrated well into British life and speaks English fluently. She is a positive example and role model to the young people she helps at the Youth Centre in Hillingdon and they admire her resilience and ability to improve her own life.

Since her aunt in Kenya died in 2004 and there are no relatives she can trace in Somalia, her only known relatives are in this country. She is very close to her cousins, who she looks after on a regular basis.

The current political situation in Somalia was deemed the worst humanitarian tragedy/crisis in the world by the UN last year, a status previously held by the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. The clan structure of Somalia and the fact that [removed] belongs to the Asharaf-Banadiri minority tribe would further endanger her life in Somalia. Her parents were the victims of discrimination and genocide attacks before they were murdered by the government militia. A recent report of the stoning of a 13-year-old rape victim in Somalia highlights the indisputable fact that a single woman in Somalia with no family or relatives to protect her does not stand a chance of survival in Somalia.

Somalia is ranked 1st in the 'Index of Failed states', the government cannot/will not protect the population from others or itself, massive internal conflict, forced internal /external displacement, 1.3 million internally, 3.25 million people dependent on emergency food aid, institutionalised political exclusion of significant numbers of the population, progressive deterioration of welfare infrastructure (hospitals, clinics, doctors, nurses) not adequate to meet health, needs, progressive economic decline of the country as a whole as measured by per capita income, debt, severe child mortality rates, poverty levels, business failures, and other economic measures.  http://tinyurl.com/6d254u

USA: Human Rights Report: Somalia 2008
The country's poor human rights situation deteriorated further during the year, exacerbated by the absence of effective governance institutions and rule of law, Human rights abuses included unlawful and politically motivated killings; kidnapping, torture, rape, and beatings; official impunity; Discrimination and violence against women, including rape; female genital mutilation (FGM); child abuse;
 http://tinyurl.com/p3rwhk

Additionally, Human Rights Watch has recently published a lengthy report on the humanitarian crisis and abuse Somali refugees are subjected to routinely in neighbouring Kenya:  http://www.hrw.org/node/81794

Her positive influence among the young people she has been working with is a great inspiration to many and goes a long way to prove that young refugees and persons seeking asylum can make a positive contribution to the British community as a whole.

Friends of [removed], have set up the '[removed] Campaign' and produced a model letter and petition to the latest Home Secretary Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, requesting that Zara is given the right to remain in the UK.

Attached model letter: [removed]-LetterHome Secretary.doc

Attached petition: [removed]-Petition.pdf

Please print off get as may signatures as you can and return to:
'[removed] Campaign'
Address at bottom of petition
E-mail: [removed]@googlemail.com

End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message:
'[removed] Campaign'