February 28, 2015

Aderonke Apata is a Nigerian activist – an activist for LGBT rights, asylum rights, human rights. Aderonke is a lesbian, which means her life would be in danger if she were forced to return to Nigeria. For this reason, Aderonke claimed asylum in the UK, to be protected to live her life freely and openly with her partner and to carry on fighting for people’s rights.

Aderonke says:

Growing up in Nigeria, I was unable to disclose my sexuality, yet unable to hide it.

The culture in Nigeria makes it clear that being gay or transgender is a sin, a sentiment that is fueled by homophobic messages from faith communities, political leaders, families, and schools.

I took these messages in, identified with them, and carried the shame of being a lesbian woman in Nigeria. Continue reading “Asylum for Aderonke – judicial review solidarity action 3 March”

It’s #Time4aTimeLimit on immigration detention

Written by RtR, February 26th, 2015

Right to Remain opposes all immigration detention, for everyone. Whilst we campaign for an end to all detention, a time-limit on detention is a crucial first-step.

The UK is the only country in Europe without a time-limit on detention. Migrants can be imprisoned indefinitely, solely for bureaucratic convenience, often for many months and even many years.

Britain has a long tradition of legal protection for civil liberties. This tradition is undermined every day that migrants are detained without time limit. Many people experience long-term damage to their physical and mental health. Their families also experience the distress of separation. Detention without time limit damages the UK’s international reputation for defending human rights.

Souleymane, who has experienced the trauma of indefinite detention, has said that:

In prison, you count the days down [till your release]. In detention, you count the days up.

As Detention Action’s recent report on the State of Detention in the UK shows, the statistics on indefinite detention are disturbing and yet even they do not paint the full picture:

In 2013, 904 migrants left detention after spending more than six months locked up; 237 more were still in detention at the end of the year, suggesting that 1,141 people went past six months in detention during the year. However, these statistics are misleading, as they arbitrarily exclude migrants whom the Home Office chooses to detain in prison, although their legal status is no different. Continue reading “Time4aTimeLimit”