NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT SCHOOLS DO NOT HAVE TO TELL THE LOCAL AUTHORITY IF THEY REMOVE PUPILS FROM SCHOOL. Read the full press release here.
Add Comment PRESS RELEASE: New research raises concerns about education of young men from Somali families in Manchester. Research to be launched at the 'Educating Our Children - Somali Families Issues And Concerns' Public Meeting on Sunday 4th March. Click here to read more. RAPAR is hosting a Public Meeting; 'Educating Our Children - Somali Families' Issues And Concerns' in partnership with the Somali Men's Forum on Sunday 4th March. Click for more information. RAPAR Press Release Cameroon playwright Lydia Besong and her husband Bernard Batey, who were released from detention last week after a nationwide campaign backed by leading writers, have been told they must report daily at Dallas Court Home Office Reporting Centre in Salford Quays. The instruction from the UK Border Agency in Liverpool means a five hour round trip, involving three different buses each way, for the couple when they travel from their Bury home every weekday. Lydia has an appointment for laser eye treatment at a Manchester hospital on Thursday but, so far, the UKBA have refused to review the reporting arrangements. Dr Rhetta Moran, of RAPAR, said: “When the UKBA have followed their own procedures, Bernard and Lydia have always reported regularly in the past, they have many friends and supporters in Greater Manchester and view Bury as their home. They are not going to abscond. These reporting arrangements are completely unrealistic and are the latest example of the UKBA's humiliating surveillance tactics.” Last week, RAPAR member Manjeet Kaur, a disabled woman who uses a wheelchair, finally won the right to report to Dallas Court via telephone after RAPAR made numerous challenges to the UKBA 's reporting requirements over a nine month period. Dr Moran added: “At one point, Manjeet was instructed to report weekly at Dallas Court which meant two bus journeys. She was expected to go in a manually operated wheelchair in all kinds of weather and had to wheel her chair half a mile to and from the nearest bus stop to Dallas Court. It is not unreasonable to draw the conclusion that this UKBA demand was instrumental in Manjeet developing the very painful carpal tunnel syndrome in her hands. “After RAPAR highlighted this heartless treatment of Manjeet, backed by medical evidence and the support of Trafford MP Kate Green, the UKBA finally agreed to install a telephone line at Manjeet's home. “The cases of Bernard, Lydia and Manjeet are just three examples of the UKBA's crude psychological surveillance tactics that are designed to humiliate and fracture people seeking asylum not, as the UKBA claims, to deter people from absconding.” ENDS For more information contact: Dr Rhetta Moran, RAPAR, 07776264646 OR Kath Grant, RAPAR Press Officer, 07812471047 Press Release. 250112. Supporters have welcomed the release from detention today of playwright Lydia Besong and her husband Bernard Batey – but their lawyer says the Secretary of State's handling of the case “continues to baffle”. Lydia and Bernard’s “caseowner” at the UK Border Agency offices in Liverpool has confirmed that their decision to refuse Bernard Batey’s protection claim has been withdrawn by the Home Office. Bernard was told about his imminent release this morning in Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre and Lydia found out on her return to the detention centre from an eye appointment at Bedford Hospital. They hope to return home to Bury, Greater Manchester, tonight. Their solicitor, Gary McIndoe, of Latitude Law, says:"Having confirmed that they are to reconsider their decision on Bernard's asylum claim, UKBA have today authorised Bernard and Lydia's release from detention, only 24 hours after communicating to us a refusal to release them. The Secretary of State's handling of this case continues to baffle; we hope the substance of the risks faced by Bernard and Lydia in Cameroon today can now be looked at with greater care and clarity." Lydia and Bernard were detained on January 10th and their supporters organised a high profile campaign demanding their release which was covered by both