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30 May 2014

Branson urged to block deportation over FGM fears

Richard Branson calls for governments to “do all they can” to protect a family, facing deportation to Nigeria, from FGM – but stops short of saying if he would block them from one of his flights.

Virgin boss Richard Branson

The Virgin boss was flooded with requests on Twitter to block the deportation of Afusat Saliu, 31, and her two daughters Bassy, four, and Rashidat, two, who have been seized by officials. Ms Saliu fears her daughters will be subjected to FGM if returned to Nigeria.

‘Let down’

The family was due to be taken on a Virgin Atlantic flight to Lagos on Thursday night, but was given an overnight reprieve as lawyers launched a judicial review to block the deportation.

Lawyers also accused border officials of ignoring their own guidelines by ordering her deportation before the review is heard.

Ms Saliu, herself a victim of FGM, told ITV News, in a telephone call from a holding centre at Heathrow airport, that she felt “let down” by the Home Office and that she was scared for her daughters.

“I feel let down because (the Home Office) didn’t give me the chance, they didn’t care about my children and I came here to this country for protection,” she said.

“I’m scared of my extended family. My two girls, how can I protect them? I know how traumatic it is and I don’t want my girls, these two innocent girls, to go through it.”

‘Horrendous practice’

Following thousands of tweets, Mr Branson released a statement saying that FGM is a “horrendous practice and a serious violation of internationally recognised human rights”.

“Without knowing the specifics on the case, it is very difficult to comment in detail on a legal decision taken by the Home Office,” the statement, signed by Mr Branson and his daughter Holly said.

“While Virgin Atlantic cannot confirm whether any passengers are or are not flying with them due to data protection laws, they would view any case like this with the safety and welfare of all passengers their primary concern.”

Every female who suffers female genital mutilation, is one female too many and it’s about time we did something about it. Holly Branson

However, Mr Branson went on to say that he urged both the UK and Nigerian governments to protect the girls.

“Regardless, if Afusat Saliu and her family are deported to Nigeria, we call upon the UK and Nigerian governments to do all they can to protect the family and ensure they are not put at risk of female genital mutilation,” the statement said.

Last week, Holly Branson wrote about how “something needs to be done now” to tackle FGM.

Ms Branson said: “Every female who suffers female genital mutilation, is one female too many and it’s about time we did something about it.

“I want to live in a world where FGM is a thing of the past, and I know that if we stand together, we can end the practice once and for all in our lifetimes.”

It is the latest example of airlines becoming involved in controversial Home Office deportations.

Last month British Airways refused to fly Yashika Bageerathi, a 19-year-old who was taking her A-levels in the UK, to Mauritius. The student and her family had fled the country fearing abuse at the hands of a family member.