Ugandan lesbian who was subjected to ‘exorcism’ granted asylum in UK

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

A Ugandan woman who was subjected to a “torturous exorcism”, and who faced deportation last year has finally been granted asylum in the UK.

Campaigners said Judith Twiith Twikireze was forced to undergo “a torturous exorcism” ritual in Uganda and still bears the scars of sharp lacerations on her joints and the trauma of human degradation.

The African LGBTI Out & Proud Diamond Group called for Ms Twikireze’s deportation to be stopped, after she was detained at Yarlswood Detention Centre.

In December it had been understood she faced imminent deportation, as she was on a Detained Fast Track (DFT) order.

In a statement to PinkNews, she said: “Its been a struggle, but God has done it for me. I now can have the freedom that I have never had before since my childhood. I want to thank each and everyone that supported and prayed for me, the organisations that were there for me mostly Out and Proud Diamond Group, the media news that helped bring the truth to the public, plus all all the people that signed my petition to stop me from being deported. God bless you all.”

Last year, the High Court ruled that fast track detention, a system used to process the vast majority of cases, was “unlawful”.