| Keep Victoria, Christiana, and Daniel Safe in Leeds ! |
| Please help to stop the forced removal of Victoria
and family today!
Victoria Bakare, a Leeds resident and her two children, Christiana (8) and Daniel (2) have been told that they will be put on a plane to Nigeria, tonight, Thursday 29th June 2006. Victoria has asked for asylum here in the UK and is extremely distressed and frightened at the prospect of being forced to go back to Nigeria where she fears persecution, maltreatment or even death. Victoria has a long history of facing violence in Nigeria which led to her fleeing her country and coming to the UK in July 2005. Victoria was married in 1996 and faced a long history of domestic violence, from her husband and his family until she finally left her husband in December 2004 when she went to live with her mother. There was conflict between the two families since Victoria is from a Christian family and her husband was another religion; differences over whether the children should be circumcised; and other matters. This resulted in extreme abuse including beatings and being scalded with hot water by her husband's sister. Her husband's family had her son circumcised at an early age when Victoria was away from their home. He later developed an infection and this was a cause of further arguments and abuse from her husband. The family also wanted her daughter to be circumcised but Victoria managed to prevent this before she ran away. If forced to return to Nigeria, Victoria is afraid that her husband's family will force her daughter, Christiana, to undergo female genital mutilation. Even though the government officially opposes the practice, there is little real action to prevent it taking place. By forcing the family to return to Nigeria, the Home Office may in effect putting the daughter at risk of a practice which is now considered in the UK. Christiana has been a keen student, doing well at her local Leeds primary school. Victoria's mother, with whom she lived before fleeing Nigeria, died earlier this year. "My mother died as a result of the shock she went through after being locked up in a cell for three days because she didn't produce me and my children, and her relatives are after my life because they believe their sister (my mother) died as a result of my problem. I have threats from my husband, my mothers' relatives and my local community." There are other issues in her asylum claim that we believe the Home Office has not taken seriously. If returned to Nigeria, Victoria herself faces persecution and even death and the forced FGM of her daughter. She does not believe there is anywhere where she can go where she will be safe, as her husband's family can track her down. In addition, it is unclear whether in the rush to remove this family, the Home Office and/or its sub-contractors have ensured full health protection for all members of the family. Please act now. Send letters to help Victoria, Christiana and Daniel stay in the UK. What you can do to help Fax: 020 7035 4745 from outside the UK + 44 20 7035 4745 2. Phone/fax the airline, Virgin (Model fax attached copy/amend/write your own version) Chief Executive, Steve Ridgway - Fax: 01293 444 124 Phone numbers for virgin: Please let the campaign know of faxes you have sent, calls made, and any feedback. Keep Victoria, Christiana, and Daniel Safe in Leeds Campaign
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