Cameroon journalist's deportation case adjourned for three months

The case of NUJ member Charles Atangana, who is fighting deportation to his home country, was adjourned for three months today by the High Court.

Today's hearing, part of Atangana's application for a judicial review of his deportation order, was delayed following an agreement between his barrister and the Home Office.

Atangana was due to be deported back to Cameroon in August but was granted a reprieve following an ongoing campaign by the NUJ. He has lived in Glasgow since fleeing his home country in 2004, where he claims he was tortured and detained for writing about alleged political corruption.

He will now have six weeks to prepare further evidence for submission to the Home Office, which will then spend the remaining six weeks reviewing the evidence prior to a hearing.

Atangana told Journalism.co.uk today that he was "75 per cent confident" that he would be awarded judicial review in three months' time.

"There is surely no way they cannot grant the review now. They have refused to look at evidence before, not even taking the time to read it. But we have too much proof, proof of me being a journalist, for them to refuse," he said.

The NUJ staged a protest outside the High Court today where messages were read out from several senior union figures, including president Pete Murray:

"The National Union of Journalists is extremely proud to have Charles as one of us. We will always be grateful for the help, advice and support given to our campaign by hundreds upon hundreds of trade unionists, politicians of every party and members of the public who dropped everything to say as one - 'Charles must stay'. Charles belongs to Glasgow and I wish him the best today in this latest legal step on his journey back home."

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ deputy general secretary, said: "We are delighted the court did not decide to deport Charles Atangana today. We now have the opportunity to submit further evidence to support his asylum application to remain in the UK. Charles' life could be at risk if he is forced to return to the Cameroon so we will keep up the pressure and continue to campaign for Charles to stay."

More on the case from Journalism.co.uk

'Euphoria, anxiety, stress, happiness, anxiety...': an interview with Charles Atangana

Bailed Cameroon journalist returns to human rights research

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