STOP THE DEPORTATION OF UGANDAN LESBIAN AND ACTIVIST MARGRET NAZIWA FROM UNITED KINGDOM.

This petition had 505 supporters

The Issue

Margret Nazziwa   is a Ugandan Lesbian and gay rights activists facing deportation from United Kingdom back to Uganda on Sunday 13/07/2014 on board Kenya Airways at 8pm. She is currently being detained in Yarl’s Wood immigration removal center.

 

Margret fled Uganda in 2012 after experiencing persecution because of being a lesbian.  She was forced into marriage,was a victim of rape and tortured by the community and State authorities.  She therefore sought refuge in the United Kingdom in order to save her life.

 

Margret has been in a full Lesbian relationship with her partner since June 2013. However the UK government claims that their relationship is not serious because Diana spends most of her time working as a career, therefore she is not a lesbian.

 

She has been battling with depression as a result of her trauma whilst in Uganda, and on that basis London Friends decided to offer her counselling that has been helping her to come to terms with her depression.

 

She has engaged in high profile campaigns for gay rights in Uganda, Cameroon, Jamaica, Russia, Gambia, Lithuania, Nigeria and same sex marriage in the UK. The UK government claims that the Ugandan government and the anti-gay vigilantes will not recognize her even though Margret prefers to continue campaigning for the voiceless.

 

Margret in her own words says that ‘My past motivates me to pave the way for the future LGBTI generations in Africa and other Countries.  I am privileged to be in the United Kingdom where I live an openly lesbian life and campaign for gay rights without any fear of being persecuted.  If I am deported back to Uganda I will face imprisonment and persecution and many other acts of violence against my person.   I will not be able to campaign for gay rights as I have been doing in the UK. I will not be able to live my life openly and freely, and my relationship with my partner will be broken. I beg the UK government to offer me protection such that I can live my life without fear just like other people and  continue to campaign in a peaceful and dignified manner for the rights of other persecuted peoples.’

 

Margret helped in organizing a protest against the visit of President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda to London on 7/05/2014, just after signing the Anti-gay Act.  As always she was passionate in speaking out for the voiceless LGBTI community in Uganda.

 

 Her application for asylum  is supported by her partner , Peter Tatchell foundation, Out and Proud Diamond Group( African LGBTI) a group of African gay rights activists,  Metropolitan Community Church North London (MCCNL), Say It Loud Club, Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM), Rainbow Across Borders and  many individuals in the UK. All the above believe she is a lesbian and a committed, devoted, fearless and selfless activists. They all believe that her life will be in danger if she is sent back to Uganda

 

Margret has participated in high profile campaigns that are viewed as promotion of gay rights in Uganda, some of her campaigns can be viewed on the  web links below. The UK government claims that Margret is not a lesbian and neither believe that she is an activist who can be recognized by the government of Uganda and the anti-gay vigilantes. 

 

 It is well known that President Museveni of Uganda declared a war against what he called international gay rights groups; we don’t want Margret to be a victim. It is also clear that the Uganda Anti-gay Act 2014 criminalizes homosexuality and those perceived to be promoters of gay rights.

 

 Margret’s safety is paramount and she is highly needed in the gay rights movement.  She has fought hard to defend the voiceless  and now she needs us to defend her.

 

 Please sign this petition, share it with your friends, contact your Member of Parliament or contact her Member of Parliament RT HON Henry Smith on 02072197043 email henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk . Contact the Home secretary RT HON Theresa  May Tel: 020 7219 5206 Fax: 020 7219 1145 email mayt@parliament.uk .

 

Quote: MARGRET NAZIWA, Home Office reference number: N1178567

 

 

 Margret’s campaigns can be viewed on the following web links.

 

 

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mFUMtSXflI​ 

 

 http://www.petertatchellfoundation.org/cameroon-protest-against-murder-eric-lembembe-high-commission-london-23-july-2013

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDljbpau3gI​ 

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beaRNNM8SSU​ 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9gwc9IWn44​ 

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djzRRYt1Ghk​   

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-24986355

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkISdwxXruk​ 

 

http://www.petertatchellfoundation.org/uganda-stop-anti-gay-witch-hunts-show-trials-uganda-high-commission-london-18-november-2013

 

http://www.towleroad.com/2013/11/activists-in-london-protest-against-ugandan-show-trials-targeting-gays-photos.html

 

http://killthebilluganda.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/mass-protest-in-london.html

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1429820153899541&set=pb.1393598677521689.-2207520000.1386168625.&type=3&theater

 

 http://www.thelondoneveningpost.com/gay-rights-campaigners-besiege-museveni-in-london-hotel/

 

http://www.petertatchellfoundation.org/uganda/museveni-s-hotel-besieged-ugandan-lgbt-activists

 

 http://chimpreports.com/index.php/mobile/people/health/20041-photos:-how-gays-besieged-museveni’s-hotel-in-uk.html

 

 http://www.rainbowsacrossborders.org.uk/?q=photos.

 

avatar of the starter
edwin SesangePetition StarterAfrican lgbti advocate

The Decision Makers

RT HON SIMON HUGHES MP
RT HON SIMON HUGHES MP
MP
Responded
Thank you for signing the petition on Change.org to stop the deportation of Margaret Naziwa back to Uganda. I was very concerned to hear of Margaret’s story. Due to the strict parliamentary protocol I am only able to directly intervene in the individual cases of those who live in my constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark. Immigration deportations are also the responsibility of the Home Secretary and the Home Office, and not of my department, the Ministry of Justice, so the issue has to be referred to them. However I have now contacted Margaret’s own Member of Parliament, Henry Smith MP, to offer my support in this matter if he requires it. I sincerely apologise that I am unable to provide any more assistance than this. However I would strongly encourage everyone who signed this petition to continue to contact the Home Office on behalf of Margaret and to continue to speak up for the LGBT community of Uganda. Yours sincerely Rt Hon Simon Hughes MP MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark
Theresa May MP
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party
Rt Hon Theresa May
Rt Hon Theresa May
Home Office
RT HON HENRY SMITH
RT HON HENRY SMITH
RT HON MP
United kingdom government
United kingdom government
RT HON THERESA MAY

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