The National Union of Journalists is backing a campaign against the deportation of Manchester-based journalist James Fallah-Williams from Sierra Leone.

Fallah-Williams has lived in the UK for 12 years, working as a journalist which includes writing articles critical of the political regime and corruption in Sierra Leone.  This has led to threats and fear for his safety if deported to his native country, the NUJ told Journalism.co.uk.

The journalist’s work permit was revoked in October last year, since which time hundreds of people in Leigh, Greater Manchester have signed a petition calling for the government to permit him to stay in the UK. Labour MP for Leigh Andy Burnham is supporting the case and making further representation directly to the minister, the NUJ said today.

In a post on its website, the NUJ is calling for its members to write to Home Office minister Damian Green MP.

In April the NUJ announced that Cameroon journalist Charles Atangana won an appeal against deportation to his native country, following a log campaign by the union.