Catherine Stihler, Scottish Labour MEP

EURO MP TAKES GLASGOW STUDENT’S FIGHT TO BRUSSELS

Catherine Stihler, Euro MP for Scotland, has taken the fight to Brussels in order to block moves to deport a young Anniesland College student from being deported to Italy.  In a move strongly welcomed by Mrs. Stihler, the President of the European Commission is now on record promising to look into the tragic case of Rima Andmariam, originally from Eritrea. 

Mrs. Stihler raised this issue with Jose Manuel Barroso – the President of the European Commission – while in Strasbourg.

Rima fled Eritrea at the age of 14, fleeing religious persecution in her home country and then racist neglect in Italy.  Charity volunteers in Italy scraped together enough money to send Rima to the UK, after being neglected and ignored in Italy.

Mrs. Stihler commented:

“Rima came to the UK for a better life after years of horrific abuse and neglect”. 

“She was treated severely by the Eritrean government and left to fend for herself in Italy – seeking food from charity soup kitchens and living in a squat”.

“Rima’s Baptist birth certificate states that she was born in 1992, however, her age has been contested by the Home Office”. 

“This means that she is not being treated as a minor and as a result may be sent back to Italy”.

“Rima resides with a loving family in Partickhill.  We cannot allow her to be torn away from her new life and put in further danger”.

Mrs Stihler was made aware of the issue after a  ten year old school pupil from Fife showed her the petition he made to save Rima from deportation. 

Mrs. Stihler added:

“Rima’s situation is very precarious and worrying.  She will be heartbroken to leave Glasgow.  She has already had to leave behind one family in Eritrea and she is too vulnerable to cope on her own”. 

“Her time to remain in the UK has been extended to June, but we need to overturn this decision.”

“Aside from raising this at an EU-level, I have duly contacted our Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, and Rima’s local MP – John Robertson”

Mrs Stihler will continue to fight tooth and nail to block the deportation of Rima Andmariam.

For more information, please contact Fiona Fairley (Press and Campaigns Officer to Catherine Stihler MEP) t: 01383 417 799 or 077 930 30 450 e: cstihlermep2@btconnect.com