UK: Playwright Lydia Besong released from detention
Last week, the forced removal of Lydia Besong and her husband Bernard Batey was stopped less than 24 hours before their flight, after a concerted campaign in their support. Yesterday, 25 January, the couple were released from the immigration removal centres in which they were being held and have now returned home to Manchester.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to write to the Home Secretary, to lobby Air France, and to send messages of solidarity to Lydia and Bernard. Your support really has made a difference, and has been a great source of strength for them both.
(Photo courtesy of Women for Refugee Women / Hannah Maule-ffinch)
Lydia Besong is a teacher and playwright from Cameroon who sought asylum in the UK with her husband, human rights defender Bernard Batey, after experiencing persecution as a result of their peaceful political activities in their home country. Two weeks ago she and her husband were taken into detention and told that their claim for protection had been refused and that they would be forcibly removed.
Together with Women for Refugee Women, English PEN brought together a coalition of writers and actors, including Monica Ali, Mark Haddon, Caitlin Moran, Kamila Shamsie and Ali Smith, who signed an open letter to the Home Secretary. The removal orders were subsequently lifted and the couple released from detention.
Whilst we warmly welcome their release from detention, the battle is not yet won, and we will continue to do what we can to support Lydia and Bernard until they are granted leave to remain safely in the UK.
Their solicitor, Gary McIndoe, of Latitude Law, said yesterday:
Having confirmed that they are to reconsider their decision on Bernard's asylum claim, UKBA have today authorised Bernard and Lydia's release from detention, only 24 hours after communicating to us a refusal to release them. The Secretary of State's handling of this case continues to baffle; we hope the substance of the risks faced by Bernard and Lydia in Cameroon today can now be looked at with greater care and clarity.
TAKE ACTION
Send messages of support
If you would like to join Lydia's supporters, you can send messages of support for Lydia via cat@englishpen.org
Write to the Home Secretary
You can also write to the Home Secretary, Theresa May, asking her to look again at Lydia Besong and Bernard Batey's claim for protection and asking her not to send them back to a country where they would be in danger. A sample letter follows, but please do send a more personal letter if you have time.
(NB. Please cc admin@refugeewomen.co.uk and admin@rapar.org.uk in any correspondence.)
CAMPAIGN COVERAGE
The Guardian
Manchester Evening News
Bedfordshire News
The Bury Times
This is Lancashire
SAMPLE LETTER
Rt. Hon Theresa May, MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office,
2 Marsham St London SW1 4DF
Fax: 020 8760 3132
Email: mayt@parliament.uk
[Insert date]
Dear Home Secretary,
Re: Lydia Besong & Bernard Batey, HO Ref: B1236372/3
I am writing to urge you to re-examine the case of Lydia Besong and Bernard Batey, two human rights campaigners from Cameroon who have had their claim for asylum and subsequent appeal turned down.
Lydia and Bernard sought asylum in the UK on 18/12/06. Their asylum claim is based on their activities with the Southern Cameroon National Council, a peaceful political organisation which campaigns for the rights of the English-speaking minority of Southern Cameroon. In Cameroon, both Lydia and Bernard suffered beatings and imprisonment as a result of their involvement with the SCNC and Lydia was raped by a uniformed guard.
Lydia was an English teacher in Cameroon and, since arriving in the UK, has written three plays, one of which is critical of Cameroon president Paul Biya. The play How I Became an Asylum Seeker, has been performed in Manchester, Salford, Liverpool and London, hosted by Juliet Stevenson and produced by Women for Refugee Women.
Lydia was detained in Yarl's Wood IRC over Christmas last year and came within 72 hours of deportation. Lydia has constantly struggled to find legal representation and because of the pressure on lawyers who work under legal aid, she and her supporters have had to raise funds to pay for legal advice. Her supporters are concerned that her experiences in Cameroon and her bravery in speaking out in this country make her clearly vulnerable to further persecution if returned.
Bernard and Lydia have worked tirelessly at RAPAR (Refugee and Asylum Seekers Participatory Action Research) and WAST (Women Asylum-Seekers Together) with refugees in similar situations to their own. They have also worked as volunteers with other charitable organisations and have been extremely active in their church community at St Ann's Church, Belfield, Rochdale. Lydia and Bernard are supported by campaigners and friends throughout the UK. The Bishop of Manchester, Baroness Joan Bakewell and the actor Juliet Stevenson have spoken publicly about their support for Lydia and Bernard.
