Picket of British Airways, Manchester, 28th Jan 2005

Leonard R was due to be removed 29th Jan 2005 on the 18.50 BA0153 to Zimbabwe.  British Airways said the forced removal would go ahead.

Our lobby was aimed at airlines that carry out forced removals of asylum seekers, not British Airways specifically.  In the case of Zimbabwe especially, British Airways can consider both UK legislation that obliges them to carry deportees, and the current United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees directive Òfor States to suspend all removals to Zimbabwe (initially made by UNHCR in March 2002) is maintained and remains current and validÓ.  If British Airways were prepared to insist respect of the UNHCR directive, we think they would be hugely supported by the advocacy sector in any consequence – possibly joined by their customers and UNHCR.

Leonard's flight was stopped in the end – not by British Airways, but by a High Court judge. The Home Office continued to detain him, but this was over-ruled by an adjudicator in court during a bail hearing ; Leonard was released and re-joined his family in Manchester. 

Background on action for Leonard :
Urgent action needed to stop Leonard R and A-another being removed to Zimbabwe this Saturday!

Picket of British Airways, Birmingham 1999
Stop the Deportation of Shirin and her Daughter Farida