Help Revd Wendy
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You may recall Rev Wendy Hough who was Chaplain at SMRT as well as Parish Missioner of SMR from 2007 to 2014. She moved to North Cyprus in 2014 to be Vicar of St Andrew’s church there, and Advisor for Women’s Ministry for the diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. She stepped out of the church’s ministry in 2018 to establish a foundation for victims of gender violence, both in terms of sex trafficking and domestic abuse. She had just bought her own, much longed for, first home into which she invested all her income, and committed to the future. All that she has in the world is there, including beloved rescue pets. She was on the point of the charity becoming an NGO last December when an unprecedented situation occurred.
Two immigration officers turned up at her home on December 11th, told her that her application for residency had been turned down (without reason or any explanation in terms of paperwork) she was given half an hour to pack a bag, and told she must leave the country immediately. She was placed in a rancid prison cell for several hours. Initially Wendy thought she would return and stayed in an Airbnb just over the border in Greek Cyprus. Then her government contacts who believed they could reverse the unauthorized deportation realized they could not. The order had come from Ankara, the Turkish police had issued it as they had marked her a a “Christian Missioner”. She has to go to court to get the decision reversed or revoked. There is a change in the political climate, the North of Cyprus has always been relaxed and welcoming but it seems Turkey is now tightening its grip on the North. Such deportations, always citing vague and unsubstantiated visa issues for the removal of Christian workers is a known practice in mainland Turkey but not in North Cyprus until now.
For over four months now, Wendy has had to remain there with huge unforeseen costs. She cannot travel to the UK with no residence, or to the Netherlands where her daughter lives and works, because of CoVid (and Brexit) restrictions. During her time “in exile” Wendy has continued to operate a Samaritans line to support victims of gender violence. She is also engaged with a doctoral programme on Muslim /Christian relations, and advocacy for displaced people - primarily focused on Palestine. Last week dealt the heavy shock that the judge deemed she still cannot return so Wendy is faced with huge issues of where to go and what to do. Wendy asks for prayer that she doesn’t sink because of the emotional and psychological pressure, and any form of financial help would be deeply appreciated and enable her at this point in time to just live until she can return to her home and work.
Two immigration officers turned up at her home on December 11th, told her that her application for residency had been turned down (without reason or any explanation in terms of paperwork) she was given half an hour to pack a bag, and told she must leave the country immediately. She was placed in a rancid prison cell for several hours. Initially Wendy thought she would return and stayed in an Airbnb just over the border in Greek Cyprus. Then her government contacts who believed they could reverse the unauthorized deportation realized they could not. The order had come from Ankara, the Turkish police had issued it as they had marked her a a “Christian Missioner”. She has to go to court to get the decision reversed or revoked. There is a change in the political climate, the North of Cyprus has always been relaxed and welcoming but it seems Turkey is now tightening its grip on the North. Such deportations, always citing vague and unsubstantiated visa issues for the removal of Christian workers is a known practice in mainland Turkey but not in North Cyprus until now.
For over four months now, Wendy has had to remain there with huge unforeseen costs. She cannot travel to the UK with no residence, or to the Netherlands where her daughter lives and works, because of CoVid (and Brexit) restrictions. During her time “in exile” Wendy has continued to operate a Samaritans line to support victims of gender violence. She is also engaged with a doctoral programme on Muslim /Christian relations, and advocacy for displaced people - primarily focused on Palestine. Last week dealt the heavy shock that the judge deemed she still cannot return so Wendy is faced with huge issues of where to go and what to do. Wendy asks for prayer that she doesn’t sink because of the emotional and psychological pressure, and any form of financial help would be deeply appreciated and enable her at this point in time to just live until she can return to her home and work.
Organizer
Simon Stevens
Organizer
