penderyn2000
unapologetic socialist
If not, email protests to the airline at [email protected]. I think we should make it clear to the airline that a boycott campaign will be launched against them if they play any part in Babi's deportation.
Babi's been detained. Demonstrate tomorrow
- Thread starter Dic Penderyn
- Start date
Col_Buendia
sort code
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/09/409014.html
Video of demo.
Not entirely sure yet if my upload worked. And apols for the format - I don't even know what "m4v" is.
ETA: or try here for an online version:
Video of demo.
Not entirely sure yet if my upload worked. And apols for the format - I don't even know what "m4v" is.
ETA: or try here for an online version:
Udo Erasmus
Well-Known Member
I emailed the airline yesterday, but will call up later to ram the message home. Just heard that Jenny Willott is on the case.
Udo Erasmus
Well-Known Member
One thing might to be to make clear that they have no legal obligation to carry a removal passenger therefore their reputation will be tarnished. Wasn't Virgin trying to palm off people that they couldn't break the law etc.
Udo Erasmus
Well-Known Member
This comment was just posted on our blog:
"Let Babi stay in UK!
Support from Berlin
kitup"
several times!
"Let Babi stay in UK!
Support from Berlin
kitup"
several times!
Udo Erasmus
Well-Known Member
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...-life-on-return-to-azerbaijan-91466-21852091/
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9042.html
http://gayarmenia.blogspot.com/2008/09/report-babi-to-be-deported-saturday.html
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate use
18 September 2008
[email protected]
Two gay asylum seekers at serious and real risk of attack, imprisonment and possible killing are currently at the last stage before being deported by the British government.
gayasylumuk has been notified that gay Ugandan John Bosco Nyombi has been transferred from a detention centre to Heathrow. Azerbaijani Babi Badalov has been transferred to a detention centre with a flight booked for this Saturday.
The government plans to return Nyombi to a country which actively - led by its President - persecutes LGBT. Newspapers print the names and addresses of gays and lesbians and demands 'action' is taken against them.
Badalov has been threatened with death by 'honour killing' and his sexuality has already led to persecution and would definitely lead to more persecution if he is returned.
The answer of the British government to this: "be discreet" Seriously. This is the position of the British government.
In reality the policy is to refuse the maximum number of asylum applications on the most spurious of grounds. In reality the British Home Office, which manages asylum seekers, is rife with homophobia.
When he was informed that he was going to be detained and deported Babi responded by saying "I feel sick" To which the UK Border agent told him "well you make us sick, you're going back where you belong."
Recent LGBT asylum cases such as that of the Iranian Mehdi Kazemi have highlighted the absurd and shameful attitude of the British government to LGBT asylum seekers. It is an embarrassment to all right-thinking British people and it is therefore no surprise that support for LGBT asylum seekers has come from across the political spectrum.
gayasylumuk calls for two things:
1. maximum embarrassment and a collective 'turning of the back' by UK LGBT and all right thinking people, particularly as the governing Labour Party conducts its annual conference in Manchester next week
2. signatures to the petition initiated by the Rev. Walter Attwood to Gordon Brown [http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Stopdeportinggay/]
We also reiterate our call earlier this year that:
"We hope that gay and lesbian Labour voters in particular will consider changing their vote if the policy isn't changed before the next election. This is one way to get the message through on their hypocrisy regarding lesbian and gay rights issues — when embassies in other countries are flying the rainbow flag they aren't doing this in
Tehran, Kingston or Kampala."
PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS INFORMATION
Further information
Museveni launches campaign against gays
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/460216.stm
Human Rights Watch adds Home Office to 'Hall of Shame'
http://madikazemi.blogspot.com/2008/05/human-rights-watch-adds-home-office-to.html
gayasylumuk condemns "inhumane, anti-gay" Labour government
http://madikazemi.blogspot.com/2008/06/gayasylumuk-condemns-inhumane-anti-gay.html
Babi campaign
http://noborderswales.wordpress.com/campaign-to-stay/keep-babi-safe-in-cardiff/
Bosco campaign
http://www.savebosco.net/
18 September 2008 23:31
Veteran British gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell sent out a letter tonight to the office of Equalities Minister, Harriet Harman MP.
He suggests that “Babi's local AM, MP and MEP need to make similar representations to
the Border Agency Minister and the Home Secretary.”
