By Louise Nousratpour
Tuesday April 20, 2010
The Morning Star
The volcanic ash blowing from Iceland may have temporarily saved Iranian woman refugee Bita Ghaedi from being deported back to her country where she risks imprisonment and even death.
Ms Ghaedi, who is currently being held at the notorious Yarl's Wood detention centre in west London, was due to be deported to Tehran on a BMI airline flight from Heathrow Terminal 3 on Tuesday night.
But a BMI spokesman has confirmed that all the airline's flights from Heathrow are still grounded as the volcano ash continues to cloud Britain's skies.
"This news gives us hope that we may now have more time to save Bita," said Diana Nami of the Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation which has been leading the campaign against her deportation.
"The Home Office is responsible for Bita's life as she could face death by stoning if she is deported."
Ms Ghaedi arrived in England in 2007 to escape domestic violence and threats of "honour" killing from her family.
She was taken to Yarl's Wood last Friday following a traumatising early morning raid by immigration police officers.
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