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Church fights to stop deportation
MEMBERS of a Leeds church have launched a desperate appeal to prevent the deportation of an imprisoned asylum seeker due to be sent to Ukraine.
Myroslava Muronyuk, an asylum seeker from the Ukraine who came to Britain in 2005, is in the Yarl's Wood deportation centre in Bedfordshire.
Mr Muronyuk has been befriended by members of Christ Church in Upper Armley, which is linked to the Manuel Bravo Project, named after an Angolan asylum seeker who killed himself in Yarl's Wood in 2005. His death meant the authorities were unable to deport his son Antonio, who was 13.
The project was set up to provide legal advice for asylum seekers.
A spokesman said: "Mira is one of our clients. She volunteers at a number of charities, is a respected member of the community and is part of the Christ Church.
"She is a very vulnerable, fragile 25-year-old who has suffered considerably in the Ukraine and the UK.
"Mira experienced persecution in Ukraine following political activities during the Orange Revolution. Since in England she has been told that men have been to her family home looking for her, her sister has told her by phone that she should stay away as she is in danger if she returns.
"Mira has suffered from severe mental health problems including post traumatic stress disorder and was just starting to recover.
"Mira was arrested at her home on Sunday and taken away by around 15 officers. We are greatly concerned that the inhumane treatment she is receiving could cause these mental health problems to reoccur."
The Home Office said Ms Muronyuk claimed asylum in 2006 and was refused in 2007. Two appeals had failed. "She has exhausted all her appeal rights. That is why we are now seeking to remove her," a spokesman said.
"All our removals are conducted with dignity and compassion and where appropriate medical escorts are provided."
The group is urging supporters to email or fax Willie Walsh, head of British Airways and urge his company not to carry out the forced removal (email willie.walsh @ba.com, fax 020 8759 4314), or to email or fax Home Secretary Alan Johnson and urge him to grant her protection in the UK (Home Office ref number: M1324307, fax: 020 8760 3132, email: Privateoffice.external @homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk, address: Home Secretary, 2 Marsham St, London, SW1P 4DF.
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Saturday 18 February 2012
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