Lydia and Bernard’s “caseowner” at the UK Border Agency offices in Liverpool has confirmed that their decision to refuse Bernard Batey’s protection claim has been withdrawn by the Home Office. Bernard was told about his imminent release this morning in Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre and Lydia found out on her return to the detention centre from an eye appointment at Bedford Hospital. They hope to return home to Bury, Greater Manchester, tonight.
Their solicitor, Gary McIndoe, of Latitude Law, says:"Having confirmed that they are to reconsider their decision on Bernard's asylum claim, UKBA have today authorised Bernard and Lydia's release from detention, only 24 hours after communicating to us a refusal to release them. The Secretary of State's handling of this case continues to baffle; we hope the substance of the risks faced by Bernard and Lydia in Cameroon today can now be looked at with greater care and clarity."
Lydia and Bernard were detained on January 10th and their supporters organised a high profile campaign demanding their release which was covered by both local and national media. Lydia's latest play, Down with the Dictator, is currently in rehearsal and due to be performed in Greater Manchester and Bristol in March.
English PEN, which campaigns for persecuted writers internationally, and the London based Women for Refugee Women organised an Open Letter to Home Secretary Theresa May asking her to grant the couple asylum in the UK. It was signed by leading writers, including War Horse author Michael Morpurgo, actor Juliet Stevenson and two members of the House of Lords, Joan Bakewell and Helena Kennedy.
In a message to Lydia and Bernard's campaign group, Gillian Slovo, President of English PEN, described the news as “fantastic”. She added: “Please pass on my congratulations for the campaign they have waged and my hopes that this will now allow the two some stability here.”
BACKGROUND INFORMATION -
· In 2009/2010 Lydia was held in detention for four weeks over the Christmas period and she and Bernard were threatened with removal to Cameroon. The flight was halted by a High Court judge and the UKBA said their case would be reviewed.
· In Cameroon, Lydia taught English and English Literature and Bernard ran his own business. They were forced to leave their home country in 2006 because of their membership of the SCNC, a peaceful organisation which campaigns for the rights of the English speaking minority of Southern Cameroon. The couple were imprisoned and tortured in Cameroon, and Lydia was raped by a uniformed prison guard. They have both been traumatised by these experiences and are subject to severe depression.
· Amnesty International says the Government in Cameroon continues to attempt to silence critics of its policies. “The Government continues to curtail the activities of the SCNC, a non violent secessionist group whose members face arrest and imprisonment.” The US Country Report on Human Rights has also drawn attention to the persecution of SCNC members in Cameroon.
· A writer in Cameroon was released last year following a strong campaign by Amnesty International. He had been held in extremely harsh prison conditions for six months after writing a book about the president's wife.
· Lydia has written three plays, the latest of which Down with the Dictator, will be performed in March. Her play How I Became An Asylum Seeker has been performed in Manchester, Salford, Liverpool and London. In London, she shared a platform with actor Juliet Stevenson in a discussion about issues raised by the play.
· Lydia and Bernard received strong backing from their former MP Paul Rowen who knew their case well and believed there was a “real and substantial danger to Ms Besong and Mr Batey should they be returned to Cameroon.” Their current MP is David Nuttall (Bury North) and supporters have been lobbying him while Lydia and Bernard have been in detention.
· The couple lived in Rochdale for three years before being re-housed in Bury in 2010. They have widespread support in both communities and also in Manchester where they have worked as volunteers for human rights organisations. They are valued members of the congregation at St Ann's Church, Belfield, Rochdale, and the Bishop of Manchester has spoken out publicly on their behalf. They are also members of the Bury AcaPeelers community choir whose members have supported their campaign.
· Members of English PEN, the organisation which campaigns for writers and playwrights internationally, have backed Lydia and Bernard's fight to remain in the UK