Currently detained in Yarl's Wood
Nadia believes that UKBA are playing mind games with her, 'every time I get a ticket and it is cancelled I am so happy and then they give me another one for the next week, I don't know what I am going to do. I just want me, Bashir and our baby to be safe', she often talks about the fear she experienced in Iran and doesn't understand why the UK would want her to suffer more.  

Background
Nadia Arzane and Bashir Foris are a married Iranian couple in their early 20s. They are currently detained in Yarl's Wood IRC and due to be forcibly removed from the UK on, Thursday 6th on Air Baltic BT652, from Gatwick airport @ 13:10 to Riga, Latvia. Where it is likely they will be returned to Iran.

Nadia is an activist from Iran who supported the opposition party by making a stand against human right abuses. On a protest in July 2009, in the town of Bandar Abbas, she saw a person beaten to death by government agents. She handed out leaflets and CDs in her local area calling on people to vote against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. A few days later, she returned home from work and witnessed her father being beaten and arrested because he would not hand over information about her. Her father spent two 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.

Nadia has shown immense courage and conviction in her Christian Faith and her belief in Human Rights. Her and her husband have been detained since their arrival in the UK and are currently being detained in Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre.

Health
Nadia and Bashir are under immense stress. Nadia's physical and mental health are a serious concern, she is terrified. 16 weeks pregnant and at the stage during which miscarriages are most common. She has not had a full psychological assessment as recommended by health professionals; She is showing signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is unable to eat or sleep. Without a full psychological assessment there is no way of knowing the full state of Nadia's mental health, and how the stress of the imminent removal will affect the health of her unborn child. She is not receiving any treatment.

Fear of return
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 have published the case of Maryam Sabir, 21, who 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 stated 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" (Human Rights Watch, 'Iran: Stop Covering up Sexual Assaults in Prisons'). 

What you can do to help:
Contacting/lobbying airlines can be an effective ways of preventing deportation. The airline and its pilot make the final decision as to who flies on there planes, often pilots have refused to fly with deportees on board allowing time for further legal proceedings to be taken.

1) Please Email/call Sky Breaks (representatives of Air Baltic at Gatwick Airport) and Air Baltic and request that they do not except this vulnerable couple onto the flight. Ask for your message to be relayed immediately to Bertolt Martin Flick, President and CEO of Air Baltic.

Attached model letter , to Bertolt Martin Flick CEO of Air Baltic, you can copy amend, write your own version, but do include the following details: 'Nadia Arzane and Bashir Foris due to be forcibly removed from the UK, Thursday 6th May on Air Baltic BT652, from Gatwick airport @ 13:10 to Riga, Latvia.'

Sky Breaks contact details
Phone: 01293 555700
AirBaltic reservations , is responding to queries about this removal
Address: Bath Road, Harmondsworth, West Drayton, UB7 0NA
Air Baltic Phones: +371 67006006, +370 700 55660, Monday- Friday: 07:00-22.00
            
Make an online complaint
Bertolt Martin Flick, President and CEO of Air Baltic
 http://www.airbaltic.com/public/contact_us.html


2)  Email/Fax, Rt. Hon. Alan Johnson MP Secretary of State for the Home Office asking that Nadia Arzane and Bashir Foris, be granted protection in the UK. Attached "model letter" Nadia&BashirAJ.doc which you can copy/amend/write your own version.

Fax: 020 8760 3132(00 44 20 8760 3132 if you are faxing from outside UK)

Emails:  Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
 UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
"CIT - Treat Official"


Please notify Brighton Voices In Exile of any phone calls/Emails/faxes sent:
C/o  r.bellamy.bvie@hotmail.co.uk


End of Bulletin:

Source for this message:
Rosa Bellamy
Brighton Voices In Exile
55 Upper North Street
Brighton
BN1 3FH
01273 328598
 r.bellamy.bvie@hotmail.co.uk