House Office urged to suspend Nigerian family"s deportation in excess of FGM fears

Afusat Saliu says that her daughters, aged a single and 3, faced getting mutilated if the family is forced to return to Nigeria. Photograph: Anj Handa/PA

The Home Workplace is facing calls to suspend the deportation of a mom who fears her two youthful daughters will grow to be victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) if they go back to Nigeria, soon after an expert came forward to insist that the threat is genuine.

Lawyers for Afusat Saliu, who is herself a victim of the practice, are launching a late bid to persuade immigration officials to take the evidence of the Nigerian-born FGM expert Yemi Fagborun into account.

Fagborun told the Guardian she needed to speak to the Uk Border Agency (UKBA) on behalf of the Saliu family to persuade officials of the danger in sending them to Nigeria.

“My dread is for the two kids, who are at chance. Folks come right here for protection and we are sending them back and saying ‘we don’t care what is occurring to you’. It is not excellent adequate. That is what is happening right here. She came for safety and it is not excellent ample,” Fagborun stated.

Bhumika Parmar, Saliu’s lawyer, confirmed that she was trying to halt the deportation so the possibly vital proof could be heard.

Saliu and her daughters, 3-year-outdated Basirat and a single-12 months-old Rashidat, had been due to be deported to Nigeria on Thursday night. They unsuccessfully argued that they ought to remain because the youngsters faced currently being mutilated and Afusat forcibly married at the insistence of their extended loved ones.

They have been, even so, given a temporary reprieve hours before their flight, right after claims that the Home Workplace – of which UKBA is a portion – did not give the requisite discover.

Fagborun attacked the British government for concurrently taking the lead in the international battle against FGM and deporting men and women she insisted have been at danger of it.

“This is not sending a great signal out and it is going to make our work much, considerably much more difficult. The House Workplace does not believe her that there is a real threat, but I was in Nigeria in March and it is,” she mentioned.

“Men and women at danger of FGM soon after deportation need to be offered the same standing as individuals at risk of domestic violence. It is needed to safeguard these young women.”

A House Workplace spokesman explained the department did not comment on personal circumstances.

House Office urged to suspend Nigerian family"s deportation in excess of FGM fears