ZENA

Zena was born to a Lebanese mother and a Sierra Leone father.

This mixed race child had both British and Lebanese passports, Sierra Leone was at that time part of the British Commonwealth.

Raised in Sierra Leone she was married at the age of fourteen according to custom.

Zena's husband owned a general-purpose store in the district of Seafdau in Lebanon and so Zena and her husband began married life in Seafdau.

Sometime later it was discovered that this area had a large deposit of diamonds. As a result of this the area started to become a dangerous place to live, people would do anything to obtain these diamonds. In order to restrict movement within the district the government decided to introduce permits, this resulted in the danger being heightened.

Zena's husband decided it was time to leave the Country, he had relatives in living in Belgium and therefore they closed the shop and headed for Belgium.

They lived happily there for two years; this was to change with the diagnosis that Zena's husband had cancer.

Treatment for this proved to be expensive and therefore a decision to return to Lebanon was taken, treatment would be available there.

Arrangements were made and the journey commenced.
Upon arrival in Lebanon husband and wife were ushered through customs, Zena's husband needed to get to a hospital quickly the journey and stress had taken its toll.

Zena's husband obtained treatment, however he was to die five years later.

Under Lebanese law if, as a widow, you have no children then your dead husband's brother is entitled to marry you. This ensures that any property remains in the husband's family.

Zena had no intention of remarrying, she had, over the years, grown to love her husband, and whilst living in Belgium had become aware of a very different life. She was not prepared to remain in Lebanon.

Zena found herself a solicitor and proceeded to go to court, where she lied that she did in fact have children whom had remained in Belgium with her husband's relatives. The courts believed her, however, it was now imperative that she leave the Country before her husband's family could counterclaim.

At the immigration service in Lebanon Zena attempted to leave on her British passport, however, as she had been ushered through customs six years previously her passport had no visa stamp in it. Zena tried to explain, to no avail. She would be allowed to leave but only on her Lebanese passport, if she continued to protest she would go to prison.

And so Zena arrived in August 1998 at Heathrow airport on her Lebanese passport.

Immigration in Britain also proved not to believe Zena, she showed them both passports and explained why she had no visa stamp.
Immigration finally allowed Zena to go, retaining both passports.

Eight days later a women found the crying Zena still at the airport, her luggage had been stolen and what money she had brought with her spent on food and a change of clothes.

This woman proved to be her Good Samaritan, she contacted a friend in Margate who helped people in Zena's position. Transport was arranged, accommodation and a solicitor found.

The solicitor went to the courts, on 28 January 1999 Zena was, ironically as a British subject, granted status. Her British passport was then returned.

Of the future she wishes to live in peace, be happy, grow old and die.

She still has no desire to remarry.

This Page was last updated: Wednesday, February 26, 2003 at 7:12:02 PM
This page was originally posted: 26/2/03; 1:33:23 pm.
Copyright 2004 Thanet Refugee Access