Waltham Forest Trades Council formally gave its support to Charles Atangana, a journalist and NUJ member fighting deportation to Cameroon two days before his case goes before a High Court judge.

Investigative journalist Charles Atangana, a thorn in the side of the Cameroonian regime, fled to the UK six years ago after being imprisoned and tortured for his exposes of government corruption. Having continued to receive death threats from the regime while in exile, he is seeking a Judicial Review of the Home Office decision to send him back.

Last night (October 5th) Charles spoke at a meeting of Waltham Forest Trade Union Council – just the latest in a round of visits to trade unionists nationally. Charles has received solid support from east London trades unionists since he was moved by the Home Office to a hostel in Barking. It’s the third place he’s been told to live since he was released on bail from detention at the Dover immigration removal centre in August.

Dave Knight, President of Waltham Forest Trades Council said: “We are very pleased to help Charles in his fight to avoid deportation to a country where his life could well be under threat. He has been resident in the UK for four years now so surely the only sensible thing to do is for the courts to let him stay.”

Charles’ friends and supporters will be demonstrating outside the Royal Courts of Justice in The Strand this Thursday calling for Charles to be allowed to stay in the UK. To find out more call Dave Knight of Waltham Forest Trades Council on 020 8496 4703 or Sarah Kavanagh at the NUJ on 020 7843 6381.