Anti-deportation campaigns

Campaigns to allow particular individuals, families or groups of people to stay in the UK

Forcible deportation of Iraqi asylum seekers ends in violence

16 September 2008 Media Release: Forcible Deportation of Iraqi asylum seekers ended in violence IFIR has been informed by Kurdish asylum seekers yesterday that at 7am, Monday 15 September Home Office commandoes went to the following four detention centres Tinsley House, Dover House, Oakington and Colnbrook removed and handcuffed 60 Iraqi asylum seekers and placed them in five coaches. Their mobile phones were confiscated before they could call solicitors or friends. The asylum seekers were then transported to Stansted airport, where a German aircraft waited to return them to Erbil in Northern...

Demonstrate in support of Iraqi Kurdish detainees

Iraqi Kurdish hunger strikers strikers in Campsfield House, Oxfordshire have ended their Hunger strike following visits from International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR). They started the hunger strike on Saturday 9 August demanding an end to forcible deportations to Iraq and the release of all Iraqi Kurdish asylum seekers from detention. Fellow detainees in Campsfield had joined the hunger strike from countries such as: Iran, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and the Congo The end of the hunger strike – to preserve the health of the detainees - does not mean an end to the campaign.. Please send...

No deportations to Iraq!

On 9 August thirteen refugees from Iraqi Kurdistan began a hunger strike at Campsfield detention centre with this statement: "[The British state is] trying to deport us to the most dangerous country in the world. We want people to listen to us. It is better to be dead than to return to Iraq." The protesters were then joined by 50 – 60 other detainees, all demanding refugee status. The hunger strikers were further angered by the news that Hussein Ali had committed suicide on Sunday 10 August after being deported from the UK to Kurdistan. The strike has since been called off, but supporters plan...

Don’t deport Hicham Yezza!

About 400 students and academics protested at Nottingham University on 28 May against the attempts currently underway to deport Hicham Yezza, a former university student now employed on the campus. The size of the protest no doubt represented the popularity of Hich and the real knowledge of the injustice of the arrest of Hich along with his friend Rizwaan Saber under the Prevention of Terrorism Act that preceded the deportation moves. Those attending the rally listened in intermittent heavy rain whilst extracts of the document that Hich downloaded for a friend from a US government website were...

Mehdi Kazemi allowed to stay in UK

Mehdi Kazemi, the Iranian gay teenager threatened with deportation back to Iran (where his boyfriend was executed) has been granted unconditional asylum in the United Kingdom. This is clearly excellent news for all of those solidarity activists who campaigned against his deportation and against racist and homophobic immigration laws. It is a slap in the face to the homophobic Iranian regime. Unfortunately, the government has not taken any broader stance in favour of the right to asylum for persecuted LGBT people. Commenting on Mehdi's case the Home Office stated "We keep cases under review...

More deportations of Nottingham activists

Whilst the deportation of Hicham Yezza temporarily halted by legal action on Friday, a worker from the local Refugee Forum also from Nottingham has now been arrested and faces deportation on June 4th, Wednesday. Amdani Juma, a refugee HIV prevention and community worker is believed to be now in the Immigration Removal Centre near Doncaster from where he is scheduled to be taken for deportation to Burundi from Heathrow on Wednesday. Hundreds of protesters gathered in Notttingham centre on Saturday, 31st May, to protest against this and there will be another protest on Monday, June 2nd at 5 pm...

Protest against deportation of Nottingham University activist

About 400 students and academics protested today, May 28th at Nottingham University against the attempts currently under way to deport Hicham Yezza, a former university student now employed on the campus. See photos of the demo from this link . The size of the protest no doubt represented the popularity of Hich and the real knowledge of the injustice of the arrest of Hich along with his friend Rizwaan Saber under the Prevention of Terrorism Act that preceded the deportation moves. Those attending the rally listened in intermittent heavy rain whilst extracts of the document that Hich downloaded...

Deportation protester banned from flying

On 27 March, Augustine, a Biafran independence activist was deported to Nigeria, where his brother has been killed and his wife and children are missing. He is still laid up with the injuries he sustained by the five thugs who twisted his neck and kicked and punched him to the ground while handcuffed. Unable to afford medical care, we fear for his life. Three anti-deportation activists leafleted and spoke to passengers to ask them to intervene should they hear Augustine struggling get off the flight. One man whose family was on the flight joined us. On hearing his cries, people responded. And...

150 at protest to defend Mehdi Kazemi

Over 150 people turned out on Saturday 22nd for a protest against the deportation of Iranian gay 19-year-old Mehdi Kazemi. Even though the Iranian regime has already executed his boyfriend, Mehdi is in limbo, with the Dutch government and the UK Home Office refusing to let him stay. The protest also highlighted the cases of Pegah Emambakhsh — an Iranian lesbian woman — and Jojo Yakob — a Syrian gay man — also under threat of deportation. This turnout was particularly pleasing in that it came despite snowy weather and bitter cold. Dozens of activists came from outside London, including groups...

150 at protest to defend Mehdi Kazemi

Over 150 people turned out on Saturday 22nd for a protest against the deportation of Iranian gay 19-year-old Mehdi Kazemi. Even though the Iranian regime has already executed his boyfriend, Mehdi is in limbo, with the Dutch government and the UK Home Office refusing to let him stay. The protest also highlighted the cases of Pegah Emambakhsh - an Iranian lesbian woman - and Jojo Yakob - a Syrian gay man - also under threat of deportation. This turnout was particularly pleasing in that it came despite snowy weather and bitter cold. Dozens of activists came from outside London, including groups...

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