Alain Kouayep Tchatchue reportedly fled his native Cameroon, where same-sex acts are punishable with up to 5 years in prison, after his relationship with a man was discovered by people in his town.
The positive obligation of member states, including the UK, to recognise the asylum claims of adult lesbian and gay asylum-seekers has been mandatory under European Union law since 2006. In the UK, a 2010 Supreme Court ruling established that asylum seekers should not be expected to conceal their sexuality, and that the possibility of avoidance of persecution in their native country through discretion should not be used as grounding for rejection.
Following the Home Office’s rejection of his claim to asylum in the UK earlier this year, Tchatchue was reportedly transported to Heathrow airport in the early hours of the morning on the 5th of April.
According to Manchester Metropolitan Church Pastor Andy Braunston, who has been campaigning on his behalf, when Tchatchue protested, saying that his lawyer has submitted a fresh claim for asylum that week, and declaring himself unwilling to leave the UK, two operatives responsible for transporting him to the airport beat him.
Speaking to the Morning Star last week, visually impaired Tchatchue said he was dragged to the transportation van, punched repeatedly in the ribs and left in the vehicle with his hands and feet bound for over three hours. A member of staff charged with his welfare during the deportation process then reportedly declared that Tchatchue was too unwell to travel and he was returned to Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre. Once there, upon seeing his injuries the centre’s manager sought immediate medical attention for him, and subsequently advised him to contact the police.
In an update to the campaign published on the 9th of April, Braunston reported:
The pastor added: “The manager of the Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre, where he was returned after the deportation attempt, was so shocked that she ordered medical care, photos to be taken, and called the police.”
According to the Star, Tchatchue put in a complaint to the police, but continued to suffer mobility problems in his shoulder and require painkillers following the incident. He told the Star: “I am very scared and upset. Even now I can’t sleep. This is a very difficult time in my life.”
Friends of Tchatchue have criticised his treatment at the hands of the officials.
“Alain is a blind man who uses a white stick to get around and who has fled here because of fear of the violence of the state in Cameroon,” said Braunston.
“It is shameful that agents of our government have beaten this vulnerable man in an attempt to send him back to persecution.”
Since its occurrence at the beginning of April, the incident has been reported by the Morning Star, Pink News and Gay Star News.
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