Thanks to all who have responded to the urgent request for action.

It was Tayyip's 28th birthday on Saturday and campaigners held a birthday party outside Holme House prison in Stockton-on-Tees. The party included fireworks, balloons and an extra large birthday cake wrapped with barbed wire. The story was headline news on BBC local TV (knocking a news item about William Hague to second place), and was also featured on Tyne Tees TV .

Tayyip has now been moved to the Detention Suite at Manchester Airport pending his deportation tomorrow. However solicitors have made a legal challenge under the Human Rights Act, so this will delay matters. He will probably still be detained and will probably be moved again.

If you haven't sent a fax yet, please read the following and help if you can.

Yours in solidarity,

Tony Openshaw
NW Co-ordinator
National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns (NCADC)
400 Cheetham Hill Road
Manchester M8 9LE

The background to this case and a model letter that you can send to the Hom e Office follow:

Tayyip Oruc is a Kurdish man from Turkey. His life is in great danger as th e Home Office are planning to deport him on Tuesday 13th February. Tayyip came to the UK in 1998 as an asylum seeker following years of suppression and beatings from the Turkish military. He suffered at the hand s of the Turkish regime simply because he insists on maintaining his Kurdish culture, language and identity.

Tayyip has never taken up arms against the Turkish military nor fought with the PKK (the Kurdish Workers Party). His only activity was to support the organisations that tried to protect the distinct identity and rights of the Kurdish people.

Tayyip's claim for political asylum was refused, and he lost the only appea l that was open to him. When he went to sign on at the police station, he was detained and is due to be deported next Tuesday.

Please copy and circulate the following letter to anyone and everyone who will support this campaign. Please send copies to tony.openshaw@pop3.poptel.org.uk so we can see the response.

Tony Openshaw
NW Co-ordinator
National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns.

Name:
Address:
Date:
Fax to: 0 7273 43
Barbara Roche MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary
The Home Office
50 Queen AnneB9s Gate
London SW1H 9AT

Dear Ms Roche,
HOME OFFICE REFERENCE: O179962 - MR TAYYIP ORUC - URGENT REQUEST FOR ACTION

I am writing with shock and horror having discovered that Tayyip Oruc is no w in detention and planned to be deported on Tuesday 13th February.

The most shocking thing about this situation is that the immigration authorities have decided not to investigate TayyipB9s latest allegations concerning the persecution of his family back home and the danger he will be in if returned. This must be a breach of the 1951 UN Convention relating to the status of refugees and an infringement of an individuals human rights under the European Human Rights Act.

You may not personally be aware of this so I am outlining what happened whe n Tayyip was first detained and asked by an immigration officer if there were any changes or developments with his situation.

Tayyip explained that early December 00, his family had been attacked by the Turkish military yet again. They beat his mother and father with batons and took away his brother. They shot his familyB9s two cows, a horse and their dog and threatened to remove the family from their land. To date, the y have still not been able to find out where the brother is being detained, whether he has been charged, or when or if he is likely to be released. Tayyip said he cannot be returned to such a serious and life-threatening situation.

Tayyip'sepresentative demanded that this allegation be investigated bef ore any decisions to detain or deport are carried out. This seems perfectly fai r to me and is within the spirit and the letter of the relevant law.

IT TOOK 15 MINUTES FOR THE AUTHORITIES TO DISMISS THIS INFORMATION AND DECIDE TO CONTINUE WITH THE PLANNED REMOVAL. THIS CANNOT BE FAIR AND IS A CLEAR BREACH OF OUR INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS.

All the worlds human rights organisations have highlighted the human rig hts abuses against the Kurdish community by the Turkish regime and have strongl y condemned the Turkish government.

I strongly urge you to reconsider the Immigration ServiceB9s decision to detain and deport Tayyip Oruc in the light of the Human Rights reports and the new evidence that Tayyip has provided.

Please reply to my letter at your very earliest opportunity.

Yours sincerely,