Petition hopes to stop deportation of queer woman to Namibia
A petition signed by nearly two thousand people hopes to halt the deportation of a queer woman and her son to Namibia.
Beverley Vaanda Kandjiii claimed asylum in the UK on the same day as she arrived back in 2013, reports the Glasgow Evening Times.
She sought asylum after being the victim suffered physical and verbal abuse because of her sexual orientation.
Kandjiii was reportedly removed from her home in the Bridgeton area of Glasgow in an immigration raid.
An LGBT Unity spokesman told the Evening Times: “Beverley and her son fled Namibia due to the verbal and physical abuse suffered due to her sexuality.
“Beverley had previously experienced forced marriage and had to live in secrecy, later being abused by her community with no protection from the Namibian state. Beverley and her son are in immediate danger of violence on account of her sexuality if forcibly removed to Namibia.”
A petition by the LGBT Unity Centre on Change.org has now been signed over 1,800 times.
It calls on Theresa May and the Home Office to halt her deportation.
The petition reads: “We’re all concerned for their wellbeing and safety if they’re removed to Namibia, and want them to remain with us in Glasgow, as she is a valuable member of the LGBT Unity group and our community in Glasgow.
“We want them to be released immediately from Cedars and to be returned to their home in Glasgow where they belong.”
Although lesbian relationships are not illegal in Namibia, there is no protection against discrimination for LGBT people.
A Home Office spokesperson told PinkNews: “We do not routinely comment on individual cases.”
The Scottish Equality Network told PinkNews: “She is a pillar of the community and has supported many people in equality groups.
“The number of signatures that have been received in such a short space of time has been testament to how much Beverley has impacted Scottish society.
“She has been sharing her story with people and showing how important it is to raise awareness of LGBT issues.
“It is because of this we are greatly concerned that if she goes back to Namibia people will be able to find out what she has done very easily and that could put her at risk.”
