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Refugee family 'facing death'

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Published Date: 13 December 2008
By Nick Ward
A FAMILY from Sheffield facing deportation to Africa could be killed if they are forced back home, their supporters fear.
Privilege Thalambo, aged 48, and her two daughters Lorraine, 18, and Valerie, 19, were snatched from their home in Heavygate Road, Walkley, by immigration officers in the early hours of yesterday morning.
They were taken to Bridge Street police station in Sheffield city centre and were last night due to be taken on to a detention centre in Cambridgeshire.
From there they will be deported to Malawi - though supporters insist they are originally from Zimbabwe.
Helen Parr, who has been appointed spokeswoman for the group demanding that they stay, said: "Privilege fled from Zimbabwe eight years ago using a Malawian passport.
"She fled after her husband, who was an accountant working for Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, was beaten and tortured. He subsequently died from his injuries.
"Privilege's mother was also killed by supporters of the Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and her brother died after being forced to drink poison.
"If she hadn't fled she too would have been killed.
"The only way she was able to get out of Zimbabwe was to use a Malawian passport and, as such, the family are now being treated by the Home Office as being from Malawi.
"That means their application for asylum has been denied and they are to be deported."
Supporters are now lobbying local MPs to intervene and save the family.
Helen, a project manager from Ranmoor, added: "The family are now very settled in this country with the two girls having studied at Abbeydale Grange School and now at Sheffield College.
"I dread to think what will happen to them if they are forced to return.
"We will do whatever we can, speak to whoever we have to, make as much noise as we can, to ensure this family has the right to remain in this country."
A Home Office spokesperson said they could not comment on individual cases.




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  • Last Updated: 13 December 2008 8:51 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Sheffield
 
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waywoodwind 1,

lowedges 13/12/2008 09:10:15
Same old story

It’s very hard in Britain today for a working man to support his own family with out the burden of having to keep another family
2

Benj,

Sheffield 13/12/2008 10:10:06
Well put Waywoodwind 1.I am sick and tired of the do gooders sticking their noses in every time we hear about something like this.If they are here illegally send them back,no if no buts!!!
3

waywoodwind 1,

lowedges 13/12/2008 10:27:12
Why my comment was deleted I just don’t know

There was nothing inflammatory just the truth

I know the Sheffield Star and the Labour Party foreign friends should all be accepted like they say, but some times the truth is a bitter pill to swallow, especially when other people disagree with them
4

Sheffield-born 46,

No longer in Sheffield 13/12/2008 10:27:20
And yet this useless incompetent and corrupt government allow known terrorists who wish to destroy this country live here entirely on benefits and do absolutely nothing for fear of breaching their human rights.
5

crystal peaks man,

13/12/2008 10:34:45
Here we go again,another illegal trying to circumvent our country's laws,and silly do gooders trying to keep her here.
6

pedestrian,

sheffeild 13/12/2008 10:50:36
The lady appears to be working and supporting her family which is more than can be said for a lot of people who do not want to work that is to say unemployed by choice and surviving on handoutswhilst the criticise and are biased against anyone different. I am not a do gooder just an honest hardworking pensioner
7

Westi,

13/12/2008 11:09:16
Snatched from their home, no I think taken would have been more accurate! What a joke, she came here illegally, and nothing was found in her application that should warrant her staying here so she should go home. She is working, however should she be working? Come on she is a criminal for doing what she has done, she is now claimin to be Zimbabwean, so she has an identity issue as well. U ask me she is better off back in Africa to dwell on her actions. She won't get hurt she's just jumping on the lets go to UK and populate it wagon!
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Westi,

13/12/2008 11:11:41
Helen Parr, why are you getting involved for? Spokeswomen, more like 'do gooder!' - If a Brit gets in trouble abroad you wouldnt get this treatment, don't tell me it;s all free, via my taxes! JOKE!!!!!!
9

El_Mariachi,

13/12/2008 11:39:54
Is the Star incapable of reporting without sensationalist terms such as snatched? It'd not report that a man was snatched by police on suspicion of robbing an old lady, so why use it in this case?

The woman used a false passport to enter the country. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that's a crime ...... So therefore she's a criminal!

Why not show a little objectivity for a change?
10

Rodgers,

SHEFFIELD 13/12/2008 16:10:59
It is a sad fact that we have foreign criminals in our jails that will be returned to our streets to commit further crimes. They are the one's that should be returned without delay. Also we have many asylum seekers that come here under guise of being in danger back home, Yet they are using false names and giving our immigration false information to do so. This information id hard to investigate as these asylum seekers are taught well. There are many Facy claiming to be Iranian. There are others from Afghanistan that claim to be Faci. Many that have already been given Asylum but yet they still go back to their own country on holiday. There is an Iranian Pilot that came here claiming to be in danger. He won the right to stay here. Now he holds a passport, He goes to belgium and flys home on hoiiday to Iran regularly. He also receives a pension from the Iranian Government that is paid into his Iranian Bank account. He goes home to collect this on a regular basis. He really pulled a fast one like many others. But it depends who deals with a claim. Just like Magistrates it depends what mood they are in at the time. So lets give this honest woman a chance. It is a fact that we are now a Police State. I beleive that this lady was snatched and bullied by immigration. But this is the U.K. 2008. A fast growing Police State.

anthonyrodgers@blueyonder.co.uk
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