Not only has Gamu shown herself to be deserving from an artistic and human point of view, if she were to be deported back to Zimbabwe with her mother she would find herself in a society where women are discriminated against and humiliated – even more so, seeing that Gamu is young, pretty and by now famous.
UNITED KINGDOM, EVERYONE GROUP: “SAVE GAMU NHENGU THE TALENTED SINGER WHO APPEARED ON X FACTOR AND HER MOTHER FROM BEING DEPORTED BACK TO ZIMBABWE”.
October 8th, 2010. Gamu Nhengu, an 18-year-old promising singer from Zimbabwe who took part in this year’s edition of “X Factor” is in danger of being deported back to her home country. Gamu emigrated to Scotland to join her mother Nokuthula Ngazana five years ago.
“After a sentence issued by Judge Cheryl Cole”, say Roberto Malini, Matteo Pegoraro and Dario Picciau, the co-presidents of the human rights group EveryOne in their appeal, “the girl was forced to leave the programme. The Border Immigration Agency has recently informed Gamu and her mother (who had obtained a permit to study at university) that they no longer met Home Office criteria to remain in Britain.
If Gamu and her mother do not agree to leave the country voluntarily, they will be forcibly deported. “Unfortunately”, say the activists, “as Gamu was still a minor when she arrived on British soil, and was covered by her mother’s permit, she cannot put in her own application for asylum or residence. If Gamu and her mother are expelled from the country, they risk being subjected to abuse and harassment: from forced marriages to domestic violence, sexual assault, being reduced to slavery, sex discrimination and even persecution from the government if they were to participate in battles for women’s rights. All these dangers are unfortunately very common in Zimbabwe, where according to reports compiled by Amnesty International and other NGOs, the situation on human rights and civil liberties (particularly where women are concerned) is extremely worrying.” EveryOne Group is asking the British Government to suspend the deportation of Gamu and her mother, and is appealing to the British institutions to respect the international conventions on human rights - starting with the Geneva Convention which obliges the states who ratified the treaty (which includes the UK) to guarantee international humanitarian protection to all those who face persecution in their home country. “We are also asking for a rapid intervention from the European Parliament”, say the presidents of the Italian-based humanitarian organization, “and in particular from the Committee of Civil Liberties and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres. We are also appealing to the Italian Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, to use all available diplomatic channels and intercede through the European institutions to ensure the deportation of the two women from the UK is not carried out. Not only has Gamu shown herself to be deserving from an artistic and human point of view, if she were to be deported back to Zimbabwe with her mother she would find herself in a society where women are discriminated against and humiliated – even more so, seeing that Gamu is young, pretty and by now famous”.
For further information:
EveryOne Group
+39 393 4010237 :: + 39 331 3585406
info@everyonegroup.com :: www.everyonegroup.com
October 8th, 2010. Gamu Nhengu, an 18-year-old promising singer from Zimbabwe who took part in this year’s edition of “X Factor” is in danger of being deported back to her home country. Gamu emigrated to Scotland to join her mother Nokuthula Ngazana five years ago.
“After a sentence issued by Judge Cheryl Cole”, say Roberto Malini, Matteo Pegoraro and Dario Picciau, the co-presidents of the human rights group EveryOne in their appeal, “the girl was forced to leave the programme. The Border Immigration Agency has recently informed Gamu and her mother (who had obtained a permit to study at university) that they no longer met Home Office criteria to remain in Britain.
If Gamu and her mother do not agree to leave the country voluntarily, they will be forcibly deported. “Unfortunately”, say the activists, “as Gamu was still a minor when she arrived on British soil, and was covered by her mother’s permit, she cannot put in her own application for asylum or residence. If Gamu and her mother are expelled from the country, they risk being subjected to abuse and harassment: from forced marriages to domestic violence, sexual assault, being reduced to slavery, sex discrimination and even persecution from the government if they were to participate in battles for women’s rights. All these dangers are unfortunately very common in Zimbabwe, where according to reports compiled by Amnesty International and other NGOs, the situation on human rights and civil liberties (particularly where women are concerned) is extremely worrying.” EveryOne Group is asking the British Government to suspend the deportation of Gamu and her mother, and is appealing to the British institutions to respect the international conventions on human rights - starting with the Geneva Convention which obliges the states who ratified the treaty (which includes the UK) to guarantee international humanitarian protection to all those who face persecution in their home country. “We are also asking for a rapid intervention from the European Parliament”, say the presidents of the Italian-based humanitarian organization, “and in particular from the Committee of Civil Liberties and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres. We are also appealing to the Italian Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, to use all available diplomatic channels and intercede through the European institutions to ensure the deportation of the two women from the UK is not carried out. Not only has Gamu shown herself to be deserving from an artistic and human point of view, if she were to be deported back to Zimbabwe with her mother she would find herself in a society where women are discriminated against and humiliated – even more so, seeing that Gamu is young, pretty and by now famous”.
For further information:
EveryOne Group
+39 393 4010237 :: + 39 331 3585406
info@everyonegroup.com :: www.everyonegroup.com
e-mail:
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Comments
Hide the following 7 comments
Racist campaigning
10.10.2010 09:49
If the Zimbabwe government were going to kidnap Gamu, torture her, rape her and put her in jail for no reason or because she supports the government’s own Prime Minister, then this fuss may have appoint.
