Anti-Racist Picket on Minister McDowell

Friday May 02, 2003 14:24

by AFA Ireland

Residents Against Racism have asked me to post this notice. If people are available for an hour or so in the morning try to make it to Ranelagh.

Residents Against Racism protest in support of Christina Onasanwo.

Picket at Minster for Justice Michael McDowell's constituency clinic in Ranelagh.

Saturday 3rd May at 10am.

Protest takes place at McDowell's office, which is opposite the Triangle in Ranelagh (Dublin 6). A few doors down from Jasons Snooker Hall. The 11/11a/11b bus will bring you closest to it.

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Background to the case

Minster Micahel McDowell has issued a deportation order to send 18-year-old Christina Onasanwo and her family to Nigeria. The family, who have been served with a deportation order, originally fled from Nigeria in 1999 because Christina and her younger sister Bolu were at risk from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) which had been ordered by the tribal elders. The procedure can often result in death from bleeding, shock, infection or tetanus.

As a result of the impending deportation the girls' mother, Elizabeth has suffered a nervous breakdown and has been in psychiatric care as she witnessed her sister die from the same procedure.

135 million of the world's women and young girls have been genitally mutilated. Two million are at risk every year, which works out at approximately 6,000 per day

Minister Michael McDowell is placing Christina and her six-year-old sister's lives in danger by issuing a deportation order to the family.