Gambian Woman’s Life Hangs In The Balance, As UK Readies To Deport Her

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Gambian Woman’s Life Hangs In The Balance, As UK Readies To Deport Her

Monday, 13 February 2012 21:01

Sukai Jack

(JollofNews) – A failed Gambian asylum-seeker who was living in Greater Manchester will Tuesday be deported to the Gambia where she faces ‘torture and death’.

Sukai Jack, 31, sought asylum in the UK in 2007 after fleeing from the Gambia where she was arrested and detained for delivering letters, which allegedly contained information about a government coup.

She claims she had no knowledge of what was inside the letters and was just doing a job.

While fighting asylum case, Sukai who has two young children in the Gambia, worked as a volunteer for Salford Women’s Centre.

Sukai Jack, who has been living in Salford, is due to be deported to Gambia tomorrow.

She has had one appeal to remain in Britain turned down by a tribunal but her supporters say she has another pending.

Sukai was picked up last week by officers of the UK Border Agency and taken to Yarl’s Wood Immigration and Removal Centre in Bedfordshire. She is due to be flown back to Banjul at 9am tomorrow.

Her colleagues say they now fear for her safety. Allison Taylor, manager of the women’s centre, said: "I have spoken to Sukai and have grave concerns that she will attempt to take her own life.

"She has attempted this already and says she would rather die peacefully by her own hands than return to be tortured or murdered.

"At the moment, we are trying to get as many people as possible to e-mail the home secretary, Theresa May."

Norman Owen, leader of Salford’s Liberal Democrats, has backed her campaign to stay in the UK. He said: "I believe she has every right to stay. Also, it would appear a final legal path for her has not been completed."

A UK Border Agency spokesman said: "The UK Border Agency only enforces the return of individuals whom we, and if necessary the courts, are satisfied are not in need of protection and who do not elect to leave voluntarily."

Meanwhile, at the time of writing this report, Save Sukai, a campaign group which is helping Sukai with her asylum case said her chances of remaining in the UK are slim.

In a statement on their website www.salfordstar.com, the organisation said: "We are now very concerned that the remaining avenues of Sukai's appeal process will be very weak, and a decision is likely to be rushed through today in order to put her on the plane to Gambia at 9am tomorrow morning. We want to do all we can to show our support for her, and know that campaigning has done a great deal to stop deportations in the past."
Courtesy of Manchester Evening News

Comments

-4 #6 2012-02-18 09:14

Sorry Sukai....but i'm not sure if Jammeh and his thugs are interested in you. Stay quiet and fight your case.

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0 #5 2012-02-17 13:06

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It is very clear that authorities back home are glad about this development. There are many reasons for that which cannot be mentioned for lack of space and time. However, one thing is clear and around which there is absolute unanimity. That is the media coverage alone has put Sukai at risk. It is definitely certain that in the long run she will be subjected to harassment, intimidation, detentions and abuse if she is returned to The Gambia. There is no doubt about that.

she put herself at risk. seeking asylum is her own individual choice, but tarnishing the name of a whole nation in the process, becomes something else.

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+8 #4 2012-02-14 11:23

It is very clear that authorities back home are glad about this development. There are many reasons for that which cannot be mentioned for lack of space and time. However, one thing is clear and around which there is absolute unanimity. That is the media coverage alone has put Sukai at risk. It is definitely certain that in the long run she will be subjected to harassment, intimidation, detentions and abuse if she is returned to The Gambia. There is no doubt about that.

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+9 #3 2012-02-14 03:37

Goodluck sister, I hope you are never deported. So I hope British authorities temper justice with mercy!m.

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+10 #2 2012-02-14 00:17

This publicity has already endangered the life of this young lady. Until they halt the deportation, am very sure the Police would be at hand at the airport to nab her as soon as she arrives... I only hope that the UK authorities would think twice b4 sendin her home :(

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+13 #1 2012-02-13 23:39

Someone should let the Home Secretary know that the publicity that this lady's asylum case has generated,has already put her in danger...The Jammeh regime don't take lightly to asylum seeking,genuine or not,and view ALL as bad citizens who tarnish the country's image abroad..

It is unfortunate that immigration has become an issue of POLITICAL SURVIVAL for most politicians in the West...It is one area where no party can afford to be seen to be soft thanks to the mainstream media...

That's the reality asylum seekers and 'illegal immigrants' face in the West and US..Very unfortunate..

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