Activists back our campaign for Jojo

Published on Saturday 29 March 2008 19:28

THE "shocking injustice" against 19-year-old Jojo Jako Yakob, awaiting deportation to Syria where he faces death for being gay, has seen activists join forces to reverse the decision.

JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN: Take part in Scotland on Sunday's online petition below

They have set up a new website, www.savejojo.net, urging Scots to lobby their MSPs to sign a motion already put forward to the Scottish Parliament, which was highlighted by this newspaper last week.

Leading gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell is also backing Scotland on Sunday's campaign.

Jojo fled Syria two years ago after being beaten following arrest for distributing anti-government leaflets.

When prison guards discovered that Jojo, a Christian member of the repressed Kurdish minority in the Arab state, was homosexual, he suffered horrific beatings and was assaulted so badly that he slipped into a coma.

He fled to Scotland but his application for asylum was rejected and

Jojo has been locked away in Polmont Young Offenders Institution, Falkirk, for the past 12 months. He has appealed against a Home Office deportation order and asked top Scottish QC Mungo Bovey to fight his case.

Last night, Tatchell congratulated Scotland on Sunday for its "magnificent campaign to save Jojo's life".

He said: "Deportation is likely to result in his arrest, torture, and possible execution. I urge all your readers to write to their MPs, MSPs, and MEPs, urging the British government to ensure that Jojo is given refuge in this country."

ONLINE PETITION

We, the undersigned, urge the British government to rescind the deportation order against Jojo Jako Yakob and grant him asylum to stay in this country. We believe it would be an act of inhumanity to force his return to Syria, where it is almost certain he would be tortured and even killed on account of his sexuality.

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&#149 Sign the petition at www.savejojo.net.