But the above claims are totally disingenuous. The reason Gamu wants to stay her is she is likely to live a more financially comfortable life, she has got used to living here and has friends her. This pseudo-political reasons are totally bogus and those supporting her know it is bogus.
To say she is likely to suffer ‘forced marriages to domestic violence, sexual assault, being reduced to slavery’ as if this were part of the culture of black Zimbabweans, is an outrageous, racist insult.
Simon
Racist campaigning
10.10.2010 09:52
If the Zimbabwe government were going to kidnap Gamu, torture her, rape her and put her in jail for no reason or because she supports the government’s own Prime Minister, then this fuss may have a point.
But the above claims are totally disingenuous. And Gamu supporters know they are
Gamu has a right to argue that she should stay. The UK has a right to stick to its rules. The real reason Gamu wants to stay her is she is likely to live a more financially comfortable life, she has got used to living here and has friends her. Zimbabweans have suffered economically but things are improving. Financial magazines recommend investing in Zimbabwe because of its economic potential. The pseudo-political reasons given are totally bogus.
To say she is likely to suffer ‘forced marriages to domestic violence, sexual assault, being reduced to slavery’ as if this were part of the culture of black Zimbabweans, is an outrageous, racist insult.
Simon
Unfortunately, in every country there are Human Rights violations
10.10.2010 12:16
If it would be enough to be African, Chinese, Arabs, Jews or Europeans for not having problems with Human Rights, we would live in a better world.
Because of the regime terror of Mugabe* and his party, ZANU-PF, in Zimbabwe are happening systematic violations of human rights against ethnic minorities, activists, free thinkers, homosexuals and women. The Movement for Democratic Change, that is fighting for the human and civil rights, is persecuted by the authorities too. The same Gamu Nhengu explains the risks that she could run if deported:
It is important to support this campaign and talk about the persecution against ethnic minorities, women, gay and human rights defenders from Zimbabwe. EveryOne Group
*The Sunday Times and the most important Human Rights Organizations estimate that the Mugabe regime has been responsible for the death of 3 to 6 million Zimbabweans, or nearly one-third of the nation's population
EveryOne Group
e-mail:
info@everyonegroup.com
Homepage:
http://www.everyonegroup.com
Unfortunately, in every country there are Human Rights violations
10.10.2010 12:19
If it would be enough to be African, Chinese, Arabs, Jews or Europeans for not having problems with Human Rights, we would live in a better world.
Because of the regime terror of Mugabe* and his party, ZANU-PF, in Zimbabwe are happening systematic violations of human rights against ethnic minorities, activists, free thinkers, homosexuals and women. The Movement for Democratic Change, that is fighting for the human and civil rights, is persecuted by the authorities too. The same Gamu Nhengu explains the risks that she could run if deported:
It is important to support this campaign and talk about the persecution against ethnic minorities, women, gay and human rights defenders from Zimbabwe. EveryOne Group
*The Sunday Times and the most important Human Rights Organizations estimate that the Mugabe regime has been responsible for the death of 3 to 6 million Zimbabweans, or nearly one-third of the nation's population
EveryOne Group
e-mail:
info@everyonegroup.com
Homepage:
http://www.everyonegroup.com
Unfortunately, in every country there are Human Rights violations
10.10.2010 12:21
If it would be enough to be African, Chinese, Arabs, Jews or Europeans for not having problems with Human Rights, we would live in a better world.
Because of the regime terror of Mugabe* and his party, ZANU-PF, in Zimbabwe are happening systematic violations of human rights against ethnic minorities, activists, free thinkers, homosexuals and women. The Movement for Democratic Change, that is fighting for the human and civil rights, is persecuted by the authorities too. The same Gamu Nhengu explains the risks that she could run if deported:
It is important to support this campaign and talk about the persecution against ethnic minorities, women, gay and human rights defenders from Zimbabwe. EveryOne Group
*The Sunday Times and the most important Human Rights Organizations estimate that the Mugabe regime has been responsible for the death of 3 to 6 million Zimbabweans, or nearly one-third of the nation's population
EveryOne Group
e-mail:
info@everyonegroup.com
Homepage:
http://www.everyonegroup.com
Hysterical racist campaigning not wanted
11.10.2010 10:28
More ridiculous scaremongering.
If this were true why did the opposition join with Zanu-PF in government?
Why has there not been a violent, mass rebellion to remove Mugabe and his clique?
I think you mean the determination in the West to destroy the economy was responsible for many deaths.
I went to Harare in 2007. Many people didn't like Mugabe and were not at all afraid to tell me. But the idea that they were waiting for a rebellion to get him out of power is absurd. The BBC has been keen to say that Mugabe jails police officers. So, why no rebellion by them?
Yes, there human rights violations, but if campaigners were to use your racist language to protest about a country, most of the citizens of that country would share my outrage.
Zimbabwe needs investment. It doesn't need hysterical, racist campaigning.
simon
No pity
13.10.2010 11:57
anon