URGENT: Dawn raid on family in Glasgow - Protest tomorrow!
Unity | 02.12.2012 15:20 | Anti-racism | Migration
Mazhar Hussain, his wife Uzma and their daughters, 15 year old Khudaijah, 13 year old Areej and their 4 year old son Shahmer were arrested in their house in Glasgow this morning by UKBA Immigration Enforcement Officers.
UNITY are calling for a protest outside the UKBA offices at Festival Court on Brand Street tomorrow - Monday 3rd December - at 11.00am in solidarity with the family.
(Nearest tube is Cessnock.)
The family are currently on their way to the Cedars detention centre via Edinburgh airport. Speaking to a family friend, Muzhar, who has problems with his legs which cause him pain and affects his mobility said that they didn't understand why they had been detained as he thought they had a hearing for a Judicial Review at the Court of Session in Edinburgh later this month.
A Unity volunteer said "We'd only been talking with Mazhar and his family about arrangements we were making for a Christmas Party earlier last week. The two girls and little Shamer had been quite excited about the idea and wanted to know if we were planning to get them Christmas presents! We're shocked and outraged that this family have been detained, especially as it looks like all possible legal action has not finished."
Cedars 'pre-departure accommodation' family detention centre is the supposed 'family-friendly' alternative to detaining children run jointly by security firm G4S and children's charity Barnardos.
Recently the Chief Inspector of Prisons criticised staff at the detention centre saying that their restraint of a pregnant woman there had been unacceptable. (
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/23/g4s-deportation-force-pregnant-woman) The Inspectors also "observed unprofessional behaviour by an officer on a different escort in the hearing of children".
Last week, figures released by the UKBA showed that in the three months of July-September this year, a total of 20 children were detained at Cedars. Another 27 were detained in Tinsley House prior to being removed form the UK. This is despite claims that children are no longer detained in the UK.
Campaigners have been putting pressure on Barnardos to withdraw from running Cedars. ( https://network23.org/barnardosout/)
Stop detaining children!
UNITY!
The UNITY Centre
30 Ibrox Street
Glasgow
G51 1AQ
0141 427 7992
www.unitycentreglasgow.org
(Nearest tube is Cessnock.)
The family are currently on their way to the Cedars detention centre via Edinburgh airport. Speaking to a family friend, Muzhar, who has problems with his legs which cause him pain and affects his mobility said that they didn't understand why they had been detained as he thought they had a hearing for a Judicial Review at the Court of Session in Edinburgh later this month.
A Unity volunteer said "We'd only been talking with Mazhar and his family about arrangements we were making for a Christmas Party earlier last week. The two girls and little Shamer had been quite excited about the idea and wanted to know if we were planning to get them Christmas presents! We're shocked and outraged that this family have been detained, especially as it looks like all possible legal action has not finished."
Cedars 'pre-departure accommodation' family detention centre is the supposed 'family-friendly' alternative to detaining children run jointly by security firm G4S and children's charity Barnardos.
Recently the Chief Inspector of Prisons criticised staff at the detention centre saying that their restraint of a pregnant woman there had been unacceptable. (
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/23/g4s-deportation-force-pregnant-woman) The Inspectors also "observed unprofessional behaviour by an officer on a different escort in the hearing of children". Last week, figures released by the UKBA showed that in the three months of July-September this year, a total of 20 children were detained at Cedars. Another 27 were detained in Tinsley House prior to being removed form the UK. This is despite claims that children are no longer detained in the UK.
Campaigners have been putting pressure on Barnardos to withdraw from running Cedars. (
https://network23.org/barnardosout/) Stop detaining children!
UNITY!
The UNITY Centre
30 Ibrox Street
Glasgow
G51 1AQ
0141 427 7992
www.unitycentreglasgow.org
Unity
Additions
Pictures from today's demo
03.12.2012 17:26
Just before the protest a single man from Nigeria was detained inside the reporting centre and a Reliance van that had turned up to take him to Dungavel detention centre was stopped from entering by protesters standing in the way of it. In the end the Reliance van turned away but may have returned after teh demo ended.
During the protest by memebrs of Unity No Borders and friedns of the family including fellow asylum seekers we managed to finally make phone contact with the family.
The family have a removal flight scheduled for early Wednesday monring.
More news and an urgent action appeal will follow.
UNITY
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