According to Tatchell, “The only strong legal basis for halting Babi's deportation is on the legal point that he is in the process of submitting a fresh asylum claim based on new evidence. This is the point that his AM, MP and MEP need to make to the Border Agency Minister and Home Secretary asap.”
To: The Office of Harriet Harman MP, Equalities Minister
URGENT ACTION - Babi Badalov - due for deportation this Saturday
When I recently met Harriet Harman, she and Barbara Follett MP said they would examine and assist the correction of any unfair treatment of LGBT asylum applicants.
Well, here is such a case and I need your help.
Babi Badalov, a gay asylum claimant from Azerbaijan, is due for deportation this Saturday 20 September at around 8pm on Azerbaijan Airlines flight J20008 from Heathrow.. He is currently detained at Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre.
He is scheduled for deportation despite him being in the process of filing a new asylum claim with fresh evidence. This new evidence includes one of his brothers threatening to kill him on grounds that he had shamed the family by being gay. There are also new witness statements detailing Babi's history of violent, homophobic persecution in Azerbaijan.
In these circumstances, his removal should be put on hold until he has an opportunity to put forward this new evidence to an asylum tribunal.
I hope you agree.
Babi is an internationally-renowned poet and artist.
I would urge Harriet and Barbara to make immediate representations to the Home Secretary or Border Agency Minister to halt Mr Badalov's deportation, pending consideration of his fresh claim based on new evidence.
Can you please liaise between yourselves and confirm to me that this will be done?
Can you also advise me when Mr Badalov's removal has been halted and how long he will be granted to prepare a new claim?
My sincere appreciation.
Please phone me if you wish to discuss this case.
Many thanks, Peter Tatchell
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9042.html
http://gayarmenia.blogspot.com/2008/09/report-babi-to-be-deported-saturday.html
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate use
18 September 2008
[email protected]
Two gay asylum seekers at serious and real risk of attack, imprisonment and possible killing are currently at the last stage before being deported by the British government.
gayasylumuk has been notified that gay Ugandan John Bosco Nyombi has been transferred from a detention centre to Heathrow. Azerbaijani Babi Badalov has been transferred to a detention centre with a flight booked for this Saturday.
The government plans to return Nyombi to a country which actively - led by its President - persecutes LGBT. Newspapers print the names and addresses of gays and lesbians and demands 'action' is taken against them.
Badalov has been threatened with death by 'honour killing' and his sexuality has already led to persecution and would definitely lead to more persecution if he is returned.
The answer of the British government to this: "be discreet" Seriously. This is the position of the British government.
In reality the policy is to refuse the maximum number of asylum applications on the most spurious of grounds. In reality the British Home Office, which manages asylum seekers, is rife with homophobia.
When he was informed that he was going to be detained and deported Babi responded by saying "I feel sick" To which the UK Border agent told him "well you make us sick, you're going back where you belong."
Recent LGBT asylum cases such as that of the Iranian Mehdi Kazemi have highlighted the absurd and shameful attitude of the British government to LGBT asylum seekers. It is an embarrassment to all right-thinking British people and it is therefore no surprise that support for LGBT asylum seekers has come from across the political spectrum.
gayasylumuk calls for two things:
1. maximum embarrassment and a collective 'turning of the back' by UK LGBT and all right thinking people, particularly as the governing Labour Party conducts its annual conference in Manchester next week
2. signatures to the petition initiated by the Rev. Walter Attwood to Gordon Brown [http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Stopdeportinggay/]
We also reiterate our call earlier this year that:
"We hope that gay and lesbian Labour voters in particular will consider changing their vote if the policy isn't changed before the next election. This is one way to get the message through on their hypocrisy regarding lesbian and gay rights issues — when embassies in other countries are flying the rainbow flag they aren't doing this in
Tehran, Kingston or Kampala."
PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS INFORMATION
Further information
Museveni launches campaign against gays
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/460216.stm
Human Rights Watch adds Home Office to 'Hall of Shame'
http://madikazemi.blogspot.com/2008/05/human-rights-watch-adds-home-office-to.html
gayasylumuk condemns "inhumane, anti-gay" Labour government
http://madikazemi.blogspot.com/2008/06/gayasylumuk-condemns-inhumane-anti-gay.html
Babi campaign
http://noborderswales.wordpress.com/campaign-to-stay/keep-babi-safe-in-cardiff/
Bosco campaign
http://www.savebosco.net/
18 September 2008 23:31
Veteran British gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell sent out a letter tonight to the office of Equalities Minister, Harriet Harman MP.
