Pamela Izevbekhai has already lost a daughter to Female Genital Mutilation. FGM is considered torture by Manfred Nowak UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.
To those ascribe to the notion that Ireland has no business getting involved, watch Razor's Edge if you can bear to. It contains violent and disturbing images. Otherwise listen to Pamela's story in her own words.
The Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, former Minister for Foreign Affairs will not intervene.
From Amnesty
International refugee law demands that any appeal process in a refugee case should include an examination of the merits of the individual case and all relevant facts including new and newly available information.
“If returned these children may be forcibly subjected to the human rights atrocity that is female genital mutilation. The State of Nigeria by its own admission simply cannot protect them, nor guarantee their safety through relocating them elsewhere,” continued Mr O’Gorman.
Nigeria’s own report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in 2006 admitted that enforcement of laws prohibiting FGM was ‘negligible’. It also acknowledged that almost one in three Nigerian girls are subject to female genital mutilation.
“The focus now shifts to Justice Minister Dermot Ahern,” said Mr O’Gorman. “It is still within his power to grant the family leave to remain.
“We call on him to do so as a matter of absolute urgency.”
Two young girls are going to be tortured if they are deported and Ireland is planning to deport them. I hope the European Court of Human Rights can overturn this shameful decision.
More information here
11 comments:
That's absolutely shocking. I wish I could say I was surprised, but unfortunately, I have learnt that governments are less than responsive when it comes to human rights, specifically female, gay and most pertinently in this case, the rights of people not born in the country, or with a different skin colour.
I'll put this on my blog as well, if that's ok (when I get home tonight). I think that this deserves as much attention as possible, and I think it's great you've sent this to the F Word. If you want, I can send it to other feminist websites as well, to help get more support?
It really is Shazbat. Shocking. Just have to wait for the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights. I'm lobbying for justice.
Basically Pamela Izevbekhai made it all up. I eagerly await your retraction and apology for misleading your readers.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5993330.ece
You fail Anonymous. You base your assumptions on one piece of faulty journalism. I have a post planned in the next couple of days which will show you the error of your faith in The Times and in your own critical thinking.
No human being should be subjected to this barbaric practice, which occurs in parts of Africa.
Just on that subject: I would be unsure of some of Ayann Hirsi Ali's views (in terms of her economic conservatism, mainly) but her book "Infidel" is well worth a read, and covers the subject of FGM in some depth (she herself was subjected to it).
And not just Africa either. It's prevalent in parts of the Middle East too.
Thanks for the book rec Gombeen Man! I haven't read infidel yet. Another moving book on the subject is Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey of a Desert Nomad by Waris Dirie
Now that Pamela Izevbekhai has been proved to be a fraud, will the Government try to recoup all the money which has been spent on her and her family on social support, legal costs etc. All those politicians, T.Ds., County Councillors and, in particular, the Mayor of Sligo, must feel like right fools after having pontificated for so long on how this fraudulent woman should be treated!!!!
And why did she lie about how came to Ireland via Holland?
State wants deportation ban lifted in Pamela case
Irish Times
By TOM BRADY
Wednesday April 01 2009
THE State has asked the European Court of Human Rights to be allowed to lift an undertaking it gave not to deport failed asylum seeker Pamela Izevbekhai.
The undertaking had been given on behalf of Justice Minister Dermot Ahern after lawyers for Mrs Izevbekhai brought her case to the European Court after her appeal against deportation was turned down by the courts in Dublin.
It stated that no move to deport her would take place, pending the outcome of the deliberations by the European Court.
But since then the State has uncovered fresh evidence showing that documents presented to the courts by Mrs Izevbekhai were forgeries.
That evidence was presented to the European Court in Strasbourg last week and, it was learned last night, the State has now asked for permission to withdraw its undertaking.
But before the European Court makes a ruling, the case will come up before the Supreme Court in Dublin on Friday.
Lawyers for Mrs Izevbekhai have indicated they may come "off record" on Friday and ask for her appeal to be withdrawn in the light of the new evidence and her acceptance that the documents are fake.
Legal sources said last night that the Supreme Court could agree to that scenario and it was then up to the European Court.
But another possible option could result in the court insisting that the case be examined further because of the seriousness of the admission that forged documents were used.
The documents were an affidavit, allegedly sworn by an obstetrician in Lagos, which purported to verify that she had given birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, in February 1993 and that the girl died in July 1994, following female genital mutilation, as well as a forged certificate of death for Elizabeth.
The documents were shown to be false following an investigation by the Garda national immigration bureau and officials from the Irish Embassy in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
The investigation was instigated late last year after earlier inquiries highlighted alleged irregularities in Mrs Izevbekhai's asylum record.
The circumstances surrounding Elizabeth's birth and death were central to the case made on behalf of the Nigerian woman to be allowed to stay here as she feared that her two other daughters, Naomi and Jemima could be subjected to female genital mutilation if the family were sent back home.
Her legal fight against deportation resulted in 19 High Court appearances.
Obstetrician and consultant gynaecologist Dr Joseph Unokanjo has now sworn on affidavit that the previous affidavit, allegedly signed by him, was a forgery.
Look, you muppet, I have expanded on the situation here. Read that before you spew inane bullshit on my blog.
Also, so not necessary to post an entire article. Were you unable to find the relevant paragraph?
PFO now
She has lied to the Irish court. She been sitting in Sligo for the pass five years and costing the Irish taxpayers money etc. She lied about how she came into Ireland. When if fact she was issue a visa from the British Enbassy in Nigeria for a two year tourist visa. She cross the water and saw Ireland as a soft touch. Now with the budget and cut back we can't afford this liar. I bet there are some people who have egg on their face who supported this liar. When it came out about fake documents etc.If she fails this time in the high court for perjury etc. She should do time in Mountjoy and then be deported.
Anonymous, your license to surf the internet is now revoked due to your lack of deductive reasoning skills.
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