This young married Iranian couple in their early 20s have been in the UK for four months. Nadia was an activist in Iran; she supported the opposition party making a stand against the human right abuses in her country. She handed out leaflets and CDs in her local area calling on people to vote against the current Iranian president. Having seen a person beaten to death by government agents she became more resolute in her struggle to defend human rights in her home country. Returning home from a work a few days later she witnessed her father being beaten and arrested because he would not hand over information about her. Her father spent 2 months in an Iranian prison where he was tortured.

As a young Christian and human rights activist she has suffered prolonged persecution from the Iranian government and will be arrested and possibly executed if she is returned.

International organisations have reported that execution is common place in Iran for a range of crimes including acts of dissidence. Sexual violence by guards in women's prisons is widespread, as are other violent acts. Human Rights Watch reported the case of Maryam Sabir, 21. She was arrested after attending a commemoration demonstration to mark the 40th day after the murder of Neda Solton- whose shooting dead during a demonstration shocked the world. Before she was released Sabir says she was raped four times by guards.

Mehdi Karroubi, Reformist Presidential Candidate wrote that, "Some detained individuals stated that some authorities have raped detained women with such force that they have sustained injuries and tears to their reproductive system" (www.hrw.org, 'Iran: Stop Covering up Sexual Asaults in Prisons').

Nadia has shown immense courage and conviction in her belief in her religion and human rights. On arriving in the UK in January she was detained and is currently being detained in Yarlswood Immigration Removal Centre. Nadia and Bashir are under great stress. Nadia is terrified; she is unable to eat and sleep. She is showing signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Nadia is 13 weeks pregnant and is therefore still in the early stages of her pregnancy during which miscarriages are most common.

The home office have issued the couple with removal directions, a flight has been booked for them to return to Latvia on Friday 23rd April, where it is likely they will be returned to Iran. Legal challenges are currently being made.

Nadia's physical and mental health is a serious concern; she has spoken of suicide as a preferable option to removal. Nadia has not had a full psychological assessment (as recommended by health professionals) and therefore there is no way of knowing the full state of her mental health and how the stress of the imminent removal will affect the health of her unborn child. She is not receiving the treatment that she needs.

Please call Sky Break (representatives of Air Baltic at Gatwick Airport) and Air Baltic to request that they do not except this vulnerable couple onto the flight.

Flight number: BT652, 13:10 Friday 23rd April, Gatwick Airport

Sky Breaks
Phone: 01293 555700
Address: Bath Road, Harmondsworth, West Drayton, UB7 0NA

Air Baltic
Phones: +371 67006006, +370 700 55660,
Mr Flick (CEO Air Baltic): +371 67207069.  dba@airbaltic.lv
Monday- Friday: 07:00-22.00
Saturday- Sunday: 08:00-20:00

Email:  reservations@airbaltic.lv