Asylum seeker Roselyn given removal date for next Tuesday

Rose Mujaranji

CALL TO ACTION! ROSE GIVEN REMOVAL DATE FOR NEXT TUESDAY, 1 June on British Airways Flight BA962!

Rose Mujaranji has been given 3rd country removal directions from London Heathrow to Hamburg on Tuesday, 1 June 2010 at 10:30am. Rose, a 24 year old Zimbabwean, who is a victim of severe torture and a witness to her mother's murder, came to the UK to be reunited with her only living family. However, because she entered Europe first through Germany, the UK refuses to consider her for asylum. Furthermore, it is very likely that once in Germany she will be deported to Zimbabwe.

Despite being a victim of torture and despite being at serious risk of self-harm, Rose was detained and taken to Yarl's Wood the first week of May at a routine sign-in. A week later, while waiting to be deported in Yarl's Wood, she took an overdose. Now that Rose is out of the hospital, the UKBA has rescheduled her removal date for 1, June.

Rose's Story

Zimbabwean student Rose Mujaranji, a young victim of severe torture and a witness to her mother's murder, came to Britain having obtained a valid Schengen visa for Germany as a University student. She spoke no German and has no supportive contacts in Germany and was sent there for safety from Mugabe's war veterans and CIO by her dying mother with her teacher's help. An only child, her only surviving relative is her mother's sister in Norwich, so friendly German teachers put her on the plane to Britain.

 Here, she was promptly detained when eventually she claimed asylum, and once in Yarl's Wood, rapidly went to pieces. Thanks to a powerful psychiatric report detailing her risk of self harm, she was released in September on Temporary Admission pending a Judicial Review.

There was radio silence for many months from both UKBA and the private solicitors, until she was rearrested and taken to Yarl's Wood a week ago Thursday. Amanda Hopkinson, chairman of the Norwich Justice and Peace Group, who has campaigned for Roselyn to remain in the UK, said upon her detention: "Roselyn belongs to Norwich. She has started a course on biology at City College Norwich and she has really come out of herself. When she was detained she was deeply distressed. She was taken away in handcuffs which she was very upset by." Aside for concern for her general well-being campaigners were more concerned for her safety. Detaining victims of torture is in breach of the UNHCR Guidelines and Rose's expert psychiatrist and her GP commented furiously on that decision, to no avail.

UKBA claimed initially they 'had not received the psychiatric information'......and did not put her on suicide watch despite clear warnings from GP and Psychiatric professor that she is at serious risk of self harm. On the following Sunday, 09/05/2010, Rose took an overdose in Yarl's Wood whilst on the phone to her main campaign supporter, and lost consciousness. Yarl's Wood staff were informed and she was taken to Bedford Hospital and kept there for two days.

UKBA sent in psychiatrists who declared her 'fit to fly', and ignored her deep depression and severe PTSD. She was returned to Yarl's Wood last Tuesday.

Her new and very good solicitor was told UKBA refuses to lift her out of the 'Dublin 3rd Country returns' category to let her have her asylum claim in Britain where she has close family support. A UK Border Agency spokesman said: "Asylum seekers are expected to make a claim in the first safe country they reach. The representations which postponed Miss Mujaranji's removal to Germany last year have now been considered and both the UK Border Agency and the independent courts have found that she has no grounds to remain in the UK."

Written on behalf of the Norwich support network and Justice & Peace campaign group.