A plea to overturn the deportation of a Nigerian woman who fears her two daughters will be subjected to genital mutilation if the family is deported is being made to Justice Minister Michael Mc Dowell by the ISPCC.
The ISPCC say the case presents serious child protection concerns and believes that the State, under the UNHCR and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has a duty to protect these children from persecution.
Pamela. Izbekhai applied for asylum due to her fear that if she returns to Nigeria, her daughters will be subjected to female genital mutilation. Her 19 month old daughter died after bleeding to death following genital mutilation in 1994.
Ms Izbekhai is currently in Mountjoy prison after being arrested in Sligo last Thursday where she had been in hiding for five weeks. Her two daughters are currently in the care of the State.
Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) held a rally outside Mountjoy prison last night also asking Minister Mc Dowell to reconsider the decision made by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT) regarding Pamela Izbekhai and her two daughters.
Ms Izbekhai's case is to be heard on January 23 rdafter Mr Justice Barry White last week issued a High Court order last week that an affidavit be signed and Ms Izbekhai would not be deported before her hearing .