MP urges British Airways to reject asylum flights

MP urges British Airways to reject asylum flights

• Britain halts Zimbabwe deportations

• Blair slams door on Zimbabwe asylum seekers

• UK ministers revolt over Zim asylum seekers

• Wedding stings that ends with one way ticket to Zim

• Zim asylum seekers go on hunger strike

• Double tragedy for UK asylum deportee

• A 'Gestapo' welcome for Zimbabwe's UK deportees

By Staff Reporter

A PROMINENT British MP has called on British Airways to refuse to carry Zimbabwean asylum seekers being deported from Britain.

Vauxhall MP, Kate Hoey, who recently sneaked into Zimbabwe to assess the political and economic crisis in the Southern African country was expected to lead a demonstration at BA's offices in London's Piccadilly on Monday from noon - 2pm.

Tens of Zimbabwean asylum seekers have been on hunger strike at several detention centres around the UK, protesting at the forced removals which have already resulted in the successful of deportation of 105 asylum seekers.

A report in the Independent on Sunday newspaper said many of the deportees had been tortured on arrival in Zimbabwe.

Hoey said Sunday: "In their weakened state and with their mental faculties becoming increasingly impaired, it cannot be safe for these people to be loaded onto flights where they will pose a risk to the safety of other passengers.

"It is repulsive that they should be sent back into the jaws of the regime that in many cases has tortured them or murdered members of their immediate family."

British Airways is one of the airliners that has been flying deportees back to Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile the deportation of a Zimbabwean woman was halted on the 11th hour by a judge at the weekend. The 26-year-old woman had resisted deportation, saying she was too hungry to fly after joining the hunger strike which has been going on for close to two weeks.

The woman said: "I am so weak I can hardly walk. I am so confused."

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL:
David Banks - 07732743228
Nobel Sibanda - Co-ordinator, United Network of Detained Zimbabweans - 07832191659
Tafara Nhengu - Chair, United Network of Detained Zimbabweans @ Harmondsworth Removal Centre - 02082833850 ext 1113
Mafungasei Maikokera - Co-ordinator of Detained Zimbabwean Women @ Yarlswood Removal Centre - 01234821000
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com