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Parliament Square Tent City

Terence Bunch | 22.06.2008 11:27 | SOCPA | Migration | London

Campaigners and activists gather in Parliament Square to hold a 'Tent City' in protest at the British Governments continued programme of deportation of people of Iraqi nationality.

Deportation of Iraqi nationals in the UK.
Deportation of Iraqi nationals in the UK.

Campaigners gather and set up the 'tent-city'.
Campaigners gather and set up the 'tent-city'.

The actress, Joanne Macinnes, lends her support to the campaign.
The actress, Joanne Macinnes, lends her support to the campaign.

A poster hangs from one of the tents.
A poster hangs from one of the tents.

A marquee stands in sight of Parliament.
A marquee stands in sight of Parliament.

A campaigner makes a large banner.
A campaigner makes a large banner.

Tent-City illegal under SOCPA.
Tent-City illegal under SOCPA.

Metropolitan Police and GLA serve notice.
Metropolitan Police and GLA serve notice.

Police and SOCPA.
Police and SOCPA.


Campaigners and activists gather in Parliament Square to hold a 'Tent City' in protest at the British Governments continued programme of deportation of people of Iraqi nationality.

As a result of the invasion and forced occupation of Iraq, many of its citizens have either been killed, fled their homes or been displaced into refugee status. Many have found their way to the EU and UK and claimed asylum status and have asked to stay here. The British government, nevertheless, continue to deport them back to their country of origin and in many cases to a life of chaos and fear.

According to UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) around 4.7 million Iraqis have left their homes since the US/UK led invasion of 2003, and over 2 million have fled out of the country to neighbouring states. In 2006, Iraqis became the leading nationality seeking asylum in Europe.

The Tent-City assembles 'illegally' in Parliament Square and does so on the basis that it has not asked Metropolitan Police Authorities for permission under the terms of SOCPA (Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005). Despite this, they still receive permission to assemble from the police despite the fact that no application has been made.

Terence Bunch
- e-mail: terry.bunch@terencebunch.co.uk
- Homepage: http://www.terencebunch.co.uk/stop-iraqi-deportations-tent-city-21-06-2008.php

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  1. Good! — Paul