mfj@ueaa.net

 

07930 302 263
 

facebook.com/movementforjustice

 

@followMFJ

16th April 2015 

 

(GOOD NEWS: Maria's flight was stopped, she is still in YarlsWood, thank you to everyone who took action)

Free Anna & Lillija

Yarl's Wood detainee activists threatened with prison - for no crime

 

Anna Rjabova and Lillija Jezdovska are brave fighters for their own freedom and for the rights and freedom of their fellow detainees in the notorious Yarl's Wood detention centre, near Bedford. On Thursday 9th April they were part of an integrated group of African, Caribbean and East European women who gathered to physically block the deportation of Lucy N, a victim of torture from Kenya. The women gathered together, sitting around Lucy, linking arms and singing.

 

That afternoon 30+ 'guards' employed by Serco (the private company that manages Yarl's Wood) forced their way into Lucy's room, wearing full riot gear and armed with batons. You can hear the moment the guards entered the room and dragged the women away here, there were 3 guards for every woman. Anna, Lillija and four other women were handcuffed and taken to Kingfisher wing, the isolation block within Yarl's Wood. 


 

Anna and Lillija had been brutally beaten on their legs with a baton by one of the guards, Jo Singh, against whom Lillija had previously made official complaints. Anna had to be taken to Bedford hospital for treatment on Saturday. They have made further complaints and have spoken to the Prison Inspectors currently visiting Yarl's Wood.

 

Lucy's deportation was cancelled and the other women have been taken out of isolation, but Anna and Lillija have now been in the Kingfisher unit for a week. Lillija was prevented from going to a scheduled bail hearing on Monday. On Wednesday they were told that they will shortly be moved to prisons. The Home Office and Serco refuse to tell them why they have been singled out.

 

Anna and Lillija are both ethnic Russians from Latvia who have lived in Britain for many years. Lillija is married to an EU (Austrian) citizen and has three children living here, aged from 7 to 17. They both served short sentences for minor shoplifting offences and served prison sentences. After their sentences were complete they were moved to Yarl's Wood and have spent nearly a year detained there. As a result their mental health has been affected and both have a recent history of self-harm.

 

They are being sent to prison as part of a cover up of brutality. 

 

They are being victimised for their resistance to the inhuman, racist detention system and their solidarity with fellow detainees of all races.

 

Take immediate action today - contact the Home Office, HM Inspector of Prisons, Nick Hardwick and the Independent Monitoring Board, to demand that the proposed transfer of Anna and Lillija to prison is cancelled and that they are both released from detention now.

 

Quote their Home References: Anna R1202266; Lillija S13670

 

 

For the Prisons Inspectorate

 

Tel: 020 3681 2770

Email: hmiprisons.enquiries@hmiprisons.gsi.gov.uk

 

FAO: 

Chief Inspector of Prisons, Nick Hardwick

Team Leader (immigration detention),  Hindpal Singh Bhui
Team Leader (women),  Sean Sullivan
Head of Healthcare Inspection,  Paul Tarbuck


For the Home Office

Home Secretary: mayt@parliament.uk


Immigration Minister:  james.brokenshire.mp@parliament.uk 

 

ministerforimmigration@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

 

Copy in these Home Office email addresses:  

citto@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

pscorrespondence@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk


 

For the Independent Monitoring Board


 

Fill in their Online Form 

(State the women's Names, H/O numbers and the fact they are in Yarl's Wood)

 

Movement for Justice...

 

We march today, we march tomorrow, and we keep marching to build a new Britain: diverse, integrated and equal. We aim to win. We tell the truth about racism, sexism and anti-gay bigotry and the growing inequalities within our society. We believe that every human being is entitled to a job, to education, to food, shelter and the other necessities of life, so that every one of us can live in dignity, proud to be who we are, encouraged and able to fulfill our hopes and aspirations.

 

Join MFJ at  www.movementforjustice.org