Monday, November 12, 2007

Help to stop the deportation of Meltem Avcil

Meltem, her mother Cennet and the family's solicitor have requested that this information is made public.

Meltem Avcil
Meltem Avcil

Meltem and her mother have been detained in Yarl's Wood , for more than three months. After bail has been refused for the fourth time Meltem was so distressed that she self-harmed that evening and had to be taken to the hospital.

There, Meltem alleges, a Yarl's Wood officer made fun of her in front of all the other patients saying something along the lines of 'Now you got your day out. Hope you enjoy it'. Meltem said afterwards that this made her so ashamed 'I couldn't even lift my head up'.

Part of the frustration for Meltem is that the bail court has refused to allow Meltem to attend any of the bail hearings. She feels strongly that her presence could make a difference.

Her 15th birthday will be on Wednesday 21st November and Meltem wants to celebrate with her friends in Doncastor. "Can you feel how I feel right now, maybe I will have my birthday in here with no friends" she said.

Support Meltem by signing the petition list!

There has been a deportation order for the 12th of October. But their Lawyer managed to apply a Judicial Review in time. Unfortunately this Judicial Review was rejected. Now a new deportation order can be given at any time!

11th of October Meltem has written the following letter from inside Yarl's Wood Detention Centre:

My name is Meltem Avcil. I have lived in the UK since September 2001. Our family was initially dispesed to Bradford where we lived for 6 months and then to Doncaster where we have lived ever since. I am due to be deported with my mom to Germany tomorrow Friday 12th October.

I was born in Turkey. In Turkey the life was so difficult in our village my mum and dad got persecuted like everyday. They were living in the fear of persecution all the time and that fear never stopped.

One day they thought if we live like this there is no point of living. Finally I was born. My parents said to themselves we have to do something about this. They moved to Germany when I was 6 year old. Germany refused to give us asylum, so our family made their way to the UK - this was in September 2001.

Please think for a minute - if we had not come to UK, Germany would have sent us back to Turkey. From there I would have the same persecution. I know you might be thinking how can they persecute a little girl but I'm sure they do. Because in this country, the UK, there is something called human right. But in Turkey they don't have that so then we moved to UK and claimed for asylum but they refused that in 2005.

Immigration 'Snatch squads' first came for us at 7 o'clock in 2005 and bought us to Yarl's Wood removal central. I was small then I did not know anything, after three days they released us. From that day I could not get a bit of sleep in my eyes as I was growing up. Can you feel how I felt always thought what's going to happen to us tomorrow?

My dad ran away in 2006. I didn't feel anything. My mom was sad about it. We have never heard from him and have no idea where he is or why he left.

Was thinking again and again there is a big difference between asylum child and child who has leave to remain in UK. I never thought they were different.

When a friend asks you 'can you come to my party next week' the child that is an asylum seeker thinks first what is going to happen tomorrow? All day all night always asking them, what is going to happen? But when it comes to the party day. You feel nothing happened. Why do I have to live
with this feeling all the time? And you start thinking about that as well you think the questions get more and more you can't concentrate on your work.

In August 2007 the immigration came for us again in the morning at 7 o'clock. My friends were sleeping in our house. As soon as my mom opened door they rushed in. They do that to all families but can't they think why do they have to come in the morning? Sometimes they awake small babies from their hot bed! Even sometimes they get teenagers to think y future is down. They said to us to be quick, they were shouting in our ears. One time they lead my friends away with out her saying bye to me! How do they feel that I'm never going to see her again?

Anyway they took us to the car and drive us to the police station, told us to stay there and wait, there is another car going to come and take you to the removal centre. The car came and it was awful. For a minute I thought to my self am I an animal? They even treat animals better then that. The car had a cage. I said to myself I wished I had died and never saw this day.

The escorts bought us to Yarl's Wood. And since that day I haven't seeing no friends. It has been 1 month and 3 weeks I'm here. I tell you it has no difference than a jail. Put your hands to your heart and think this girl's family, friends and loved ones are all in this country.

What would this girl do in a different country? How would she survive in different country one that she doesn't even know?

Now I need your help for the first and last time. Please help me!

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