Mehdi in Manchester

Since arriving in the UK in 2003 Mehdi has established himself as part of the local community in Manchester. He has tirelessly worked to increase the opportunities for young people to get involved in sport, particularly football. He set up a local football team called Omid FC and also finds the time to volunteer with the Manchester Hazara Community Organisation as a sports co-ordinator. Mehdi is the driving force behind the Omid FC. He has supported them to enter tournaments and they have travelled across the country playing football with other teams in different cities. Mehdi organised a tournament himself for other grassroots teams in Manchester and he has been recognised by local football teams and community organisations for his commitment and dedication and promotion of the game as a force for community cohesion and social inclusion for young people.

In 2006, in Manchester, Mehdi was brutally attacked by an unknown assailant who stabbed him in the eye with a screwdriver. This attack has had a serious impact on Mehdi's physical health and emotional and mental wellbeing. Mehdi has been left with hearing, sight and other sensory difficulties. He was also further traumatised by the attack becoming more depressed and fearing for his safety. Despite this attack and the difficulties he faced he still found the energy to promote football and support young people to get involved in the game. Mehdi fled Afhganistan after his family were murdered due to his father's involvement in an anti-government group. Mehdi was detained by the authorities in Afghanistan and tortured but his uncle helped him escape and he fled to the UK.

The UK Border Agency refuse to believe that Mehdi's life is under threat if he returns to Afghanistan. However, Mehdi's uncle informed him that the authorities have been searching for him since he fled the country in 2003 and believes his life would be in danger and he would be tortured again if he returned. Mehdi therefore fears for his life if he is returned to Afghanistan and is increasingly distressed and distraught by his imminent removal to Kabul.

Do something now to help:
Friends of Mehdi in Manchester are campaigning over the weekend to keep an outstanding member of their community where he belongs in Manchester.

Please email Jenny at  lomasjenny@yahoo.co.uk or 07795567447 for information about what you can do over the weekend, there's lots to do so whatever time you have if you can spare even ½ hour please get in touch.

Email Theresa May:

If you can please write to Theresa May reminding her that Afghanistan a failed state: A state having little or no governance, endemic corruption, profiteering by ruling elites, very poor Human Rights, the government cannot/will not protect the population from others or itself, massive internal conflict, forced internal/external displacement, institutionalised political exclusion of significant numbers of the population, progressive deterioration of welfare infrastructure (hospitals, clinics, doctors, nurses) not adequate to meet health, needs, progressive economic decline of the country as a whole as measured by per capita income, debt, severe child mortality rates, poverty levels.

Please ask her to stop the removal of Mehdi, release him from detention and reconsider his case with a view to giving some form of refugee protection. Remind her that if she does this Mehdi will be able to continue his unique contribution to the Manchester community.

The following information can be used to contact Theresa May:
Rt. Hon Theresa May, MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office,
2 Marsham St London SW1 4DF
Fax: 020 7035 4745

 mayt@parliament.uk
 UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
 CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
 Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

When emailing make sure you include the following information:

Mehdi Mirzae (Home Office ref: M119648) aged 26 is a national of Afghanistan and long time resident of Manchester. He is currently detained in Dungavel IRC and due to be forcibly removed from the UK @ 03:00 hrs by Charter Flight PVT 800 on Tuesday 23rd November to Afghanistan.

For more information and a template letter please see
 http://www.freemovement.org.uk/Media-4/MehdiMirzaeTM.doc