Interview with Naseh Ghafor
BoneIdol | 26.08.2004 23:08 | Sheffield
Q. Why did you choose to go on a hunger strike ?
Naseh: I had no alternative. I preferred to die rather than stay in the UK with no job, housing, income and face deportation.
Q. Why did you leave Iraq ?
Naseh: My life was in danger. I was threatened by the authorities. My family were all killed.
Q. Why are you afraid to go back ?
Naseh: I am facing the same trouble my family was.
Q. The Home Office has said they will not send you back to Iraq until the situation stabilises.
Naseh: I don’t trust them. If I knew my life was safe I would go back voluntarily.
Q. Saddam Hussein has gone now. Why would it not be safe now ?
Naseh: The problem I had is still existing. Saddam’s regime was only part of the problem.
Q. What did you hope to achieve from going on hunger strike ?
Naseh: The right to stay in the UK and the right to work in the UK.
Q. Did you achieve that ?
Naseh: No.
Q. Why did you end your hunger strike when you did ?
Naseh: I was prepared to die but I found people who respected the human being, and supported me. They didn't let me die.
Q. David Blunkett says that this is a publicity stunt, how do you answer that ?
Naseh: No. I was desperate. I wanted to die.
Q. You have gone through the asylum process and been refused. Why should you be given special treatment ?
Naseh: I shouldn't be given special treatment. Everyone should have the right to work. No Iraqis should go back now.
Q. You look really fit now. You don't look like someone who hasn't eaten for 44 days.
Naseh: The doctor came to see me and told me that I would die in 3 days if I did not stop.
Q. You have obviously put yourself through a terrible ordeal these last 7 weeks. What did you achieve from your action?
Naseh: For myself nothing. But I did get a lot of news stories. Many people are now aware of the problems asylum seekers are facing. Many people supported me. I hope the campaign will continue.
Q. So what are the next steps ?
Naseh: David Blunkett’s office have said he will meet with me when he comes back. We are talking to another lawyer to see if anything more can be done legally. We have to see what else we can do.
Q. Is there anything else you want to say, Naseh ?
Naseh: Thank you very much for all the organisations and individuals who have worked on this campaign. Many people have spent a lot of time helping me. They all saved my life and are helping me to plan a new life.
Naseh: I had no alternative. I preferred to die rather than stay in the UK with no job, housing, income and face deportation.
Q. Why did you leave Iraq ?
Naseh: My life was in danger. I was threatened by the authorities. My family were all killed.
Q. Why are you afraid to go back ?
Naseh: I am facing the same trouble my family was.
Q. The Home Office has said they will not send you back to Iraq until the situation stabilises.
Naseh: I don’t trust them. If I knew my life was safe I would go back voluntarily.
Q. Saddam Hussein has gone now. Why would it not be safe now ?
Naseh: The problem I had is still existing. Saddam’s regime was only part of the problem.
Q. What did you hope to achieve from going on hunger strike ?
Naseh: The right to stay in the UK and the right to work in the UK.
Q. Did you achieve that ?
Naseh: No.
Q. Why did you end your hunger strike when you did ?
Naseh: I was prepared to die but I found people who respected the human being, and supported me. They didn't let me die.
Q. David Blunkett says that this is a publicity stunt, how do you answer that ?
Naseh: No. I was desperate. I wanted to die.
Q. You have gone through the asylum process and been refused. Why should you be given special treatment ?
Naseh: I shouldn't be given special treatment. Everyone should have the right to work. No Iraqis should go back now.
Q. You look really fit now. You don't look like someone who hasn't eaten for 44 days.
Naseh: The doctor came to see me and told me that I would die in 3 days if I did not stop.
Q. You have obviously put yourself through a terrible ordeal these last 7 weeks. What did you achieve from your action?
Naseh: For myself nothing. But I did get a lot of news stories. Many people are now aware of the problems asylum seekers are facing. Many people supported me. I hope the campaign will continue.
Q. So what are the next steps ?
Naseh: David Blunkett’s office have said he will meet with me when he comes back. We are talking to another lawyer to see if anything more can be done legally. We have to see what else we can do.
Q. Is there anything else you want to say, Naseh ?
Naseh: Thank you very much for all the organisations and individuals who have worked on this campaign. Many people have spent a lot of time helping me. They all saved my life and are helping me to plan a new life.
BoneIdol