urgent: fax to stop political activist from deportation

To: Gulf Air, Heathrow Office, UK
Fax: 0208 600 1715
Date:

Re: AKM Zahangir Alam: Flight GF2 to Bahrain, 9.30am 24th December 2004

Dear sirs,

Your airline is to be used in the deportation of AKM Zahangir Alam, Home Office Ref. A1145038 on the above flight. It is likely he will be killed on his return.

Mr. Alam is currently detained at Tinsley House and has been issued with removal directions to Bangladesh for 24th December on Gulf Air Flight GF2 to Bahrain at 9.30 on 24th of December.

I am asking that you do not go ahead with this removal on the following grounds.

If Zahangir Alam were to be removed, this would separate him from his wife and their children who are awaiting the outcome of their own asylum claim in the UK. I believe that such an action on the part of the Secretary of State might contravene the UK’s obligations to uphold Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights and Article 7 of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child which specifies that children have the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents.

Mr Alam's solicitor has written to the European Court of Human Rights regarding this matter. Allowing Mr Alam's deportation to continue whilst these matters are unresolved would be inappropriate and I am sure that Gulf Air would not wish to be complicit in such an act.

I also ask that you show some compassion to this family especially at this time of year, who fear if they are separated now will never be reunited again.

Thank you for your attention to this matter

Yours sincerely,