local and national media. Lydia's latest play, Down with the Dictator, is currently in rehearsal and due to be performed in Greater Manchester and Bristol in March. English PEN, which campaigns for persecuted writers internationally, and the London based Women for Refugee Women organised an Open Letter to Home Secretary Theresa May asking her to grant the couple asylum in the UK. It was signed by leading writers, including War Horse author Michael Morpurgo, actor Juliet Stevenson and two members of the House of Lords, Joan Bakewell and Helena Kennedy. In a message to Lydia and Bernard's campaign group, Gillian Slovo, President of English PEN, described the news as “fantastic”. She added: “Please pass on my congratulations for the campaign they have waged and my hopes that this will now allow the two some stability here.” BACKGROUND INFORMATION - · In 2009/2010 Lydia was held in detention for four weeks over the Christmas period and she and Bernard were threatened with removal to Cameroon. The flight was halted by a High Court judge and the UKBA said their case would be reviewed. · In Cameroon, Lydia taught English and English Literature and Bernard ran his own business. They were forced to leave their home country in 2006 because of their membership of the SCNC, a peaceful organisation which campaigns for the rights of the English speaking minority of Southern Cameroon. The couple were imprisoned and tortured in Cameroon, and Lydia was raped by a uniformed prison guard. They have both been traumatised by these experiences and are subject to severe depression. · Amnesty International says the Government in Cameroon continues to attempt to silence critics of its policies. “The Government continues to curtail the activities of the SCNC, a non violent secessionist group whose members face arrest and imprisonment.” The US Country Report on Human Rights has also drawn attention to the persecution of SCNC members in Cameroon. · A writer in Cameroon was released last year following a strong campaign by Amnesty International. He had been held in extremely harsh prison conditions for six months after writing a book about the president's wife. · Lydia has written three plays, the latest of which Down with the Dictator, will be performed in March. Her play How I Became An Asylum Seeker has been performed in Manchester, Salford, Liverpool and London. In London, she shared a platform with actor Juliet Stevenson in a discussion about issues raised by the play. · Lydia and Bernard received strong backing from their former MP Paul Rowen who knew their case well and believed there was a “real and substantial danger to Ms Besong and Mr Batey should they be returned to Cameroon.” Their current MP is David Nuttall (Bury North) and supporters have been lobbying him while Lydia and Bernard have been in detention. · The couple lived in Rochdale for three years before being re-housed in Bury in 2010. They have widespread support in both communities and also in Manchester where they have worked as volunteers for human rights organisations. They are valued members of the congregation at St Ann's Church, Belfield, Rochdale, and the Bishop of Manchester has spoken out publicly on their behalf. They are also members of the Bury AcaPeelers community choir whose members have supported their campaign. · Members of English PEN, the organisation which campaigns for writers and playwrights internationally, have backed Lydia and Bernard's fight to remain in the UK RAPAR PRESS RELEASE 17th January 2012
Lydia is currently detained in Yarl's Wood, Bedfordshire, and Bernard in Morton Hall, Lincoln. They are facing forced removal from the UK on Saturday, January 21st, following the refusal of Bernard's protection claim. The UK Border Agency has also refused them the right to appeal from within the UK. The couple are both members of the SCNC, a peaceful organisation campaigning for the independence of Southern Cameroon, and fled their home country just over five years ago after they were persecuted, imprisoned and tortured. Speaking from Yarl's Wood, Lydia said she was pleased to hear that rehearsals on her play were going ahead and added: “It is very important that the rehearsals continue because it means my voice is still being heard.”
