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Sonia 4 and Aya 15 months - 32 days in detention

John O | 13.05.2009 13:36 | Birmingham | World

Free the Cherbal Family and return them to Blackburn, where they belong

Ismail Cherbal and Safia Aouf, nationals of Algeria, and their British-born children Sonia aged four and son Aya aged 15 months have been detained in Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre for the past 32 days. They had been due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Thursday, April 16th but their flights were cancelled at the last moment.

Their lawyer has applied for a Judicial Review but nothing appears to be moving at the moment and Ismail has sent a message from Yarl's Wood expressing deep concern about the effect that continued detention is having on his children - he says they are crying persistently because of the situation. He is particularly worried about his daughter who is an asthmatic and whose medication has been increased since she was detained.

The overall situation is also affecting Safia's well-being The stress of the uncertainty over the family's future has severely affected her mental health; she has been treated for some time now for depression and her GP has referred her to Blackburn Community Mental Health Care Team for an assessment. She was awaiting an appointment when the family was detained. Since they have been in Yarl's Wood, Ismail says that Safia's medication for depression has been taken from her because the staff there fears she may self-harm.

Background: Cherbal Family Must Stay In Blackburn
 http://tinyurl.com/CherbalFamily

We need to get this family back to Blackburn and together and we can

Please send urgent faxes/emails immediately to Rt. Hon Jacqui Smith, MP, Secretary of State for the Home Office, requesting that Ismail Cherbal and Safia Aouf, nationals of Algeria, and their British-born children Sonia aged four and son Aya aged 15 months are released from detention and returned to their Blackburn home. Please use the 'model letter' CherbilFamilyJS.doc attached or write your own version. If you do so, please remember to include HO ref: A1264465.

Fax: 020 8760 3132 (+ 44 20 8760 3132 if you are faxing from outside UK)

Emails:  Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
 UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
"CIT - Treat Official"  CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Please let the campaign know of any emails/faxes sent:
Cherbal Family Campaign
C/o Ian Pollock
 ianpollock@hallpark.plus.com

John O
- e-mail: JohnO@ncadc.org.uk
- Homepage: http://www.ncadc.org.uk


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