Close Down Dallas Court - Report 18 August

On 18 August 2006, the North West Asylum Seekers Defence Group, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!, asylum seekers as well as other anti-racist campaigners gathered outside Dallas Court Reporting Centre in Salford Quays, to protest against the racist treatment of asylum seekers and the continued kidnapping of people at Dallas Court. Including the recent kidnap and transfer to Campsfield, on Wednesday, 16 August of Jean Lobouka from Congo (Brazzaville), when he went to sign.

Many asylum seekers are forced to 'report' at Dallas Court every day, week or month, some from as far away as Bolton and Northwich. Many have no cash to pay for travel, as they are not allowed to work and the only support they have are ASDA electronic vouchers. They are subject to arrest and detention, and removal of food and accomodation if they refuse. When complying with their immigration service restrictions, some are unexpectedly arrested, seized and taken to prisons or 'detention centres' (also prisons), i.e. kidnapped. Their families are rarely told where they are and they are routinely denied legal representation.
With chants of "CLOSE DOWN DALLAS COURT!", "BRITIAN IS A RACIST STATE!", "ASYLUM SEEKERS HAVE THE RIGHT, HERE TO STAY, HERE TO FIGHT!" and "IMMIGRATION IS NO CRIME, STOP DEPORTING CHILDREN!", this was a lively demo.

SELECTED EXAMPLES OF KIDNAPPINGS AT DALLAS COURT
18 May 2006 - Elizabeth, a Ugandan rape and torture survivor, was kidnapped at Dallas Court in Salford and deported 11 June. Elizabeth was repeatedly raped, whipped and beaten for 5 months in Uganda. She eventually escaped, fled to Britain where she claimed asylum. Elizabeth’s asylum claim and appeal were rejected. The Home Office did not believe that the term ‘homosexual’ applied to lesbians. Elizabeth had always complied with the conditions the Immigration Service placed upon her and was kidnapped as a result of continuing to comply with her reporting restrictions.

9 June 2006 - Kimolo Kikeni was kidnapped when he ‘reported’ at Dallas Court. Having fled torture and beatings in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mr. Kikeni came to Britain in July 2002 and applied for political asylum. His claim was refused. Between 1998 and 2006, at least 4 million people have died in the war in DRC, mostly from starvation and preventable and chronic illnesses; in addition, some 3.5 million people have fled their homes in eastern DRCongo. Although the war is a divide-and-rule war for profit instigated by US and British imperialism and armed by the British arms industry, Kikeni has spent many months in prisons - Forest Bank, Campsfield, Dover, Tinsley House, Harmondsworth and Colnbrook for the simple crime of being an immigrant.

17 July 2006 - Shahin Ghaydari, a 62-year-old persecuted Iranian political refugee, was kidnapped after going to ‘report’ at Dallas Court and deported on 20 July. She was taken to Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre where she went on hungerstrike, refusing food and water for four days. Although she was very ill, the Home Office did not allow her treatment, legal representation or a solicitor.

16 August 2006, Refugee Jean Lobouka from Congo (Brazzaville) was kidnapped after going to 'report' at Dallas Court, Manchester, and taken to Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre, Oxfordshire. The racist Home Office intends to deport him on Monday, 21 August, separating him from his wife and two children who have 'indefinite leave to remain' in Britain.

THE NEXT DALLAS COURT DEMO - FRIDAY 15 SEPTEMBER! Contact us for more details and to get involved.

CLOSE DOWN DALLAS COURT! DEFEND ALL ASYLUM SEEKERS!

OPPOSE BRITISH STATE RACISM! NO TO ALL DEPORTATIONS!
NO TO THE RACIST LABOUR GOVERNMENT!