NUJ prepares legal challenge against journalist's deportation order

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The National Union of Journalists is preparing to legally challenge an order to deport a journalist back to Cameroon. According to a report by the NUJ , Charles Atangana, a member of the union who fled the country in 2004, has lived in the UK since He has been based in Glasgow and was claiming asylum citing harassment, detention and threats to his family in his home country.

The NUJ claim that

in June the Home Office accepted a last-minute order preventing his forcible repatriation to Cameroon. But he has now reportedly been served with another deportation order, which could see him removed by the UK Border Agency on 2 August.

The Home Office told Journalism.co.uk they are unable to confirm the details of individual cases, but the NUJ say the economic and current affairs journalist is currently being detained at the Colnbrook Home Office detention centre.

In an open letter, the NUJ today call on their members and other supporters to lobby their local MP and call on the Home Secretary to "not to enforce the removal order" before a full judicial review of the case.

"We believe it is based on an incomplete review procedure and that it has not taken account of substantial changes in circumstances in Cameroon, nor has it treated with any compassion Charles' immense contribution to the NUJ network and other communities in Glasgow," the union said in the letter.

"You should know that following a visit to the country in May this year, the Federation of African Journalists described Cameroon as 'one of the worst jailers of journalists in Africa'. A number of prominent journalists are currently held in shocking conditions in prisons in the country.

"Charles' family has prominent historical links with the opposition movement in Cameroon and we fear he will be subjected to violence and likely detention if he is forced to return. I appeal to you to intervene urgently and call on the home secretary not to enforce the removal order until there is a full judicial review of Charles Atangana's case."

The union reports that Atangana was arrested by Cameroonian authorities after writing several critical articles about them.

"In detention for forty days he was stripped naked and beaten," the NUJ says. "In Cameroon his wife has also been detained, stripped and beaten and shown an arrest warrant for Charles."

The NUJ said Atangana has played "a significant role in the local community", both as a volunteer with the Citizens Advice Bureau and as an active member of the NUJ.

He is also an activist with the Maryhill Integration Network, promoting integration between local people, asylum seekers, refugees and other communities.

"Charles belongs to Glasgow. We want him back home," said NUJ president Pete Murray.