I am urging you as Home Secretary to grant them both indefinite leave to remain so that they may continue to make a valuable contribution to our society.
Yours sincerely,
Name:
Address:
Email
Phone:
Thank you to everyone who took the time to write to the Home Secretary, to lobby Air France, and to send messages of solidarity to Lydia and Bernard. Your support really has made a difference, and has been a great source of strength for them both.
(Photo courtesy of Women for Refugee Women / Hannah Maule-ffinch)
Lydia Besong is a teacher and playwright from Cameroon who sought asylum in the UK with her husband, human rights defender Bernard Batey, after experiencing persecution as a result of their peaceful political activities in their home country. Two weeks ago she and her husband were taken into detention and told that their claim for protection had been refused and that they would be forcibly removed.
Together with Women for Refugee Women, English PEN brought together a coalition of writers and actors, including Monica Ali, Mark Haddon, Caitlin Moran, Kamila Shamsie and Ali Smith, who signed an open letter to the Home Secretary. The removal orders were subsequently lifted and the couple released from detention.
Whilst we warmly welcome their release from detention, the battle is not yet won, and we will continue to do what we can to support Lydia and Bernard until they are granted leave to remain safely in the UK.
Their solicitor, Gary McIndoe, of Latitude Law, said yesterday:
Having confirmed that they are to reconsider their decision on Bernard's asylum claim, UKBA have today authorised Bernard and Lydia's release from detention, only 24 hours after communicating to us a refusal to release them. The Secretary of State's handling of this case continues to baffle; we hope the substance of the risks faced by Bernard and Lydia in Cameroon today can now be looked at with greater care and clarity.
TAKE ACTION
Send messages of support
If you would like to join Lydia's supporters, you can send messages of support for Lydia via cat@englishpen.org
Write to the Home Secretary
You can also write to the Home Secretary, Theresa May, asking her to look again at Lydia Besong and Bernard Batey's claim for protection and asking her not to send them back to a country where they would be in danger. A sample letter follows, but please do send a more personal letter if you have time.
(NB. Please cc admin@refugeewomen.co.uk and admin@rapar.org.uk in any correspondence.)
CAMPAIGN COVERAGE
The Guardian
Manchester Evening News
Bedfordshire News
The Bury Times
This is Lancashire
SAMPLE LETTER
Rt. Hon Theresa May, MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office,
2 Marsham St London SW1 4DF
Fax: 020 8760 3132
Email: mayt@parliament.uk
[Insert date]
Dear Home Secretary,
Re: Lydia Besong & Bernard Batey, HO Ref: B1236372/3
I am writing to urge you to re-examine the case of Lydia Besong and Bernard Batey, two human rights campaigners from Cameroon who have had their claim for asylum and subsequent appeal turned down.
Lydia and Bernard sought asylum in the UK on 18/12/06. Their asylum claim is based on their activities with the Southern Cameroon National Council, a peaceful political organisation which campaigns for the rights of the English-speaking minority of Southern Cameroon. In Cameroon, both Lydia and Bernard suffered beatings and imprisonment as a result of their involvement with the SCNC and Lydia was raped by a uniformed guard.
Lydia was an English teacher in Cameroon and, since arriving in the UK, has written three plays, one of which is critical of Cameroon president Paul Biya. The play How I Became an Asylum Seeker, has been performed in Manchester, Salford, Liverpool and London, hosted by Juliet Stevenson and produced by Women for Refugee Women.
Lydia was detained in Yarl's Wood IRC over Christmas last year and came within 72 hours of deportation. Lydia has constantly struggled to find legal representation and because of the pressure on lawyers who work under legal aid, she and her supporters have had to raise funds to pay for legal advice. Her supporters are concerned that her experiences in Cameroon and her bravery in speaking out in this country make her clearly vulnerable to further persecution if returned.
Bernard and Lydia have worked tirelessly at RAPAR (Refugee and Asylum Seekers Participatory Action Research) and WAST (Women Asylum-Seekers Together) with refugees in similar situations to their own. They have also worked as volunteers with other charitable organisations and have been extremely active in their church community at St Ann's Church, Belfield, Rochdale. Lydia and Bernard are supported by campaigners and friends throughout the UK. The Bishop of Manchester, Baroness Joan Bakewell and the actor Juliet Stevenson have spoken publicly about their support for Lydia and Bernard.
I am urging you as Home Secretary to grant them both indefinite leave to remain so that they may continue to make a valuable contribution to our society.
Yours sincerely,
Name:
Address:
Phone: