Florence fled Sierra Leone because she was suffering physical and mental abuse including beatings by her parents and rape by her cousin who she had been forced to marry. This all happened because Florence told her parents she was a lesbian, a fact that she had previously kept secret.

When Florence went to the police in Sierra Leone for help they turned her away, saying it was a family matter. She tried to find a safe place to stay but could not and was forced to return home to face more abuse and violence. She was horrified to learn that her parents were planning to force her to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM), as they believed this would 'cure' her. This process involves mutilating a woman's genitals, often resulting in serious infection and illness, and sometimes death.

Florence arrived in the UK in the company of a man who she now realises was profiteering from the plight of refugees from Sierra Leone. He had been paid by Florence's girlfriend, then living in America, and accompanied Florence here to the UK, telling her that they were passing through on the way to the United States.

Florence has been let down by many people, by friends and family as well as by the authorities in the UK. One of the reasons her asylum claim was refused was that she could not prove that what she had been subjected to was "a sustained pattern or campaign of persecution against you which was knowingly tolerated by the authorities…".

Yet homosexuality is illegal in Sierra Leone which is a very homophobic society. In September 2004 Fanyann Eddy, the founder and director of Sierra Leone Lesbian and Gay Foundation (SLLAGA), an officially registered organisation, was brutally attacked, gang raped and murdered in her office. The police have yet to arrest anyone. If a person in Fannyann's position could not get protection from the Sierra Leone government, what chance does Florence stand?

Meanwhile, Florence is receiving threatening e-mails from the cousin who raped her and fears for her safety if she is forced to return to Sierra Leone.

The immigration judge said that Florence and her story were not credible - this judgement does not account for Florence's distressed state when she arrived here. The man who brought Florence to the UK disappeared, leaving Florence to face immigration officials alone and unprepared; not knowing what else to do she asked for asylum. Florence was pregnant as a result of the rape, alone and scared.

Florence suffers from depression caused by the stress and trauma of her life and her son, Michael, is suffering with her. His speech and development have been seriously affected by their unsettled life - Florence has been moved six times since she arrived by the National Asylum Support Service, on whom she is dependent.

Despite her own difficulties, Florence is an active member of Woman Asylum Seekers Together (WAST) and helps other vulnerable women to campaign for their right to stay in the UK.

What you can do;

1. Write to Liam Byrne, Minister for State for Nationality, Citizenship & Immigration
Use the Model letter (or you can copy/amend/write your own version) to ask that Florence and Michael be allowed to remain in the UK in safety. If you write your own letter, please ensure Florence's Home Office reference number is included - M1178138. 

Liam Byrne
Minister for State for Nationality, Citizenship & Immigration
3rd Floor
Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Please send copies of letters to the Florence and Michael Must Stay Campaign

2. Sign the petition
Please download the petition, get signatures and return completed petition sheets to the Florence and Michael Must Stay Campaign

Click here to go to the on-line petition for Florence and Michael

Contact the Florence and Michael Must Stay Campaign
C/o Manchester Lesbian Community Project
PO Box 153
M60 1LP
Tel/fax: 0161 273 7128
mail@manchesterlcp.org.uk
www.manchesterlcp.org.uk