He suggests that “Babi's local AM, MP and MEP need to make similar representations to
the Border Agency Minister and the Home Secretary.”
According to Tatchell, “The only strong legal basis for halting Babi's deportation is on the legal point that he is in the process of submitting a fresh asylum claim based on new evidence. This is the point that his AM, MP and MEP need to make to the Border Agency Minister and Home Secretary asap.”
To: The Office of Harriet Harman MP, Equalities Minister
URGENT ACTION - Babi Badalov - due for deportation this Saturday
When I recently met Harriet Harman, she and Barbara Follett MP said they would examine and assist the correction of any unfair treatment of LGBT asylum applicants.
Well, here is such a case and I need your help.
Babi Badalov, a gay asylum claimant from Azerbaijan, is due for deportation this Saturday 20 September at around 8pm on Azerbaijan Airlines flight J20008 from Heathrow.. He is currently detained at Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre.
He is scheduled for deportation despite him being in the process of filing a new asylum claim with fresh evidence. This new evidence includes one of his brothers threatening to kill him on grounds that he had shamed the family by being gay. There are also new witness statements detailing Babi's history of violent, homophobic persecution in Azerbaijan.
In these circumstances, his removal should be put on hold until he has an opportunity to put forward this new evidence to an asylum tribunal.
I hope you agree.
Babi is an internationally-renowned poet and artist.
I would urge Harriet and Barbara to make immediate representations to the Home Secretary or Border Agency Minister to halt Mr Badalov's deportation, pending consideration of his fresh claim based on new evidence.
Can you please liaise between yourselves and confirm to me that this will be done?
Can you also advise me when Mr Badalov's removal has been halted and how long he will be granted to prepare a new claim?
My sincere appreciation.
Please phone me if you wish to discuss this case.
Many thanks, Peter Tatchell
Dic Penderyn
Newport Civic Pride!
Azerbaijan Airlines are running scared! - http://noborderswales.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/airline-caves-in-to-anti-deportation-pester-power/
I thought this was about balbi when I first saw the thread title! 
Dic Penderyn
Newport Civic Pride!
URGENT! Babi’s removal directions have changed!
In a move that appears to go against their own rules the UK Border Agency have changed the details of Babi’s forced removal, he is currently being transported to Heathrow airport where he will be put on the 1515 flight bd929 British Midlands Airways (BMI) to Baku.
Please contact BMI and let them know in no uncertain terms of the huge level of damage this deportation will do to their company.
Telephone: 0870 6070 555 or +44 (0)1332 64 8181 (callers outside UK)
Fax: 01709 314993
PLEASE ACT QUICKLY! Call as many times as you can.
In a move that appears to go against their own rules the UK Border Agency have changed the details of Babi’s forced removal, he is currently being transported to Heathrow airport where he will be put on the 1515 flight bd929 British Midlands Airways (BMI) to Baku.
Please contact BMI and let them know in no uncertain terms of the huge level of damage this deportation will do to their company.
Telephone: 0870 6070 555 or +44 (0)1332 64 8181 (callers outside UK)
Fax: 01709 314993
PLEASE ACT QUICKLY! Call as many times as you can.
Udo Erasmus
Well-Known Member
trying as we speak, taking ages to get through. hopefully it's Babi supporters clogging up the line!
Update:My mobile just ran out of credit & still waiting, will try and get to an internet cafe to send a fax.
Update:My mobile just ran out of credit & still waiting, will try and get to an internet cafe to send a fax.
Dic Penderyn
Newport Civic Pride!
you can also call on 01332854000 which is a cheaper call.
more details on http://noborderswales.wordpress.com
more details on http://noborderswales.wordpress.com
Dic Penderyn
Newport Civic Pride!
It appears the most effective number to call is 01332854687 extension 2 and speak to press officer Rob Coveney.
Please say:
• Babi is medically unfit to travel, and is under threat in Azerbaijan.
• That Azerbaijan Airlines were orginally meant to deport later on today, but they refused for ethical reasons.
• Threaten a boycott of the company and serious finacial consquences that that will cause.
• Highlight the damage it will cause the BMI brand from the large amount of press coverage this will get (point out that there has been a large amount of press coverage of Babi’s case already)
PLEASE ACT QUICKLY!
Please say:
• Babi is medically unfit to travel, and is under threat in Azerbaijan.