Lydia and Bernard have a large number of supporters throughout the UK and particularly in Greater Manchester. They lived in Rochdale for three years before being moved to Bury where they are members of the AcaPeelers' Choir. Campaigners are urging supporters to write to Home Secretary Theresa May and Immigration Minister Damian Green immediately, demanding that the couple remain in the UK. Lydia was detained almost a week ago when she reported at Dallas Court in Salford and Bernard was snatched from the street near his home in Bury. They were only told after they were detained that Bernard's protection claim had been refused and that they were also being denied the chance to appeal from within the UK. It was clear from paperwork issued to the couple that the decision had been taken before Christmas. Last week, their solicitor Gary McIndoe said: “We have been waiting for a decision on Bernard's protection claim since 19th October last year. Further materials have been sent to the Home Office, including the report of an expert witness. I am surprised that the decision to detain has been made before their legal representatives have been informed in any way.” ENDS 26th January: Young refugee from RAPAR will plant Anne Frank rose in the UK for the very first time16/01/2012 Full press release and what you can do to help right now - see below or click here to download a copy RAPAR /// The Manchester-based Human Rights organisation working with displaced people PRESS RELEASE /// For immediate release /// 10th January 2012 UKBA SNATCH LYDIA AND BERNARD FOR 4TH TIME
Once they were in custody, a letter from the Home Office dated 23rd December 2010 was handed to each of them separately. However, before this morning, neither Bernard nor Lydia nor their legal representatives, Latitude Law of Manchester, had been told that Bernard’s protection claim, made on 19th October 2010, had been refused and that they have been refused the right to appeal from within the UK. Today they were also, separately, handed removal directions which show that the Home Office intends to force them to leave the UK on an Air France flight to Cameroon that is taking off at 08.20 on 21st January. Their lawyer, Gary McIndoe, said today: “We have been waiting for a decision on Bernard’s protection claim since 19th October last year. Further materials have been sent to the Home Office, including the report of an expert witness, and so I am surprised that the decision to detain has been made before their legal representatives have been informed in any way.” Speaking from Yarl’s Wood this afternoon, Lydia said: “The way they are treating us is so mean and so wrong. We comply with all their procedures and then, when they want to, they ignore those very same procedures again and again. I do not know where Bernard has been taken and, also, I am also very worried about my right eye. Recently I had to have an emergency eye operation and there are four different prescribed medicines that I must use at this critical time. I asked the UKBA officers at Dallas Court to make sure I had my right medicines but here I am in Yarls Wood without anything to help my eye at this critical time.” Lydia and Bernard Must Stay campaign team member from Bury, Angela, explained further: “Lydia has been told that she must continue to take her medication otherwise the eye pressure will rise again.” When RAPAR was able to speak with Bernard late this afternoon he explained that, from what he can see in the refusal letter “the UKBA caseowner has not told the truth. When I was granted this right to make a protection claim the judges gave the Home Office 3 months to respond. I think they have come up with this because they knew their three months was coming up and they were running out of time.” RAPAR Matron Dr Rhetta Moran is asking: “Why do the Home Office, through the UKBA, choose to secure and apply all the resources necessary to detain Lydia AND coordinate with Greater Manchester Police so that, almost simultaneously, 11 police officers seize Bernard off the street, AND book seats on an Air France plane, rather than responding in a timely, mature and respectful way that adheres to due legal process: namely that a decision taken on 23rd December 2011 is communicated to the people involved appropriately so that they can exercise their fundamental rights?” ENDS More details of the campaign can be found at: http://www.rapar.org.uk/lydia-and-bernard-must-stay.html and at http://lydiaandbernard.wordpress.com/ For further information contact: Dr Rhetta Moran, RAPAR, on 07776264646 Demand Lydia and Bernard’s immediate release Quoting case reference HOB1236372/3, stressing Lydia and Bernard's urgent need for asylum and expressing your support for their right to remain in the UK --
See below or click here to download a copy. RAPAR /// The Manchester-based human rights organisation working with displaced people PRESS RELEASE /// For immediate release /// 22nd December 2011 HUNGER STRIKER NOW HANDCUFFED TO HILLINGDON HOSPITAL BED
