For immediate release:

--Starts--

Cardiff Gay Radical Artist Asylum Seeker Snatched!

Babakhan Badalov, (Babi) the openly gay, internationally renowned
radical artist and poet from Azerbaijan was detained yesterday while signing on
at the UK Border Agency Offices in Cardiff.

Babi went for his weekly sign-in with friends from the Keep Babi Safe in
Cardiff Campagin. When he did not come back out of the building campaigners
became concerned and enquired after his wellbeing only to be told he had been
detained and would be removed from the country as soon as possible.

At the time of writing he is at Rumney Police station, though he
may be moved to one of the UK's detention prisons at any time. A friend has
been able to visit him in custody.

Babi was already in a very fragile mental state before his arrest,
and No Borders can report that he was a complete wreck when a friend and
member
of the campaign was able to visit him in the police cell. Friend and activist
Hywel Bishop said:

"I've never seen anyone so scared. If Babi gets sent home he faces
persecution from the state for his radical art, beatings from the local
community, as well as the threat of honour killing from his family because they
can't live with the fact that he's gay."

Typically Babi was also mindful of his art, and was concerned that
his detention would stand in the way of his upcoming exhibition in

Cardiff’s TactileBOSCH studio on 27 September and 14 October.

When he was informed that he was going to be detained and deported Babi
responded by saying:

“I feel sick”

To which the UK Border agent told him:

“well you make us sick, you're going back where you belong”

Babi had the appeal to his asylum refusal rejected at the end of
July and has been in the process of filing a
fresh claim with new
evidence of the danger he would face back in Azerbaijan.
Alarming new witness statements detailing Babi's history of violent
persecution have also recently came to light, which would allow him to make a
very strong fresh claim for asylum.

Furthermore, his solicitor has only recently been able to find medical experts
to corroborate evidence of neurological and psychological damage, effecting his
increasingly deteriorating mental health. All of which has delayed the lodging
of his fresh claim.

There will be a protest against Babi’s incarcration outside of
the place where he was grabbed: the UK Border Agency offices at 31-33 Newport
Road, Cardiff at 12 noon, wednesday 17th September. All are welcome.

--Ends--

Notes for editors:

Babi's campaign has gained the support of writer and playwright Patrick
Jones, Leane Wood AM, Bethan Jenkins AM, Chris Bryant MP, Cardiff
Council Leader
Rodney Berman and Deputy Leader Neil McEvoy.

Members of the 'Keep Babi Safe in Cardiff' campaign will be available
for interview at tommorrow's protest, if you wish to arrange an interview
over the phone please call:

Background info on babi:
 http://noborderswales.wordpress.com/campaign-to-stay/keep-babi-safe-in-cardiff/

No Borders have been protested outside the UKBA offices before:
 http://noborderswales.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/picket-of-racist-borders-agency-cardiff/



And recently protested about Babi's situation at Cardiff Pride:
 http://noborderswales.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/keep-babi-safe-in-cardiff-campaign-hits-the-streets-on-day-of-cardiff-pride-2/

Babakhan (Babi) Badalov's art and poetry have been explicitly critical of
the government and prominent members of present/past regimes. These factors have
led Babi to become a target of repression and persecution over many
years.

Because of his sexuality and the radical nature of his creative
activities, he has endured government-led suppression together with physical
and mental abuse from other sectors of society.

All this has taken place in a Muslim country, where homosexuality
remains an extremely taboo subject. This led one of Babi’s brothers to
threaten to kill him because of the shame which he has brought on the family.

As a result of beatings and bullying over the years Babi has only eight teeth

remaining and suffers from a number of mental health problems

Since arriving in Cardiff in December 2006, Babi has engaged fully with various
parts of the local community and has made many friends in his new home. He is
still producing poetry, is writing a book about his art/gay life experiences and
is also working on a film addressing the rise of Muslim fundamentalism. This
latter work, as well as many other aspects
of his art, would of course be
impossible in his country of origin.

For the first time in his life, Babi felt happy and safe in Cardiff. He felt
able to openly express himself artistically, politically and with regard to his
sexuality, without associated feelings of fear, shame and imminent repression.