DEPORTATION IRAN

Attempts to stop the deportation of Bashir Foris were not enough at Gatwick airport this Thursday (6th).

Bashir, an Iranian asylum seeker fled his home country with his wife Nadia Arzane to avoid persecution. During recent elections held in Iran, Nadia had struggled for democratic change in her country but was victimised by the government for her views.

At 6.30 in the morning immigration services seized Bashir and took him to Gatwick, separating him from his 14 weeks pregnant wife.

As he was being prepared to a board a deportation flight to Gatwick, twelve activists intercepted passengers flying checking in to Air Baltic, his carrier. Leaflets were handed out to people in the queue in an attempt to strike a chord. The action was allowed to be carried out without any interruptions by airport security mainly owing to its subdued nature.

The couple have been detained since their arrival in the UK and were recently held in Yarl’s Wood. The couple were twice told to pack their bags and be prepared to leave only to be told it was a false alarm, before the UKBA decided to separate the couple and deport Bashir alone. Bashir Foris is now awaiting his fate in Latvia.

* See www.NCADC.org.uk