The deportation of a Glasgow-based journalist to his native Cameroon has been temporarily halted for a second time, following pressure from the National Union of Journalists.
As reported last week on allmediascotland, Charles Atangana – an active member of the NUJ Glasgow branch who has lived in Scotland for over six years – was due to be forcibly removed from the UK. It later emerged it was meant to have been at 8pm last night.
However, campaigning by the NUJ – including an hour-long lobby in Glasgow yesterday attended by between 60 and 70 union members – secured a last-minute temporary reprieve for Atangana.
His removal has now been deferred while a decision is made on whether to grant judicial review proceedings, though no date has yet been set for the hearing.
NUJ president, Pete Murray, told allmediascotland: “This temporary reprieve for Charles is great news, but it's only one hurdle. We have to clear many more before Charles can come back home safely to Glasgow.
“However, it shows that campaigning and lobbying does work, so the NUJ will redouble its efforts to secure a judicial review.
“Charles' life will be at grave risk if he is forced to return to Cameroon; we need to make sure the Home Secretary, Theresa May, hears that message loud and clear.”
Atangana faced a first deportation order in June but was granted a reprieve after a High Court hearing went in his favour.
