11th January 2002
UN
refugee agency calls on the UK to stop deporting asylum seekers
from Zimbabwe
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) is urging the British government to suspend temporarily
the removal of unsuccessful asylum seekers to Zimbabwe. In the spirit
of the UN Refugee Convention it asks the government to grant asylum
to those who risk persecution in Zimbabwe.
Anne Dawson-Shepherd, the UNHCR Representative
in the UK said:
"UNHCR is gravely concerned
about the serious human rights violations in Zimbabwe. Those who
have sought asylum in the UK should be offered a safe haven and
all deportations stopped. Their return to Zimbabwe under current
circumstances could seriously jeopardise their physical safety,
their liberty and their life."
We are concerned that the Zimbabwean
government is sanctioning extra-judicial executions, hostage-taking,
torture and targeted violence in the run-up to the presidential
elections in March. The police and other law-enforcement agencies
are turning a blind eye to acts of violence and torture against
all those opposed to the re-election of President Mugabe, as well
as journalists and human rights activists.
UNHCR calls on the UK government to
respond to the protection needs of Zimbabwean asylum seekers in
the spirit of the 1951 Convention.
Ends
|
