Fresh asylum claim for Cameroon woman

Lydia Besong, the writer and human rights activist threatened with deportation from the UK, is preparing a fresh claim for asylum in the UK.

Mrs Besong and her husband Bernard came to the UK in December 2006.

They lived in Rochdale for three years and their widespread support included the Rev Graham Lindley and parishioners at St Ann’s Church in Belfield, Rochdale.

Their asylum claim is based on their activities with the Southern Cameroon National Council, a peaceful political organisation which campaigns for the rights of the English-speaking minority of Cameroon. In Cameroon, both Lydia and Bernard suffered beatings, torture and imprisonment as a result of their involvement with the SCNC and Lydia was raped by a uniformed prison guard.

Mrs Besong was released from detention last Friday after the UK Border agency decided to consider a fresh claim for asylum.

She had been detained at Dallas Court reporting centre in Salford on 10 December and was taken to Yarl’s Wood detention centre in Bedfordshire after being told she would be deported to Cameroon on 21 December. Her husband Bernard Batey, also 38, was due to be deported at the same time.

But, with only 72 hours to go, a High Court judge in Manchester granted an injunction preventing the couple’s deportation until new evidence was considered. The UK Border Agency has now agreed that there is evidence for a fresh claim and Mrs Besong has been released.

The couple have been backed by Rochdale MP Paul Rowen who urged Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas to take another look at the case. Mr Rowen said he had reviewed the case himself and was still of the opinion that there was “a real and substantial danger to Ms Besong and Mr Batey should they be returned to Cameroon”.

Mr Rowen said: “I am delighted that Lydia has now been released. However, new restrictions mean that both she and Bernard have to report weekly to Dallas Court in Salford. When their asylum claim was refused, all support – including housing – was withdrawn from them so I am currently going through the process of re-applying for that support. I know that they are currently staying with friends in Chorlton Manchester but I have written to NASS as they wish to move back to their previous address in Rochdale.

“I have spoken to their solicitor and I will be fully backing their new appeal for asylum. Both Lydia and Bernard have made a great contribution to Rochdale and the wider region since moving here in 2006 and this can be seen from the numbers of people backing their campaign.”

Lydia and Bernard Besong said in a joint statement: “We would like to thank Paul and all our supporters for the marvellous work they have done and for the letters, emails and faxes they sent to the Home Office backing our campaign.”

The couple’s campaign is also being backed by WAST, RAPAR, Manchester writers, and English PEN, the charity which campaigns for writers and playwrights internationally.