Olive's deportation stopped!

transmitter | 15.03.2006 12:07 | Migration | London

Olive Mukarugwiza and family's deportation from Gatwick Airport to Rwanda did not go ahead on 14 March. On the same day, their solicitor won a judicial review and Dallas Court informed the airline, who prevented the family boarding. The escorts apparently were very cross (!) and threatened the solicitor with action! The solicitor will try to get the family out asap. Thanks to all who supported Olive and her family by phoning and sending faxes.

The following was taken from an email of one of Olive's supporters:

The family were persecuted because Olive testified against her husband's brothres, who slaughtered her mother and sisteres during the genocide in Rwanda (Olive lost 30 members of her extended family in the genocide).

Because Olive refused to withrdraw her accustions she receivd death therats, was assaulted, once beaten so badly that fell in a coma. Yvan was born premature as a result, and the other children were also assaulted and abused.

Now the Home Office mantains that to protect herself and her children she can 'relocate' in Rwanda: notice Rwanda is about the size of Wales! Another Rwandan I am in contact, genocide and torture survivor, was arrested on arrival after being deported, later he was released, but felt he was not safe and is now moving around and trying to hide.

It is not safe to deport people to places like Rwanda. Officially there is peace but people are still disappearing or being quietly killed. Arbitrary arrests are common, and there is no independent human rights watch nor freedon of the press - this last comment I got from yet another genocide and torture survivior who is detained and threatened with deportation.

transmitter

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Torture in the UK

15.03.2006 19:49

According to her supporters, during the days prior to this last removal attempt, the third in less than a month, Olive was sleeping under her bed because she was 'seeing men with knives' in her room who were trying to kill her. 6 years old Yvan was crying all the time, even in his sleep. The other two children were also very distressed. A far cry from the happy family you see in the picture, taken when they were free and living in Salford, Olive hugging Yvan who stares at the camera with a cheeky smile. If this is not torture how would you call it? Please support Olive and her children, and write to the Immigration minister demanding the immediate release of this family, and of every other family who is put through the same.

Chiara

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Olive's deportation stopped!

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Torture in the UK

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