Alvin Gahimbaze (M1107533) is a 27 year-old gay man who fled Burundi with his sister, Danella, in 2000 when he was 16 years old. Alvin and his sister were fleeing ethnic clashes in which his family was massacred. Alvin is part of the persecuted Tutsi minority and is also homosexual, which is illegal in Burundi. Although his sister is now a permanent resident, Alvin’s application for asylum has been refused. He is currently held in Campsfield detention center and a forced removal is imminent. Alvin no longer has any contacts in Burundi and faces serious danger as a Tutsi and as a homosexual
Alvin witnessed the horrific massacre of his Tutsi parents, 3 younger brothers, aunt, uncle and small cousin as well as many other relatives, friends and acquaintances during the civil war that lasted until 2009 (http://bit.ly/hP1709).
Despite this traumatic experience, since arriving in the UK in 2000, Alvin has studied at Bristol University and started a Law degree at the University of West England. He has built a new life with his sister Danella over the past 11 years in Bristol.
The Green Party MEP’s Jean Lambert and Keith Taylor have written letters to the UK Border agency supporting Alvin’s campaign and we currently have a letter awaiting response from David Cameron. The Labour MEP Michael Cashman has also written various letters as well and so has the Bristol MP Charlotte Leslie.
When Alvin and his sister arrived in the UK they applied for asylum, which lead to his sister’s application being granted but Alvin’s was rejected because although it was submitted at the same time the UKBA said it was on the wrong form back in 2000. The UK Border Agency did not believe Alvin’s sexual orientation to be true, even though he has had relationships since arriving in Bristol.
Alvin’s latest appeal failed beginning of Feb 2011.
Due to the stress and terror of facing deportation after 11 years in the UK, Alvin is still suffering from depression and the childhood trauma is still very present. Also, he has a well-founded fear that if he is returned to Burundi (in his words), “It would be like handing myself to the people that killed my family and that scares me.”
The political situation in Burundi remains unstable, with the Tutsi minority remaining vulnerable. This resurgence of ethnic conflict is fueled by the renewed FNL (Forces for National Liberation) activity in the Congo, which has links to FNL party members in Burundi (http://bit.ly/gYB1Gg). Although the current Burundian government is built upon ethnic power sharing, FNL re-mobilization is of serious concern.
Same sex relationships have also been criminalized, the president having declared homosexual acts illegal. Homosexuality is punishable with up to two years in prison and a large monetary fine (http://bit.ly/e3c8MA). An April 2009 law that criminalizes homosexual conduct threatens to exacerbate the deplorable treatment of gays and lesbians in Burundi, Human Rights Watch said.
Human Rights Watch called upon the government of Burundi to listen to the voices of Burundi's gays and lesbians, and to urgently reform the criminal code so as to end state discrimination against this group of Burundian citizens (http://bit.ly/ibT2JI FORBIDDEN: Gays and Lesbians in Burundi). The testimonies presented in "Forbidden," alongside Martina Bacigalupo's powerful photographs, give a public platform to a population in Burundi that has long been silenced.
If Alvin if forcibly removed to Burundi, he will most likely be exposed to violence and imprisonment due to his identity as a gay Tutsi man with no access to social protection, no home, no relatives, and no friends. Furthermore, he would be separated from his only family member, his sister Danella who resides in Bristol. Please help Alvin stay in the UK by supporting his campaign!
Please sign - http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save_alvin/
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