To: Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, Minister of State for Immigration

Mahsa Azad to remain in the UK

To stop the deportation of Mahsa Azad to Austria and allow her to have her immigration hearing in the UK. Although Austria was her first point of entry into Europe she has made Newcastle Upon Tyne her new home and it is important for her mental wellbeing that she remains in the safety of the UK.

Why is this important?

Mahsa is seeking asylum after fleeing Iran because she was persecuted for being in a same sex relationship. She has been in Newcastle Upon Tyne for 6 months, she has made Newcastle her home and has people here she considers to be her new family. The Home office want to send her to Austria as that was her first point of entry in Europe. She is now in the UK and is part of our LGBT Community, she has been active as a volunteer for The LGBT Federation and despite all of her troubles she shows concern for others and wants to help. She has made great progress in learning English, she has made every effort to join groups and has struggled to get her spirits up after the trauma of leaving Iran, she will not survive a deportation as she is already feeling crushed by the Immigration System.
She was removed from her home in Newcastle without warning and taken to Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre, this is bad for her already fragile mental health and it will set back the progress she has made. It's possible she will be leaving Yarl's Wood on the 25th June, If she is sent out of the UK it will destroy her, she has already been removed from her place of relative safety and it is inhumane to be sent out of the UK to somewhere she is not familiar with. She should not be persecuted further because of who she loves.
We are asking for the Home Office to have her asylum case heard in the UK and for her to be allowed to claim asylum in the UK.

How it will be delivered

By email.

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

Links

Campaign Facebook Page

Updates

2018-06-25 20:43:59 +0100

So, things weren't looking too good for Mahsa a couple of days ago, a move to a detention centre closer to Heathrow Airport and delays in legal matters were leaning towards her being deported.
Not wanting to give up hope I handed the petition in late last night, today the solicitors finally got their act together and now I can give you the excellent news that Mahsa is to be released from detention.
Thanks to everyone who has signed, you have contributed to saving a life.

2018-06-23 17:20:21 +0100

Thank you so much for signing the petition, it means a lot to everyone involved in trying to stop Mahsa's deportation. She is still detained in Yarl's Wood, the information available about her case is sparse but we do know a changeover in solicitors and delay in transferring her paperwork is not helping her case. We have someone in regular contact, she is still very distressed at the thought of leaving the UK, she needs immediate attention to relieve her anxiety and improve her mental state and is not getting it. Her situation is inhumane. She was adapting to life in Newcastle, helping herself by learning English and attending many events to integrate and build relationships.
She will be an asset to the UK, the decision on her deportation is expected early next week.
If you know anyone who would empathise with her situation could you ask them to sign the petition? The more signatures we get the more weight it carries.

Thanks
Andrea

2018-06-20 23:10:01 +0100

100 signatures reached

2018-06-19 21:55:52 +0100

50 signatures reached

2018-06-18 12:46:12 +0100

25 signatures reached

2018-06-18 04:36:59 +0100

10 signatures reached