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.