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Greg Mulholland-Working Hard For Leeds North West'INCOMPETANT AND UNCARING' HOME OFFICE LET TORTURE VICTIM DOWN - MULHOLLAND
March 30, 2009 8:30 PM
Today, Leeds based asylum seeker Enid Ruhango had her asylum appeal hearing cancelled at the last minute when the Home Office withdrew their initial decision on the case. Witnesses, including a Consultant Psychiatrist, Greg Mulholland MP and a large number of Ms Ruhango's supporters, travelled to Bradford only to find that this extraordinary behaviour meant that there was no appeal to be heard and Enid' s case is in effect back to square-one. She has already been waiting years for a decision on her high profile case which has included her mistreatment in Yarls Wood Immigration Detention Centre.
Ms Ruhango's arrived in the UK in winter 2003 having faced torture and rape at the hands of the Ugandan authorities. Instead of being granted asylum, she was incarcerated in Yarls Wood detention centre and her treatment was condemned in a report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons. Ms Ruhango is also pursuing a civil claim for damages against the Home Office for her treatment.
Greg, who has been involved in the case since 2006, today sent a letter to Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, expressing his frustration and concern about the way the Home Office has handled the case.
Greg commented:
"Enid has been let down yet again by an incompetent and uncaring Home Office.
This is a striking example of incompetence which as well as wasting taxpayers' money, will cause considerable further suffering to a woman who has already suffered a great deal.
Enid was terrorised in Uganda and came to Britain in search of a safe haven, yet ended up being incarcerated and mistreated here. This case is already a matter of great shame to this country and today's farce makes that worse.
Enough is enough, the sooner her case is properly resolved, the sooner this woman can get on with her life which is now in Leeds with her friends and the people she relies on to get over the past. The reputation of this country as a safe haven for those fleeing persecution has been badly damaged and this needs to be addressed."
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