In support of Pamela Izevbekhai and her daughters

by Bríd Nielsen Sun Nov 08, 2009 13:36 bridnielsen at yahoo dot dk Waterford

Having lived in SaudiArabia and taught in a third world Embassy school, I came across this terrible abuse of human rights and know the consequences on the poor girls who suffer. We are so spoilt in the west and really take our freedom for granted. There is no way Pamela and her two daughters should be forced to live back in Nigeria after all they have gone through. Do people really think that Pamela would go through all this traumatic process just to live outside her native country if she didn't have sincere fears for her daughters. I can only hope that justice will prevail next Thursday when her appeal will be heard in the Supreme Court and that she and her daughters can get on with their lives here in Ireland, land of Saints and Scholars!

by Barra Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:54

Re Female Genital Mutilation
author by itsallwite

"that FGM is widespread across Africa is an uncontestable fact. "

[extracts from today's Irish Times (April 1):

Ambassador Kemafo Nonyerem Chikwe told The Irish Times that FGM was a “non-existent issue” in Nigeria....

The ambassador’s assertions on the prevalence of FGM are contradicted by research carried out by several agencies including the World Health Organisation (WHO), which in a 2007 report found that the practice of FGM is “widespread” in Nigeria.

.....and I am advising that the World Health Organisation revisit this issue,” she said.]

Well it seems that the WHO can even be rubbished by the Nigerian ambassador to Ireland.

I wonder what extensive field research this ambassador or her government has done to establish their claims that FGM does not exist in Nigeria!
I'd say none!

The WHO and the Irish Government and the EU government should take her up on this denial of the World Health Organisation's reports.

Barra

p.s. I was delighted to see the first swallow return to our barn this morning, all the way back from Africa, pity we don't all have wings!

by nonindo reader Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:00

Myers feeling liberal? Any endorsement from him is going to cause double takes in my book. Today is April the First, of course!

by Plutonian. Wed Apr 01, 2009 09:23

Even Kevin Myers supports Pamela.

He says in today's Indo:

"Though, frankly, I'd let the woman and her daughters stay, but as strict exceptions to the rule."

See:
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myer....html

by Bukkie Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:39 oluwabukkie at yahoo dot com

I am moved to tears with the extent of suffering pamela has gone through with her two daughters (both in Ireland and Nigeria) simply because she is unfortunate enough to have come from a country where there is no form of protection whatsoever for its citizens.

which mother would not do the same thing or more to protect her children?

I think the relevant question here should be 'is it safe to return this family to Nigeria? not a question of whether a child actually died or not. Are they trying to tell us that you must have lost a child before running for safety when it was apparent that something bad was going to happen?

She left a husband in Nigeria and decided to come here to save the lives of her beautiful children, and I cannot but pray for a positive outcome as a fellow human being.

Whatever happens anyway, I wish you good luck Pamela, you are a MOTHER and a HERO.

by itsallwite - many forums Mon Mar 30, 2009 08:43

that FGM is widespread across Africa is an uncontestable fact. I am afraid that the case of Pamela Izevbekhai being linked with the screeching tabloid headlines, "bogus", "fake", and questions being raised about the child who may or may not have died from complications directly linked to this practice, the seriousness of the consequences of this vile custom may be swamped in a sea of recriminations.

I am not even going to discuss Ms. Izevbekhai's now notorious case - I do feel that she has, inadvertently, (in her single minded quest for humanitarian leave to remain in the State), lowered the tolerance shown to asylum seekers by the Irish public, and indeed, the issues of Female Genital Mutilation, and this practice will be associated with her particular claim for asylum for many years in the minds of the public and press.

I do believe that with the notoriety she has garnered with her case, and the negative publicity that Nigeria has received directly because of her, she would genuinely be in extreme danger if returned to her homeland, and I sincerely hope that (mostly for the sake of her innocent daughters), she finds a safe haven somewhere.

by maverick - the rock that doesn't roll Sun Mar 29, 2009 21:34

"A mother who has been put through hell both here in Ireland and in Nigeria - doesn't it show what little difference there is with regard to basic human decency between the Irish and Nigerian authorities, the same persecution of the defenceless - such indifference, such arrogance, such fear, such selfishness, such inhumanity towards a mother and her two young children who just want a basic freedom to live in peace."

