Support floods in from churches for asylum seeker
-24/02/05
Petition forms have been flooding in from around the UK, expressing support for a Zimbabwean asylum-seeker who is appealing against a ‘callous’ decision to deport her.
The United Reformed Church called on its members and others to help in the fight to prevent Edneth Gotora, a refugee who escaped a nightmare of persecution in Zimbabwe, from being sent back.
The last-minute petition, originally given limited circulation, quickly spread more widely during its two-week existence and has now attracted more than 17,500 signatures.
It will be presented to Frank Cook, MP for Stockton on Tees where Edneth has made her home since 2002, this Friday (25th February). Alongside the petition will go a letter from the Revd Sheila Maxey, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, to Home Secretary Charles Clarke.
The letter appeals for a reversal of the decision to deport Edneth, which it describes as ënot only naive but grossly lacking in compassioní.
Sheila Maxey goes on to say; “This letter accompanies thousands of signatures from church people all over the country, who are shocked by this callous decision. It certainly brings our Immigration Service into disrepute among many people who believe this to be a fair and free society.”
Edneth fled from Zimbabwe in October 2002. Her husband had been a prominent figure in the MDC Youth Organisation, speaking and distributing literature against the ruling Zanu PF Party.
After a series of attacks in early 2002, a group of Zanu PF supporters came to her house, took and killed her husband and badly injured her 4 year old daughter.
Edneth reported the incident to the police, the perpetrators were arrested but later released on bail. On a later visit to hospital to visit her daughter Edneth was abducted and taken to a ërehabilitationí camp where she was raped and became so unwell she was taken to hospital, from where she escaped. She later learned that her daughter had died in hospital.
She now lives in Stockton where she quickly became a much-loved and valued member of her local United Reformed Church.
The Revd Colin Offor, minister at the Stockton church said of the response; “To say we have been bowled over is an understatement. Petition forms have come in from all over. Many have enclosed cards and personal greetings to Edneth, and offers of all kinds of legal and practical help. A number of churches have raised Ednethís case with their own MPs. We hope this will lend support to Frank Cook when he presents the petition to the Home Office on our behalf.”
The campaign comes at a time, when the main political parties have been heavily criticised by churches from around the world over their policies and rhetoric on Immigration and Asylum.
Support floods in from churches for asylum seeker
-24/02/05
Petition forms have been flooding in from around the UK, expressing support for a Zimbabwean asylum-seeker who is appealing against a ‘callous’ decision to deport her.
The United Reformed Church called on its members and others to help in the fight to prevent Edneth Gotora, a refugee who escaped a nightmare of persecution in Zimbabwe, from being sent back.
The last-minute petition, originally given limited circulation, quickly spread more widely during its two-week existence and has now attracted more than 17,500 signatures.
It will be presented to Frank Cook, MP for Stockton on Tees where Edneth has made her home since 2002, this Friday (25th February). Alongside the petition will go a letter from the Revd Sheila Maxey, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, to Home Secretary Charles Clarke.
The letter appeals for a reversal of the decision to deport Edneth, which it describes as ënot only naive but grossly lacking in compassioní.
Sheila Maxey goes on to say; “This letter accompanies thousands of signatures from church people all over the country, who are shocked by this callous decision. It certainly brings our Immigration Service into disrepute among many people who believe this to be a fair and free society.”
Edneth fled from Zimbabwe in October 2002. Her husband had been a prominent figure in the MDC Youth Organisation, speaking and distributing literature against the ruling Zanu PF Party.
After a series of attacks in early 2002, a group of Zanu PF supporters came to her house, took and killed her husband and badly injured her 4 year old daughter.
Edneth reported the incident to the police, the perpetrators were arrested but later released on bail. On a later visit to hospital to visit her daughter Edneth was abducted and taken to a ërehabilitationí camp where she was raped and became so unwell she was taken to hospital, from where she escaped. She later learned that her daughter had died in hospital.
She now lives in Stockton where she quickly became a much-loved and valued member of her local United Reformed Church.
The Revd Colin Offor, minister at the Stockton church said of the response; “To say we have been bowled over is an understatement. Petition forms have come in from all over. Many have enclosed cards and personal greetings to Edneth, and offers of all kinds of legal and practical help. A number of churches have raised Ednethís case with their own MPs. We hope this will lend support to Frank Cook when he presents the petition to the Home Office on our behalf.”
The campaign comes at a time, when the main political parties have been heavily criticised by churches from around the world over their policies and rhetoric on Immigration and Asylum.