Mortada Mohamed Ahmed, from Eastern Sudan, who had not eaten from 9th November until last Friday was taken to Hillingdon Hospital and then handcuffed to his bed. Isaac Shaffer from Wilson Solicitors LLP, his lawyer, said "Our client was transferred from Immigration detention and has been receiving emergency medical treatment in hospital for several days now. His admission was preceded by a hunger strike of over 30 days - a protest against his treatment by the Home Office, and in particular against his prolonged immigration detention. However, despite being hospitalized due to his fragile medical condition (and the acute concern of independent medical experts - who also note their finding that he is a victim of torture), we have now been informed that he is currently being restrained to his hospital bed via metal handcuffs. We strongly consider that there is nothing to indicate that this continued and egregious infringement upon our client’s fundamental right to liberty is appropriate." . Having already won an injunction preventing removal, the legal process to ensure he can stay in the UK continues. His lawyer stated: "We remain deeply concerned about the health and well-being of our client. We strongly hope that now, following the High Court's grant of an injunction against removal, the Home Office will urgently reconsider whether his continued and prolonged detention remains lawful and indeed reasonable in the circumstances." Abu Amna, a member of the Beja Congress and friend of Mortada said, “I think it is very inhumane to treat a patient like that. So long as he is in hospital, he is a patient, he should be treated like other patients. He is in the care of the medical staff and I wonder why they tolerate such practices. Since the UKBA policy says "Restraints must not be used to attach detainees to furniture or any other fixtures and fittings", something must have gone terribly wrong. He is a patient and must not be treated like this in the hospital.” RAPAR spokesperson Nahella Ashraf said ”We call upon anyone who can to take a few minutes out of their preparations for the Christmas holiday to stand with us in defence of Mortada beside the Mount Street tram stop in City Centre Manchester at 2pm tomorrow, Friday. The cuffs must come off immediately.” For background and previous press releases and updates see Mortada's campaign page. For further information see: http://www.sudaneseonline.com/english/ Contact: Nahella Ashraf, RAPAR, on 07988572976 Mohammed Alhalennsy of the Beja Congress, on 07400973235 Dr Rhetta Moran, RAPAR, on 07776264646 PRESS RELEASE: UKBA tries to remove hunger striker who has been medically assessed as unfit to fly14/12/2011 See below or click here to download a copy. RAPAR /// The Manchester-based Human Rights organisation working with displaced people PRESS RELEASE /// 14th December 2011 UKBA TRIES TO REMOVE HUNGER STRIKER WHO HAS BEEN MEDICALLY ASSESSED AS UNFIT TO FLY The Manchester-based Human Rights organisation RAPAR has condemned the UK Border Agency's decision to issue removal directions for Friday, December 16th, to a man who has been on hunger strike for 35 days and has been medically assessed as being unfit to fly. RAPAR and Medical Justice are working with Mortada Mohamed Ahmed, from Eastern Sudan, who has not eaten since 9th November. Medical Justice says that an independent doctor who has been visiting and monitoring Mortada has assessed him as unfit to fly or to be detained and has said he should be in hospital. Three days ago, Mortada's friend Mohamed, who is also from East Sudan, contacted RAPAR for help. Mortada, aged 36, is currently in the medical wing at Colnbrook Detention Centre near Heathrow Airport. When RAPAR established direct telephone contact with Mortada on Monday, he said he would rather die here in the UK than be returned to the Sudan from where he fled in 2005 during the Port Sudan Massacre. He began his hunger strike after he was detained and told by the Home Office that he was going to be sent back to Sudan. “I started the hunger strike because I do not have any choice” he added. Mortada’s remaining brother and sister are living in Saudi Arabia - the rest of his family died in the Sudan. On Monday, RAPAR faxed an authorisation form to Colnbrook Detention Centre for Mortada to sign and return. This form would give RAPAR permission to share information about him. The form has not yet been given to Mortada but, within 24 hours of the fax being sent, the UKBA served Mortada with removal directions. The removal directions are for this Friday, 16th December at 09:30 on Gulf Air via Bahrain to Sudan. “It is illegal to attempt to make anyone fly after day 30 if they are on hunger strike, so why are the UKBA attempting to do this?” a RAPAR spokesperson asked. James Fallah Williams of RAPAR, who was himself on hunger strike for 19 days earlier this year said: “When I spoke to Mortada’s lawyer yesterday he told me he was ‘on the case’. I have just spoken with Mortada today and he sounds very weak.” A spokesperson for Medical Justice who has seen Mortada in Colnbrook said: “An independent doctor who visited him, and has been monitoring him since, has assessed him as not fit to fly or to be detained and that he should be taken to hospital for further assessment.” Dr Abuamna, a leading member of the Eastern Sudanese diaspora who is based in Manchester, said: “It would be unsafe for Mortada to go back to the Sudan now because there are so many human rights violations in Eastern Sudan. The government has been targeting and detaining activists from the Beja Congress, including ex-fighters from the Eastern Sudan.” For further information see: http://www.sudaneseonline.com/english/ For more details, please contact: James Fallah Williams, RAPAR, on 07586084434 Dr Rhetta Moran, RAPAR, on 07776264646 |
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