Congo deportation legal battle

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Lawyers acting for the Congolese nationals will ask a judge to stop the Home Office from sending them back to their homeland where they claim they could face torture and persecution.

Supporters of the group, which includes about 20 adults and more than 15 children, claim a plane has been chartered to take them back to the central African state on August 30.

They added that lawyers will say the deportation should be suspended until a separate Asylum and Immigration Tribunal hearing involving other Congolese nationals is completed next month. At this hearing it will be argued that Congo is not a safe place to return asylum seekers.

Innocent Empi, from the Congo Support Project, said a demonstration supporting the legal action would be held outside the High Court in central London.

He added: "We are opposing this deportation because the Congo is not safe, the situation is very very bad at the moment.

"People are being persecuted, abused and tortured and their human rights are not respected by the Congo authorities."

A Home Office spokesman said it could not comment until the court hearing was concluded.