Sofia and Johnson Kalu are Manchester residents in danger of being deported to countries where they are at risk of persecution. Please sign this petition (below) to allow them to stay in their adopted Manchester community.
Petition to Rt. Hon Theresa May Secretary of State for the Home Office to allow Sofia & Johnson Kalu to remain in the UK.
Sofia Kalu (Home Office Ref: K1254708) arrived in the UK on the 13th of November 2006 having fled Zimbabwe, after her home was burnt to the ground and her husband beaten and murdered by ZANU-PF members because he was an active MDC member. Sofia knew it was no longer safe for her to stay in Zimbabwe and she could not return to her country of birth South Africa as she had been warned that there were ZANU-PF supporters who would kill her or the authorities may just return her to Zimbabwe.
Sofia’s church in Zimbabwe made arrangements for her to go to Britain where a church was to provide her with shelter and work. Later, once in the country, Sofia’s claimed asylum but was refused on the grounds that the Home Office did not believe she would be at risk as an MDC supporter in South Africa or that she would be forced to go back to Zimbabwe by the authorities. Sofia fears either could happen and there is now a very real risk of persecution if she is returned.
Sofia has recently married Johson Kalu (same Home office ref: K1254708) a Nigerian asylum seeker who is also facing a risk of persecution if he is sent back to Nigeria. They have built a new life in Manchester as husband and wife and both are active in the Manchester community. At present, Sofia’s claim has been refused and is at the end of the line.
Zimbabwe is a ‘Failed State’ and Nigeria a ‘Failing state’ (32% decrease in living/human rights conditions in 3 years) according to Fund for Peace a leading authority on economic and human rights conditions in all countries around the world. Both countries lacking the capacity to establish and maintain political institutions secure their population from violent conflict, from the state and from agents of the state, control their territories and meet the basic needs of their population.
We the undersigned, call upon the Home Secretary to grant Sofia & Johnson permission to stay in the UK on Humanitarian grounds so that they can remain with their Manchester Community; where they have established a ‘private life’ as set out in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Updates
March 13, 2012
I spent the afternoon sitting with Sofia and Johnson and their fear is honestly gut-wrenching. They are overwhelmed by the kindness people are showing but they remain terrified about what tomorrow might bring for their life in Manchester.
March 13, 2012
Seeing this grow has given me such hope for Sofia and Johnson after months of feeling like we were shouting into the void. Knowing so many of you care about their safety in Manchester means the world to them and to me.
Reached 100 supporters
March 13, 2012
6 Comments
she has been here since 2006! let her live her life in peace ffs
Ridiculous decision. Everyone in Manchester knows they belong here.
My heart breaks for what she went through. Sending her back is basically a death sentence. DO THE RIGHT THING.
Keep Sofia and Johnson in Manchester. We need more neighbours like them not less.
This is just evil. Sofia has been part of our community for years and she deserves to be safe. Leave them alone!
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Sofia and Johnson Kalu are Manchester residents in danger of being deported to countries where they are at risk of persecution. Please sign this petition (below) to allow them to stay in their adopted Manchester community.
Petition to Rt. Hon Theresa May Secretary of State for the Home Office to allow Sofia & Johnson Kalu to remain in the UK.
Sofia Kalu (Home Office Ref: K1254708) arrived in the UK on the 13th of November 2006 having fled Zimbabwe, after her home was burnt to the ground and her husband beaten and murdered by ZANU-PF members because he was an active MDC member. Sofia knew it was no longer safe for her to stay in Zimbabwe and she could not return to her country of birth South Africa as she had been warned that there were ZANU-PF supporters who would kill her or the authorities may just return her to Zimbabwe.
Sofia’s church in Zimbabwe made arrangements for her to go to Britain where a church was to provide her with shelter and work. Later, once in the country, Sofia’s claimed asylum but was refused on the grounds that the Home Office did not believe she would be at risk as an MDC supporter in South Africa or that she would be forced to go back to Zimbabwe by the authorities. Sofia fears either could happen and there is now a very real risk of persecution if she is returned.
Sofia has recently married Johson Kalu (same Home office ref: K1254708) a Nigerian asylum seeker who is also facing a risk of persecution if he is sent back to Nigeria. They have built a new life in Manchester as husband and wife and both are active in the Manchester community. At present, Sofia’s claim has been refused and is at the end of the line.
Zimbabwe is a ‘Failed State’ and Nigeria a ‘Failing state’ (32% decrease in living/human rights conditions in 3 years) according to Fund for Peace a leading authority on economic and human rights conditions in all countries around the world. Both countries lacking the capacity to establish and maintain political institutions secure their population from violent conflict, from the state and from agents of the state, control their territories and meet the basic needs of their population.
We the undersigned, call upon the Home Secretary to grant Sofia & Johnson permission to stay in the UK on Humanitarian grounds so that they can remain with their Manchester Community; where they have established a ‘private life’ as set out in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Updates
March 13, 2012
I spent the afternoon sitting with Sofia and Johnson and their fear is honestly gut-wrenching. They are overwhelmed by the kindness people are showing but they remain terrified about what tomorrow might bring for their life in Manchester.
March 13, 2012
Seeing this grow has given me such hope for Sofia and Johnson after months of feeling like we were shouting into the void. Knowing so many of you care about their safety in Manchester means the world to them and to me.
Reached 100 supporters
March 13, 2012
6 Comments
Let them stay. Sick of this government treating people like trash when they just need a bit of safety.
she has been here since 2006! let her live her life in peace ffs
Ridiculous decision. Everyone in Manchester knows they belong here.
My heart breaks for what she went through. Sending her back is basically a death sentence. DO THE RIGHT THING.
Keep Sofia and Johnson in Manchester. We need more neighbours like them not less.
This is just evil. Sofia has been part of our community for years and she deserves to be safe. Leave them alone!
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Let them stay. Sick of this government treating people like trash when they just need a bit of safety.