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Isha Must Stay |
233 Signatures |
Published by Clare Dunne on Nov 21, 2008
Category: Human Rights
Region: United Kingdom
Target: UKBA Home Office
Description/History:
Isha is from Bong town, Liberia. From 1989 to 1997 Liberia was engulfed in civil war, which ended following a peace agreement and the election of the warlord Charles Taylor as President. Between 1999 and 2003 there was further civil war when rebels from the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) waged war to unseat President Taylor.
In June 2003, during a rebel attack on her village, her father was shot and killed in the family home. In fear for her safety, Isha escaped but in her panic became separated from her other family members. She does not know what happened to her mother, sister and brother, or whether they are even alive. In August 2003 Isha arrived in the UK and applied for asylum. This was refused, as was her subsequent appeal. She made a fresh claim but this was also refused. In April 2008 Isha was deported to Liberia but she was refused entry.
With the election of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf progress has been made since civil war ravaged the country. However, Liberia remains dangerous, especially for young vulnerable women such as Isha. If deported Isha is at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which is extensively practised in Liberia. Moreover, Human Rights Watch in their report on Liberia in 2007 stated that rape and other forms of sexual assault and exploitation remain very serious problems. Isha also belongs to the ethnic group, Mandingo, which is discriminated against in Liberia. They are perceived as non-indigenous migrants by some segments of Liberian society and were considered supporters of the dictator Samuel Doe’s regime. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) states that there is the possibility that the citizenship of members of the Mandingo ethnic group might be contested upon return and as a result, they might be faced with harassment and discriminatory treatment due to the perception that they are ‘outsiders.’
In June 2003, during a rebel attack on her village, her father was shot and killed in the family home. In fear for her safety, Isha escaped but in her panic became separated from her other family members. She does not know what happened to her mother, sister and brother, or whether they are even alive. In August 2003 Isha arrived in the UK and applied for asylum. This was refused, as was her subsequent appeal. She made a fresh claim but this was also refused. In April 2008 Isha was deported to Liberia but she was refused entry.
With the election of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf progress has been made since civil war ravaged the country. However, Liberia remains dangerous, especially for young vulnerable women such as Isha. If deported Isha is at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which is extensively practised in Liberia. Moreover, Human Rights Watch in their report on Liberia in 2007 stated that rape and other forms of sexual assault and exploitation remain very serious problems. Isha also belongs to the ethnic group, Mandingo, which is discriminated against in Liberia. They are perceived as non-indigenous migrants by some segments of Liberian society and were considered supporters of the dictator Samuel Doe’s regime. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) states that there is the possibility that the citizenship of members of the Mandingo ethnic group might be contested upon return and as a result, they might be faced with harassment and discriminatory treatment due to the perception that they are ‘outsiders.’
Petition:
We the undersigned are deeply concerned about the chances of Isha (HO Ref: D1085340), a vulnerable young woman, being forcibly deported to Liberia.
Isha is from Bong town, Liberia. From 1989 to 1997 Liberia was engulfed in civil war, which ended following a peace agreement and the election of the warlord Charles Taylor as President. Between 1999 and 2003 there was further civil war when rebels from the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) waged war to unseat President Taylor.
In June 2003, during a rebel attack on her village, her father was shot and killed in the family home. In fear for her safety, Isha escaped but in her panic became separated from her other family members. She does not know what happened to her mother, sister and brother, or whether they are even alive. In August 2003 Isha arrived in the UK and applied for asylum. This was refused, as was her subsequent appeal. She made a fresh claim but this was also refused. In April 2008 Isha was deported to Liberia but she was refused entry.
With the election of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf progress has been made since civil war ravaged the country. However, Liberia remains dangerous, especially for young vulnerable women such as Isha. If deported Isha is at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which is extensively practised in Liberia. Moreover, Human Rights Watch in their report on Liberia in 2007 stated that rape and other forms of sexual assault and exploitation remain very serious problems. Isha also belongs to the ethnic group, Mandingo, which is discriminated against in Liberia. They are perceived as non-indigenous migrants by some segments of Liberian society and were considered supporters of the dictator Samuel Doe’s regime. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) states that there is the possibility that the citizenship of members of the Mandingo ethnic group might be contested upon return and as a result, they might be faced with harassment and discriminatory treatment due to the perception that they are ‘outsiders.’
There is a very real possibility that Isha would be in danger if deported to Liberia. We ask that Isha be allowed leave to remain on humanitarian grounds.
Isha is from Bong town, Liberia. From 1989 to 1997 Liberia was engulfed in civil war, which ended following a peace agreement and the election of the warlord Charles Taylor as President. Between 1999 and 2003 there was further civil war when rebels from the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) waged war to unseat President Taylor.
In June 2003, during a rebel attack on her village, her father was shot and killed in the family home. In fear for her safety, Isha escaped but in her panic became separated from her other family members. She does not know what happened to her mother, sister and brother, or whether they are even alive. In August 2003 Isha arrived in the UK and applied for asylum. This was refused, as was her subsequent appeal. She made a fresh claim but this was also refused. In April 2008 Isha was deported to Liberia but she was refused entry.
With the election of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf progress has been made since civil war ravaged the country. However, Liberia remains dangerous, especially for young vulnerable women such as Isha. If deported Isha is at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which is extensively practised in Liberia. Moreover, Human Rights Watch in their report on Liberia in 2007 stated that rape and other forms of sexual assault and exploitation remain very serious problems. Isha also belongs to the ethnic group, Mandingo, which is discriminated against in Liberia. They are perceived as non-indigenous migrants by some segments of Liberian society and were considered supporters of the dictator Samuel Doe’s regime. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) states that there is the possibility that the citizenship of members of the Mandingo ethnic group might be contested upon return and as a result, they might be faced with harassment and discriminatory treatment due to the perception that they are ‘outsiders.’
There is a very real possibility that Isha would be in danger if deported to Liberia. We ask that Isha be allowed leave to remain on humanitarian grounds.
The Isha Must Stay petition to UKBA Home Office was written by Clare Dunne and is hosted free of charge at GoPetition.
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