On Saturday 8 April, over 250 people converged on Harmondsworth and Colnbrook immigration removal centres to voice their concerns about the detention and deportation of asylum seekers and undocumented migrants in the UK. Following this, a hunger strike by detainees began – and continues – inside Colnbrook. The demonstrators gathered at the two centres, which
Making history fit the multicultural script
A government pamphlet about the upcoming bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire, published last month, interprets history in a way that serves government concerns. On 25 March, the government published the pamphlet Reflecting on the past and looking to the future: the 2007 bicentenary of the abolition of the
Matter of ‘life and death’ in Roma deportation case
A 23-year-old disabled asylum seeker is in hospital after the threat of deportation led her to self-harm. Enkeleda Berisha, known as ‘Eda’, suffers with spina bifida (SB), a spinal disease which can result in varying degrees of paralysis of the lower limbs. In addition to the physical and mobility difficulties associated with this illness, most
A picture of ‘injustice’ in Iranian deportation case
A talented 18-year-old art student and his family are being threatened with deportation to Iran where, protestors argue, they will face torture and imprisonment. They say a picture tells a thousand stories. Behind the publicly acclaimed beauty of 18-year-old Behnam’s paintings lies private turbulence and instability, based on his recognition of an uncertain future. Perhaps
Free service for asylum seekers and refugees
The Apostolic Church of God has opened the doors of its branches in Brixton, Wembley and Shepherds Bush to offer free advice and support to asylum seekers and refugees. It also offers a small Christian fellowship and meal service every Saturday at the Church of St Michael and St George in Shepherds Bush between 1
Family and friends demonstrate outside Plumstead police station
On Saturday 1 April, over 200 people gathered for a demonstration outside Plumstead police station in south-east London, to protest against the death of Nuur Saeed, a young Somali who died during a police raid. On 24 January 2006, 22-year-old Nuur Saeed died in hospital from head injuries. He had been found on the ground
Unions working against racism?
A new pamphlet, co-produced by the Working Lives Research Institute and the TUC, is directed at reinvigorating the anti-racist struggle in the workplace. With Black workers set to make up an increasingly large proportion of the low-paid labour market, the pamphlet argues that Black trade unionists need to hold leading positions, that Black self-organisation needs
Families speak out on control orders
At a recent meeting held at the House of Lords on ‘The nightmare of control orders’, lawyers, family members and supporters spoke about the psychological and emotional damage the orders were inducing. The meeting was organised by the Campaign Against Criminalising Communities and hosted by Lord Rea. Although the meeting was on the issue of
Free healthcare clinics for vulnerable groups in London
A free, confidential drop-in health clinic aimed at vulnerable migrants, women and homeless people has opened in London. Project:London consists of two weekly clinics in east London where patients do not need to bring any proof of identity or status to receive treatment. Each clinic is staffed by a doctor and nurse who can provide
Challenging detention of children
As campaigners across the world prepare for the first ever coordinated international day of action against immigration detention on 8 April, Liz Fekete charts the growing resistance to the detention of asylum-seeking children in Europe. Over the years, European governments have been locking up more and more asylum- seeking children and, in this way, rendering