Mayo Intercultural Action
European Court Intervention Welcomed
By MIA
22, Nov 2008 - 09:51

Mayo Intercultural Action (MIA) is calling on people to support Pamela Izevbekhai, a Sligo-based Nigerian woman who is facing possible deportation.  Pamela’s two children Naoimi (7) and Jemima (6) face the threat of FGM – Female Genital Mutiliation, or female circumcision, if they are returned to Nigeria.

On Tuesday, Pamela Izevbekhai  lost her High Court bid to prevent the deportation of herself and her two daughters.  However, the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) made a dramatic last-minute intervention  and will have a special sitting on December 9^th next to consider her case.  MIA welcomes the intervention of the European Court for Human Rights.

 Thérèse Ruane, project co-ordinator with MIA, said:

“We are relieved that the European Court of Human Rights has intervened in this case and we are hopeful for a more favourable outcome on December 9th. The High Court decision was quite shocking.  Pamela has already lost a daughter, in 1994, to FGM in Nigeria.  She has come to Ireland to seek protection for her two daughters who are still alive, Naomi and Jemima.  Where’s the humanity in this case?  I don’t believe that Irish people would condone sending two innocent children back to Nigeria where they would be threatened with female genital mutilation."