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Marius Betondi

Marius Betondi is a gay Cameroonian, forced to flee after his sexuality was discovered and he was beaten by an angry mob.

Marius' asylum application was refused but he was not given the right to appeal. He has already survived two attempted removals but has now been given a ticket for 18 January, with Virgin Atlantic who are increasingly being used for dangerous deportation flights.

Marius is under suicide watch in detention, after he took an overdose of painkillers before the first removal attempt in November, "an attempt to die a painless death here in the UK" as he "imagined how [he] was going to be killed through a brutal means or cold-blood".

He says, "I feel suicidal and I am getting nervous breakdown. I am so much depressed, especially when I think about the way I was rough handled at the airport. I got sleep disturbances, diminished concentration, memory loss and feel emotionally disturbed. I feel insecure here all the time. I have just been treated for TB and am losing weight."

Marius' Story

"I am a gay since when I was 16 years old in Cameroon. I was caught kissing with my partner and we were mercilessly beaten by an angry mob. I sustained injuries and a bamboo stick was put in my urethra and it wounded me internally. It is a taboo and abomination to be a gay man in Cameroon. However, some samaritans including a French tourist, freed me from the hands of the angry mob and I escaped to a small town where I remained in hiding till I made my way to the UK in March 2012."

Being gay in Cameroon

Homosexuality is criminalised in Cameroon: Article 347 of the current penal code in the country criminalizes ‘sexual relations with a person of the same sex’ and provides for a penalty of up to five years imprisonment and a fine. In addition to this, gay people are at risk of attack and being killed by members of the community (as Marius experienced) and even their own family.

In November this year, the UN expressed its concern over reports of people in Cameroon being harassed, intimidated, arrested and imprisoned because they were suspected of being lesbian or gay.

Just this week, a court in Cameroon - 'Africa's most repressive state for homosexuals' - upheld a 3-year prison sentence for a man who texted 'I'm in love with you' to a male friend.

A fear that's hard to overcome

UKBA have said they do not believe Marius is gay because he did not mention this straight away. Marius explains: "I did not mention my sexuality at the airport because I was afraid to do so. I had no information about how gay people are treated in the UK. I had no legal advice on these matters, so I was really afraid to mention it. I feared the reaction of the Immigration Officer and the police if I said I was a gay to be honest."

Marius has submitted further evidence to be considered as a fresh claim, but this was refused and certified (he has no right of appeal). He is attempting to judicially review this certification, but has already been taken to the airport for one attempted removal on 15 December.

Fearing for his life, Marius was screaming when being put on board the plane. The Air France pilot ordered that he be removed from the flight. Help make sure Virgin Atlantic refuse to take Marius as well.

 

Take action

1) Contact Virgin Airlines as soon as possible

Virgin Airlines: Flying In The Face of Human Rights

Virgin are increasingly being used for deportation flights. Let them know that this is what they will become known for, despite their glamorous advertising campaigns. Read our guide to airline campaigning here.

The flight details are flight VS657 on 18 January 2013 at 22:30. This flight is going first to Ghana, and then Marius will be transferred on to Cameroon (although he has not been given any information about this part of the journey).

You can write to, fax or email Virgin using your own words, or the example letter here.

Virgin Atlantic
Customer Relations, PO Box 747
Dunstable, LU6 9AH
fax: 0844 209 8708
email: [email protected]

Or telephone them on 0844 811 0000. Remember to stay calm and polite.

If you want to send Virgin a public message about their airline being used to send people in need of protection to imprisonment, attacks or even death, you can use:

Twitter
Facebook

2) Write a letter of protest to the Home Secretary: it is essential that Marius' removal directions are cancelled and that his further evidence is reconsidered.

You can write in your own words, or you can use the model letter here.

Remember to include Marius' Home Office reference number: B1321530

Home Secretary contact details

Theresa May, MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1 4DF

Fax
020 7035 4745
(00 44 20 7035 4745 if you are faxing from outside UK)

Email

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]


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