World Migration Newswire Archive

Immigrants awaiting deportation who are being held in a private jail run by the GEO Group began a protest last Saturday, January 31. The protest began after a group of immigrant prisoners attempted to meet with the detention facility’s authorities, demanding that a gravely ill detainee be released from solitary confinement and be taken immediately to a hospital. The prison authorities refused to listen and did not take action. The detainees responded by protesting after being ignored.

Not on the Plane! Soon to be on a train
Rashida Yasmeen and her four sons, Mahmood, Qadeer, Zaheer and Safeer were not put on their removal flight to Pakistan yesterday evening after their Scottish lawyer managed to successfully lodge and application for 'First Orders' in the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Many thanks to everyone who faxed, phoned and emailed on their behalf.

We will see them back in Glasgow - were they belong - as soon as tomorrow!

Rashida's lawyer has just phoned to say that Rashida and her family are being released from detention tomorrow and will be coming back to Glasgow!
Background: Rashida Yasmeen and her four sons
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk/archives/filed%20newszines/Newszine102/Rashida.html

Leila, Soorena and Danoushm nationals of Iran and residents of Halifax; are currently detained in Yarl's Wood IRC and due to be forcibly removed form the UK to Iran on BMI flight DB931 direct to Tehran/Iran, tomorrow Thursday 5th February at 17:15.

[UKBA have resumed removals of refused persons from DR Congo, seeking asylum in the UK; DR Congo is still deemed to be the 3rd most dangerous country in the world]

Four actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and three improved in January 2009, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch.

Download the full report:  http://www.crisisgroup.org/library/documents/crisiswatch/cw_2009/cw66.pdf

57 days in Yarl's Wood IRC - Raphael aged 5 

Still need one surety in Bury to stand bail for Raphael and his mum. Surety must be resident in the UK and will be subject to a police check. If you can help please get back immediately to:  JohnO@ncadc.org.uk

Please send urgent faxes/emails immediately to Rt. Hon Jacqui Smith, MP, Secretary of State for the Home Office, requesting that Raphael and his mother are released. Please use the updated 'model letter' RaphaelShaubaJS.doc attached or write your own version. If you do so, please remember to include HO ref: S/38066/3
Fax: 020 8760 3132 / + 44 20 8760 3132 if you are faxing from outside UK)
Emails:  UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
"CIT - Treat Official"
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszine102/Raphael.html

Rashida Yasmeen and her sons Safeer (8), Zaheer (9), Mahmood (15), and Qadeer (21), all nationals of Pakistan and residents of Glasgow. Were 'captured' on Tuesday 27th January whilst signing at the Home Office reporting centre in Glasgow. They are now in Dungavel IRC and due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Pakistan International Airlines flight PK758 from London to Lahore at 20:00 on Tuesday 3rd February.

The family were previously detained and threatened with forcible removal as recently as August after their claim for asylum was refused. On that occasion they were released and the flight stopped when their lawyer successfully applied to the High Court for a judicial review of the decision to remove them.

Rashida and her sons arrived in the UK in 2007 after fleeing religious persecution in Pakistan. As Ahmadiyya Muslims, they were subject to death threats and were attacked at home by the extremist group Khadam-e-Nabuad, during which Mahmood was stabbed and Rashida's husband fled.

Nottingham MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) played host to MDC representatives from the UK and Ireland for a day of political talks and fund raising. Hebson Makuise, Chief Representative for the MDC in the UK and Ireland was in attendance to spearhead talks on continuing diplomatic negotiations with Robert Mugabe and with the international community.

Elsa and Betty, still here, still in detention
"Elsa and Betty set out for the airport Tuesday morning but the flight was cancelled and they were brought back in Yarl's Wood. I've been asked to pass on thanks from the campaign to all who supported Elsa and Bethlehem. Pressure now needs to be put on the Home Office to release the family as soon as possible and return them to Leeds where they belong."

Please look out for calls for support over the next few days,

John Ward on behalf of the Campaign

Background: Second attempt to remove Elsa and Bethlehem
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk/archives/filed%20newszines/Newszin98/Elsa.html

Human rights campaigner Sarwar Gareb a National of Kurdistan/Iraq and resident of Leicester, has been detained in Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre, after being arrested on Friday 23rd January whilst 'Signing' at Loughborough Reporting Centre.

Sarwar came to the UK from Kurdistan/Iraq on 10th September 2000 to escape persecution by the nationalist Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party (PUK) and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).  Working as a journalist and activist he consistently fought for the rights of children, women and workers which led to his imprisonment and torture by the two parties.

His application was refused on the 18th January 2001, subsequent appeals, reconsideration were also refused, though no attempt was made to remove Sarwar from the UK, until now.