there are a lot of questions around this case. Barra, i appreciate your concern. my question is, just how many FGM people should we let into our country? we have to draw the line somewhere.

would you personally take in this mother & children?

my wife & i took in a Nigerian illegal alien 16 years ago, when immigration wasn't hip. we housed him for 9 months & lobbied the Dept Justice & a mainline party TD. we also prayed & fasted in the Christian tradition. that Nigerian got leave to reside in this country, study in his field & was given permission to work in his field of studies.

this was a total turn around from his original deportation order. a miracle indeed. it goes to show that not every official has a heart of stone. not every official is corrupt & venial. nor is the situation as bleak as it may appear.

by Barra Sun Mar 29, 2009 18:46

Quote "we must also stand up against exploitation of our immigration system. "

Our immigration system is exploitative, the rich have free passage (recently could even buy passports / nationality from the government) while other normal people have to defend themselves tooth and nail for basic freedoms.

We have big issues to deal with as you point out in your comments but you are selective in your comments. I don't agree that we should stand up for "our" immigration system and I don't see it as "our" system, I see it as their system, and I am Irish.

Barry, as an overseas social worker you will understand that Pamela's case may be completely as she has put it - that the doctor wanted considerable money from her husband to issue official paperwork for her child there, that is extortion and corruption, we know it exists in Nigeria.

Pamela says she didnt' know the documents were forgeries, documents her husband was forced to acquire illegally in absence of legal documents - this can also be true!

Pamela's inability to participate freely in detail about her case is (you must appreciate) dictated by her legal team, matters are subjudice - legally she cannot discuss many details while the case is proceeding because to do so would weaken her case.

The doctor in question has clearly illustrated his lack of integrity by asking for money from Irish media sources to discuss the case in detail - exactly what Pamela's husband claimed previously - that the doctor tried to extort money for the paperwork.

I think we can expect to learn the full truth later and I think it would be very stupid for the Irish judiciary to simply quash her case based on the most recent revelation about the paperwork - paper is paper! people are people, so they should allow her to speak freely in court and listen to her there.

The investigatory team that went to Nigeria are the very same state who seek to repel Pamela and her daughters, this is not an independent investigation, it has not fully investigated the case of the doctor but simply got what they wanted from the doctor and legged it back home armed with more dirt against her.

We need an immigration system that is fair and you will find many accounts online about how unfair our immigration system is, how it's almost impossible to gain asylum or refugee status here, look at the facts about how many applications have been made versus how many have been granted - the figures speak for themselves re our immigration system, note below...

How can an immigration system be fair when it has year after year maintained a large backlog (several thousands) of unprocessed applications while the applicants are held in limbo for several years! not permitted to work or live normally while their applications are being processed, it's a system which maintains the negative attitudes by many towards asylum seekers.

The state is wasting money through it's inability to process the applications, large payments each week to home and feed people who are willing to work and feed themselves if left to do so, many qualified people who are denied work yet must stay for several years at the paye's expense - the Irish immigration system is a ridiculous shambles! like many other state-run paye-funded shambolic Irish systems, the reason is simple - those in office have no real interest in tackling the problems constructively, there's the usual profiteering, head in the sand, passing the buck and so on.... and all the other typically Irish methods of avoiding reality at state / civil service level.

-----

Extract from Sunday Tribune article:
The myth of Ireland's liberal asylum policy
Ken Foxe
Just 0.01% of Nigerians granted asylum in the past two years (August 10, 2008)

NIGERIAN people arriving in Ireland have practically no chance of being granted asylum, according to figures obtained by the Sunday Tribune.

The Nigerian embassy in Dublin said the figures were unsurprising, as the vast majority of asylum seekers from their country were in fact "economic migrants".
However, Nigeria is sharply criticised in Amnesty International's latest report for human rights violations.

The Irish Refugee Council said that Ireland had consistently one of the highest rates of refusal in the European Union for asylum seekers.

