Sofia -urgent letters to email
PLEASE CUT , PASTE AND EMAIL FOLLOWING 2 LETTERS
1) TO NICK CLEGG
For the URGENT ATTENTION OF NICK CLEGG
Deputy Prime Minister’s Office.
Dear Mr. Clegg,
Re: SOFIA KALU, HO Ref: K1254708
Facing Forced removal on Friday 9th September 2011 ;08.30 pm
Home Office Reference: K1254708
Flight numbers; VS601 ,Virgin Airways
I am writing to urge you to intercede with the Home Secretary in the case of Sofia Kalu currently detained in Yarlswood IRC with removal directions set for Friday , 9th September.
Sofia is a well-respected and well-known activist for human rights, and for women in particular, in Manchester. She makes an enormous contribution to the local community. Sofia is a loved member of the WAST (Women Asylum Seekers Together) management group, and active within Manchester Refugee Support Network, the Salford Forum, and Revive. She is also an active trade union member of Unite and has done volunteer work in schools raising awareness of asylum issues. Despite her own circumstances Sophia also helps support elderly people as a volunteer with the ‘Generations project’.
She is currently being held in Yarlswood detention centre, treated as a criminal rather than the valued member of the community that she is .Sofia has so much to give her community as her history of voluntary work in Britain over the last 5 years shows. Sophia is married to Johnson Kalu and they have built a new life in Manchester.
Background
Sofia Kalu arrived in the UK in November 2006 having fled Zimbabwe, after her home was burnt to the ground and her husband beaten and murdered by ZANU-PF members because he was an active MDC member.
Sofia knew it was no longer safe for her to stay in Zimbabwe and she could not return to her country of birth South Africa as she had been warned that there were ZANU-PF supporters who would kill her or the authorities may just return her to Zimbabwe. Sofia managed to escape to Britain, where a church provided shelter and sanctuary.
Whilst awaiting a decision on her application for asylum, Sofia has married Johnson Kalu, a Nigerian asylum seeker who is also facing a risk of persecution if he is sent back to Nigeria. Johnson has been in detention for longer than 6 months now and Sofia has been campaigning for his release..
The UK Home Office, however, have so far refused to offer protection and are now intent on sending her back to South Africa – away from her husband, away from safety.
Sofia has not signed any travel documents and as far as she knew the South African embassy had not found any of her documents in relation to her Nationality, yet they have now issued her with flight details for her on the 9th September. She is afraid if she returns to South Africa here they will try and send her back to Zimbabwe and that she would not be safe in either country.
Sofia and Johnson have built a new life in Manchester as husband and wife. Both are active and given so much to the Manchester community.Please ask the Home Secretary to stay the removal of Sofia and to grant Sofia and Johnson permission to stay in the UK on Humanitarian grounds so that they can remain with her Manchester Community; where they have established a ‘private life’ as set out in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Yours Sincerely,
………………………………….
2) TO THERESA MAY HOME SECRTARY
For the URGENT ATTENTION of
Rt. Hon Theresa May MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office
Re: SOFIA KALU, HO Ref: K1254708
Facing Forced removal on Friday 9th September 2011 ; 08.30am
Home Office Reference: K1254708
Flight numbers; VS601 ,Virgin Airways
I am writing to urge you to intercede as Home Secretary in the case of Sofia Kalu currently detained in Yarlswood IRC with removal directions set for Friday , 9th September.
Sofia is a well-respected and well-known activist for human rights, and for women in particular, in Manchester. She makes an enormous contribution to the local community. Sofia is a loved member of the WAST (Women Asylum Seekers Together) management group, and active within Manchester Refugee Support Network, the Salford Forum, and Revive. She is also an active trade union member of Unite and has done volunteer work in schools raising awareness of asylum issues. Despite her own circumstances Sophia also helps support elderly people as a volunteer with the ‘Generations project’.
She is currently being held in Yarlswood detention centre, treated as a criminal rather than the valued member of the community that she is .Sofia has so much to give her community as her history of voluntary work in Britain over the last 5 years shows. Sophia is married to Johnson Kalu and they have built a new life in Manchester.
Background
Sofia Kalu arrived in the UK in November 2006 having fled Zimbabwe, after her home was burnt to the ground and her husband beaten and murdered by ZANU-PF members because he was an active MDC member.
Sofia knew it was no longer safe for her to stay in Zimbabwe and she could not return to her country of birth South Africa as she had been warned that there were ZANU-PF supporters who would kill her or the authorities may just return her to Zimbabwe. Sofia managed to escape to Britain, where a church provided shelter and sanctuary.
Whilst awaiting a decision on her application for asylum, Sofia has married Johnson Kalu, a Nigerian asylum seeker who is also facing a risk of persecution if he is sent back to Nigeria. Johnson has been in detention for longer than 6 months now and Sofia has been campaigning for his release..
The UK Home Office, however, have so far refused to offer protection and are now intent on sending her back to South Africa – away from her husband, away from safety.
Sofia has not signed any travel documents and as far as she knew the South African embassy had not found any of her documents in relation to her Nationality, yet they have now issued her with flight details for her on the 9th September. She is afraid if she returns to South Africa here they will try and send her back to Zimbabwe and that she would not be safe in either country.
Sofia and Johnson have built a new life in Manchester as husband and wife. Both are active and given so much to the Manchester community.Please as Home Secretary , stay the removal of Sofia and grant Sofia and Johnson permission to stay in the UK on Humanitarian grounds so that they can remain with her Manchester Community; where they have established a ‘private life’ as set out in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Yours Sincerely,
3- to the CUSTOMER SERVICES OF VIRGIN ATLANTIC
Letter for Steve Ridgway, CEO of VIRGIN ATLANTIC model letter