Somali's with removal directions, Charter flight to Mogadishu!
Rumours of a charter flight within the next fortnight, removing UK Somali's to Mogadishu are circulating. At least one Somali in detention has been told that the UKBA 'Removals Faciliation Team' have sent a letter to his solicitor, saying he will be removed within the next two weeks by charter flight to Mogadishu via Nairobi.

If you know of any Somali's with set removal directions, they should make a Rule 39 application to ECHR, as all Somali case with the ECHR are on hold and interim relief is being given to those Somali's, with removal directions, who apply to the court.
Making an application to the European Court of Human Rights
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk/archives/filed%20newszines/newszine89/Rule%2039.html

Demonstration by refugees attacked by riot police in Tuscany.
16 women on hungerstrike in Lampedusa.
In Rome attacks of Eastern European by fascists.

Constant Moussavou, Still Here, Campaign fights on

"Constant said that a High Court injunction against the deportation order has been successful but he will still continue to be detained. It appears that the earlier legal ruling to disregard the new evidence and to not await the authentication of the documents (due to be received on Mon 26th Jan 09) provided on Constant’s behalf has been reversed.

He’d like to thank everybody for their support and expressed the need for your continued help and support in ensuring he’s able to resume his life and work in Leicester."

A special thank you also to Sir Peter Soulsby (MP), NCADC/supporters and to Canon Barry Naylor and colleagues for their continued support and interventions on Constant’s behalf.

Priya Thamotheram for the campaign /  priya.thamotheram@highfieldscentre.ac.uk

Background: Sanctuary for Constant Moussavou
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk/archives/filed%20newszines/Newszine100/Constant.html

Friends want them to Stay in Leeds, where they belong

Elsa Temesgen Imbaye and her 11 year old daughter, Bethlehem are currently detained in Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre and due to be forcibly removed from the UK tomorrow Tuesday, 27th January 2009 on BMI flight BD913 from Heathrow @ 14:15 to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

They were dawn raided for the second time, in the early hours of Friday 23rd January 2009

As you probably know, a previous attempt to deport them to Ethiopia in October last year failed and Elsa and Betty were able to return to Leeds.

Elsa arrived in the UK with her daughter in December 2004 and has been living in Leeds ever since.

Most immigrants have gone back to the 'reception' centre - where else can they go? but they are now free to come and go as they please.

They are marching towards the Town Hall demanding freedom
Lampedusa is a small island south of Sicily where thousands have arrived by boat recently. They were locked behind gates and forced to sleep in the rain due to the 'reception' centre's overcrowding.

50 days in Yarl's Wood IRC - Raphael aged 5 

Urgently need two sureties in Bury to stand bail for Raphael and his mum. Sureties must be resident in the UK and will be subject to a police check. If you can help please get back immediately to:  JohnO@ncadc.org.uk

Please send urgent faxes/emails immediately to Rt. Hon Jacqui Smith, MP, Secretary of State for the Home Office, requesting that Raphael and his mother are released. Please use the updated 'model letter' RaphaelShaubaJS.doc attached or write your own version. If you do so, please remember to include HO ref: S/38066/3
Fax: 020 8760 3132 / + 44 20 8760 3132 if you are faxing from outside UK)
Emails:  UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
"CIT - Treat Official"
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszine102/Raphael.html

Constant Moussavou, a national of Congo Brazzaville, resident of Leicester a long time activist/member of Leicester Civil Rights Movement (LCRM) was detained by the Border and Immigration Authority on Tuesday 11th November 2008 and currently detained in Oakington Immigration Removal Centre, due to be forcibly removed from the UK tomorrow Friday 23rd January 2009 on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET701 (ET831) from Heathrow at 21:00 hrs.

Today "Molodaya Gvardiya Edinoy Rossii" (Young Guard of United Russia - one of the several, competing pro-Kremlin youth organizations) attempted to organize an action "Our money to our people". Concept was to meet a train from Central Asia 2:10 PM in Kazan railway station of Moscow with anti-migrant placates, with text such as "Work legally!", "Illegal = thief!" and "Want to work? Pay taxes!". Action was protected by a plenty of OMON riot police and own security of Young Guard.

Hermine Mofor, Still here, Campaign prepared to fight on

"We heard from Hermine's solicitor late Friday evening that her removal order was cancelled. Her story isn't over yet though, as we are not clear exactly what is happening. However we are so relieved that she has got this reprieve for now at least. The Boaz team have been to Yarl's Wood to meet with Hermine, we passed on everyone's support. Watch this space for more details in the coming days."

Friends of Hermine, thank you all for the support, actions over the past few days.

Background: Act now to support our friend Hermine Mofor
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszine102/Hermine.html