--------

Barra

by Changey Sun Mar 29, 2009 18:15

There is no automatic right to asylum, in Ireland, Nigeria or any other state in the world. Each state has the right to control its own borders and territories in accordance with domestic and international law. I feel Ireland and every other country should be doing its bit to eradicate FGM, but this is a complex African and middle eastern problem, undue interference could be construed as neo colonialism. That notwithstanding we should do what we can on an individual and state level to voice our opposition to it. We should increase the number of programme refugees (people taken directly from UNHCR camps) we admit to Ireland by 500% rather than waste resources on clearly privileged Nigerians trying to stretch credibility with false documents and outrageous liess I don't like the constant use of the words racist and anti racist. The vast majority of Irish people do not believe that immigration control constitute racism, and to constantly accuse them of it is off putting. It seems that some fringe groups would support Mugabe if he came looking for asylum and accuse those of us who would deny it of being racists!

by Joe Moore - Cork Anti Racism Network Sun Mar 29, 2009 17:56 mapuche at eircom dot net

The Cork Anti Racism Network fully supports Pamela and her fight to remain in Ireland. Barra has put the case very well and does not need to be added to.
Barry in his comment says that we should stand up against the exploitation of our immigration system. That system refuses to grant refugee status to the majority who seek it. Twice within the last three months there have been mass deportations to Nigeria. The most recent involved the breakup of two families. The way people are treated here clearly demonstrates the racist policies of the Irish government, especially towards Nigerians.
It is ironic to hear the minister for integration call for more deportations. It shows the real intent of the government.
Cork Anti Racism Network has recently launched a civil rights charter for asylum seekers with four demands,
1. The right to work.
2. The right to 3rd level education.
3. The closure of all direct provision centres.
4. No deportations.

All anti racists in the country should rally around Pamela and her daughters and let the government know we do not support the hounding of a family because they are seeking refuge here.

by Changey Sun Mar 29, 2009 17:37

According to the article in today's Sunday Times, Pamela has admitted that the documents she supplied are forged but insists that she had a daughter who died in the manner claimed, ie post female genital circumcision. Pamela says that she only found out last Friday that the documents were fake, from her husband who apparently mailed them to her from Nigeria some time ago. She claims the reason fake documents were supplied is because Dr Unakanjo who was her doctor, refused to supply genuine documents unless he was paid. This contradicts the earlier claims from Philip Boucher Hayes who says she brought these documents with her when she left Nigeria. It also does not explain how the death certificate documents which are from a different source to the doctor documents are also fake. The whole time she has been claiming that she left a comfortable life in Nigeria and that she had lots of money. If that was the case, she wouldn't have had any problem paying the doctor if he asked her for money. It seems she had no problem with fake documents in any case. Quite frankly I am finding it irksome that a small number of people insist on supporting this woman. There must be a more genuine case, all this one is doing is damaging migrants and asylum seekers in the eyes of the Irish public.

by barry Sun Mar 29, 2009 17:20

While, as a human being, I have sympathies for this lady, and who couldn't? as a former development worker in Africa I have BIG reservations.

Both my wife and I heard her interview on RTE today, and were originally very interested in her plight, until the latter part, the sort of refusal to interact. We were in different parts of the house and both said 'oh oh' at that point. It is something you recognise from experience in dealing with people who are looking for you to do something, stretch the sympathy to its limits but back off when confronted.

Obviously we are not seeing this as a racial issue but her handling of the situation is easily understood, she has got her ticket out, sort of, but is being dealt with under the arrangements by which she landed in Ireland, illegally, one presumes.

There are two issues here -

The Irish gov needs to stand up and be counted on FGM. It is formally prohibited as a practise by the WHO so Ireland should use its UN membership to push for the implementation of the WHO's policy, and continually raise with the countries concerned progress in their implementation.

The gov needs to tidy up its immigration management to avoid cases such as this becoming 'causes' celebre'

On FGM itself, it is widely practised, one colleague of ours who worked as a midwife told us that 90%+ of the women presenting for pregnancy had been multilated. It is a VERY complex socio-cultural issue with religious overtones. As a country we must stand up against it but we must also stand up against exploitation of our immigration system.

Bye, Barry

by Barra Sun Mar 29, 2009 15:50

PS
In relation to the 'Recent articles by Barra' box at top of this page, I must say that those articles are not by me, it seems to be a fault of Indymedia which is long running as I reported it before and nothing has changed, there seems to be another user called Barra and Indymedia system is not capable of distinguishing between users or allows users have same name - seems silly.
Anyway, I'm not the author of the above referenced articles "Recent articles by Barra" - not me, as a matter of fact.