• That Azerbaijan Airlines were orginally meant to deport later on today, but they refused for ethical reasons.
• Threaten a boycott of the company and serious finacial consquences that that will cause.
• Highlight the damage it will cause the BMI brand from the large amount of press coverage this will get (point out that there has been a large amount of press coverage of Babi’s case already)
PLEASE ACT QUICKLY!
Dic Penderyn
Newport Civic Pride!
BMI Customer Relations: 01332854321 extension 2
ddraig
kicking against the pricks...
when i got through all supervisors were on other lines about Babi, the bloke i spoke to said they have been getting calls all day long and said 'i know' when i said that their business and 'brand' would suffer.
Udo Erasmus
Well-Known Member
...
Udo Erasmus
Well-Known Member
This is terrible news.
BMI must pay for their actions, maybe some of the politicians who supported Babi can endorse the boycott. You can register some of your feelings here:
[email protected]
In terms of shaming BMI maybe highlighting that the Chairman of BMI would face the same threats as Babi if he was in another country.
BMI must pay for their actions, maybe some of the politicians who supported Babi can endorse the boycott. You can register some of your feelings here:
[email protected]
In terms of shaming BMI maybe highlighting that the Chairman of BMI would face the same threats as Babi if he was in another country.
AnnO'Neemus
Is so vanilla
Not just the chairman, surely?
I mean I know it's a bit of a stereotype, but isn't there a significant proportion of gay male trolley dolleys in the airline industry as well?
Would they be happy if they knew what their employers were doing?
Is there an association/union of flight attendants? With an LBGT section?
Couldn't they be alerted any time the government issues one of these deportation orders, and then the flight staff could raise ethical concerns internally about helping to deport lesbians or gays back to countries run by brutal regimes?
Udo Erasmus
Well-Known Member
penderyn2000
unapologetic socialist
BMI Baby flies from Cardiff of course. When we threatened to call for a boycott here, BMI claimed BMI Baby were a completely different outfit, which is, of course, bollocks - they're a subsidiary created by BMI. Some adverse publicity for them here might be worth considering.
I raised Babi's case at the convention of the left this weekend - there's a report about the COTL at http://radicalsocialist.org.
I raised Babi's case at the convention of the left this weekend - there's a report about the COTL at http://radicalsocialist.org.
Udo Erasmus
Well-Known Member
Dear Mr. Erasmus,
Thank you for contacting me last week about Babi Badalov. I received a vast number of calls and emails from people concerned about Babi, and unfortunately, therefore, it wasn’t possible to reply to everyone at the time.
As you may well know, I faxed urgent representations to the UKBA on Babi’s behalf on Friday afternoon, requesting that he be given time to make a fresh claim based upon the assessment by Dr. Helen Salisbury. The UKBA replied by fax later on Friday evening, making it clear that, despite my intervention, they planned to go ahead with the removal.
I realise that a very large number of people had taken an interest in Babi’s future, and had actively campaigned to help him stay in the UK. Having seen so much hard work, and after my own intervention, I was disappointed to hear that Babi had been removed on Saturday.
My office has been in touch with Babi’s solicitor yesterday, and it is clear that every potential avenue was explored by her and others to try and keep Babi in the UK. Sadly, in the end, this was not possible, but I wanted to write to acknowledge how much support Babi received.
Yours sincerely,
Jenny Willott MP
Liberal Democrat, Cardiff Central
Thank you for contacting me last week about Babi Badalov. I received a vast number of calls and emails from people concerned about Babi, and unfortunately, therefore, it wasn’t possible to reply to everyone at the time.
As you may well know, I faxed urgent representations to the UKBA on Babi’s behalf on Friday afternoon, requesting that he be given time to make a fresh claim based upon the assessment by Dr. Helen Salisbury. The UKBA replied by fax later on Friday evening, making it clear that, despite my intervention, they planned to go ahead with the removal.
I realise that a very large number of people had taken an interest in Babi’s future, and had actively campaigned to help him stay in the UK. Having seen so much hard work, and after my own intervention, I was disappointed to hear that Babi had been removed on Saturday.
My office has been in touch with Babi’s solicitor yesterday, and it is clear that every potential avenue was explored by her and others to try and keep Babi in the UK. Sadly, in the end, this was not possible, but I wanted to write to acknowledge how much support Babi received.
Yours sincerely,
Jenny Willott MP
Liberal Democrat, Cardiff Central
