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In this guest post, Shreen Ayob sets out the situation facing Bita Ghaedi and how to help stop the UK government’s dangerous plan to deport her

An oft used excuse for apathy is confusion, unknown facts and vague issues. This story has none of those, and I urge you to take action.

Bita Ghaedi’s story is simple. She fled to the UK to escape an unhappy and abusive family situation, as well as an unhappy marriage.

The Home Office denied Bita Ghaedi’s first application for asylum in 2007. In response, she made an unsuccessful suicide attempt. In the years that passed, Bita feared being sent back to Iran at any time. She is subsequently suffering from intense, relentless stress which according to her current partner (a prominent member of the Iranian opposition), has turned her hair white. She also became involved in activism with the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI).

Not only is it a very real threat that her family (brother, father, husband and other male relatives) may try to kill her for so-called ‘honour’ reasons, but her political associations with the PMOI put her at even more risk if she is deported.

Bita’s partner Mohsen Zadshir writes: “The Home Office is determined to send Bita to the hands of Iranian brutal regime. As you all know, Bita has raised her voice against the fundamentalist Shari’a Law. She has been interviewed by the satellite TV of Iranian opposition and the footage has been broadcasted all over Iran. According to the Iranian regime Bita’s support for the PMOI makes her a ‘Mohareb’ – enemy of God, and is punished by death penalty.”

What the British government are doing to Bita is illegal according to UN guidelines.

The deportation was due on April 20th but was delayed by the Icelandic volcanic ash fiasco. The new date has been set as May 5th. Let’s keep the pressure up on the Home Office to stop this deportation.

Five actions you can take to halt Bita’s deportation

Shreen is a volunteer for the Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO), who support Bita’s case. Her personal website is www.shreen-distracted.com.