UK: Injunction halts deportation order of lesbian asylum seeker with just hours to spare

An injunction has been granted for a lesbian asylum seeker who was due to be deported to Uganda at 8pm on Tuesday evening.

Human rights campaigners say Happy Rwehobuganzi, a lesbian from Uganda, is at risk of homophobic persecution in the African country.

Having been detained for 4 months and had several applications and appeals rejected by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and the High Court, on the grounds that there is not enough “evidence” to prove that she is a lesbian, Ms Rwehobuganzi was on Tuesday facing imminent deportation from the UK.

An injunction was granted on Tuesday afternoon.

In March, the deportation flight of another female asylum seeker to Uganda was cancelled with just hours to spare.

Campaigners have frequently documented alleged cases of UKBA deporting LGBT asylum seekers back to countries where they face homophobic persecution.

The claims have always been denied by UKBA and the Home Office.

In response to the government’s decision to scrap the UK Border Agency (UKBA), the Liberal Democrats’ LGBT group warned in March that LGBT and general asylum cases needed to be handled better by officials.

In February, S Chelvan, a leading human rights lawyer criticised UKBA officials for subjecting LGBT asylum seekers to “inhuman and degrading” pressure in order to “prove” their sexual or gender identity.

• Nov 29 2023

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