| Sanctuary for Kemi Ayinde, Taiwo Salami, and Yasmin Salami |
Kemi, Taiwo & Yasmin back where they belong in Cardiff The family were returned to Cardiff last Monday, however Kemi was rushed to hospital on Tuesday with internal bleeding. Kemi, speaking to local media WalesOnline, said ; "I don't know what is going to happen. They (the doctors) are doing their best anyway. I don't know when I will be out. If the bleeding is stopped I will go home. I am so worried. I am having pains. I think maybe I have overstretched myself. I don't want to lose the baby." The article goes on to say ; "Furious partner Taiwo Salami blamed the Home Office for her problems. The couple have maintained they did not receive adequate treatment while they were being held at Yarl's Wood detention centre, near Bedford." Kemi, Taiwo & Yasmin, Second Airline refuses to carry them (Posted Friday 11th July 2008) Virgin Nigeria emphatically refused to carry the family after a storm of emails/faxes; not only refused to carry them last Tuesday 8th July but have said they won't carry them in the future. A British Airways crew refused to carry them on the Tuesday 1st July. Family are still in Yarl's Wood and have lodged a bail application. Email from Virgin Nigeria to a protestor In another response Virgin Nigeria denied ever operating a removal flight: "It is pertinent to mention that we do not tolerate the inhumane treatment of any person on board any of our flights as we ensure that all our passengers are treated with dignity and respect firmly recognizing that Asylum Seekers are not criminals but law abiding persons found to have no right or entitlement to remain in that particular country. Furthermore, Virgin Nigeria does not make any special profit from these operations and has never operated a removal flight before." Another attempt to remove, Kemi, Taiwo & Yasmin The family are currently detained in Yarl's Wood IRC and due to be forcibly removed from the UK to Nigeria on Tuesday 8th July on Virgin Nigeria Airways flight VK292 from Gatwick to Lagos at 22.15hrs. This will be the second attempt to remove the family.
On Tuesday 1st July, British Airways refused to allow the family to fly due to Kemi's health condition, which included high blood pressure. There has been great support for the family demonstrated both at local level, from their community in Cardiff, and nationwide with much media interest. Supporters who believe the family should not be deported include the Leader and Deputy Leader of Cardiff County Council and Welsh Government Minister Leanne Wood. Kemi Ayinde is 24 years old woman from Nigeria who was trafficked to the UK seven years ago. She was forced to work in London as a prostitute and was told that she would have to work as a prostitute for 3-4 years in order to pay for being brought to the UK. She was not allowed to leave the house that she was forced to work at. Kemi managed to escape from the house in 2004 and became street homeless. Sanctuary for Kemi Ayinde, Taiwo Salami, and Yasmin Salami No Borders South Wales has rallied round the Cardiff community to support the family. What you can do to help All day to day Monday 9th July and very eary tomorrow morning 1) Fax/Email/phone, Conrad Clifford, CEO, Virgin Nigeria, asking him not to carry the family back to Nigeria. Download model letter (Kemi-2ndremovalVN.doc) is attached, which you can copy/amend/write your own. Remember to include these details; due to be forcibly removed from the UK to Nigeria on Tuesday 8th July on Virgin Nigeria Airways flight VK292 from Gatwick to Lagos at 10.15hrs. This will be the second attempt to remove the family, British Airways have already refused to carry Kemi & her family. Fax: 01293 448035 from outside the UK + 44 1293 448035 2) Please send urgent faxes/Emails immediately to, Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith, Secretary of State for the Home Office. Please download the model letter KemiAyindeJSdoc which you can copy/amend/write your own version; if you do so, please remember to include the HO Ref S1387236. Fax: 020 7035 0900 from outside the UK +44 20 7035 0900 Please notify the campaign of any faxes/letters sent: Sanctuary for Kemi, Taiwo and Yasmin Salami End of Bulletin: Source for this Message: Kemi and her family were taken on to the plane early Tuesday morning 1st July, but cabin crew ordered the escorts to take the family off the plane. Kemi said she overheard the cabin crew talking about 'all the phone calls' British Airways received about her, then they told her they had been advised she was not fit to fly! Don't deport pregnant mum and family, says Cardiff Sanctuary for Kemi Ayinde, Taiwo Salami, and Yasmin Salami The family are currently detained in Yarl's Wood IRC and due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Tuesday 1st July at 12:50pm on British Airways flight BA 0075 to Nigeria. Kemi Ayinde is 24 years old woman from Nigeria who was trafficked to the UK seven years ago. She was forced to work in London as a prostitute and was told that she would have to work as a prostitute for 3-4 years in order to pay for being brought to the UK. She was not allowed to leave the house that she was forced to work at. Kemi managed to escape from the house in 2004 and became street homeless. Taiwo Salami is her partner whom she met in 2005 in London. They have a daughter, Yasmin Salami who is 1 year and 6 months old. They lived together in Bristol where Taiwo claimed asylum, with Kemi as a dependent. Kemi claimed asylum in her own right on 21/3/08, the claim has been refused. Kemi cannot return to Nigeria as the woman who brought her to the UK to work as prostitute said she would die if she ran away. Kemi was told she would need to work for 3-4 years as a prostitute before she would be free. She was destitute before she met this woman in Nigeria and has no relationship with any family members and has not since her parents abandoned her at a young age. Her father is now dead and mother has married again and doesn't‚ consider Kemi part of the family. Nigeria's respect for Human Rights is practically non-existent USA Country Report on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria 2007 Since the family moved to Cardiff last year Yasmin has joined a local playgroup, they all attend church and are involved with Nigeria Community Wales. Being removed from the UK would interfere with their human right to a family life. Kemi is 5 months pregnant and is experiencing back/spinal problems. She cannot stand up on her own and cannot stand up straight. Their daughter Yasmin also has an uncomfortable skin problem. Kemi feels that neither of them is getting appropriate medical attention in detention. The family are all experiencing stress and feelings of depression because of their situation. No Borders South Wales has rallied round the Cardiff community to support the family. What you can do to help All day to day Monday 30th June and tomorrow morning 2. Fax Willie Walsh, BA Chief Executive Officer, download the model fax 'KemiAyindeBA.doc', which you can copy/amend/write your own (please ensure inclusion of the families' flight details - British Airways flight BA 0075 to Nigeria on Tuesday 1st July at 12:50pm. Fax: 020 8759 4314 from outside the UK + 44 20 8759 4314 2) Please send urgent faxes/Emails immediately to, Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith, Secretary of State for the Home Office. Please download model letter Kemi AyindeJSdoc, which you can copy/amend/write your own version; if you do so, please remember to include the HO Ref S1387236. Fax: 020 7035 0900 from outside the UK +44 20 7035 0900 Please notify the campaign of any faxes/letters sent: Sanctuary for Kemi, Taiwo and Yasmin Salami Source for this page: |