A family in Bolton, whose campaign to stay in Britain has won strong local support, is one of the first to face new powers to separate asylum-seeking children from their parents. Powers introduced under last year’s Asylum Act, which allow the Home Office to cut off support to families with children whose asylum claims have
Inquest rules asylum seeker died from natural causes at Haslar
On 8 July 2005, the inquest into the death of Kabeya Dimuka Bijoux, at Haslar removal centre on 1 May 2004, recorded a verdict of death by natural causes despite concerns raised that his death might have been connected to injuries sustained at another immigration centre. Bijoux (as he is known to his family), an
The use and abuse of language analysis in asylum cases
The recent practice of language analysis in asylum cases has met with criticism from concerned professionals. Linguists have responded with a set of professional guidelines with the aim of preventing potential abuses of this method of analysis. Professional linguists and law professionals are becoming increasingly concerned about the use and abuse of language analysis in
The anti-Muslim backlash continues
Racist attacks have continued in the weeks after the London bombings. 20 July: Anti-Muslim slogans are daubed on a bridge over the A46 Lincoln bypass near Burton village in Lincolnshire. (BBC News 20.7.05) 17 July: Muhammed Haq, 27, an imam at Dulwich Islamic Centre, is followed by the driver of a white van as he
Inspection finds serious deficiencies in short-term holding centres
An inspection report into three short-term holding centres is another damning indictment of the way asylum seekers are treated in the UK. On 6 June, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Anne Owers, published her first report of unannounced inspections of three ‘short-term holding centres’ for asylum seekers. The short-term holding centres, at Harwich International Port
Lives in our Hands: Darfuri asylum seekers facing removal to Khartoum
A new report by the Aegis Trust backs up calls for a moratorium on deportations from the UK of Darfuri asylum seekers. The Aegis Trust, which coordinates the Project Darfur campaign, has published Lives in our Hands: Darfuri asylum seekers facing removal to Khartoum, a painstakingly researched 55-page dossier. Researched and edited by David M
The anti-Muslim backlash begins
In the hours after the bombings in London, the backlash began. Innocent people, as in the bombings, were targeted in what appear to be racially motivated attacks. 13 July 2005: Guardian reports that a schoolboy has been attacked in the West Country. (Guardian 13.7.05) 12 July 2005: A 16-year-old Asian boy suffers head and facial
Asylum seeker death in Dover from ‘natural causes’
The family of 40-year-old Kurdish asylum seeker, Elmas Ozmico, have expressed concerns at a recent inquest verdict into her death that found that she died of natural causes. Concerns centre around the fact that despite asking for medical help she was not taken to hospital until 19 hours after she arrived at Dover. Elmas Ozmico
Fight to prevent deportation of injured asylum seeker
Despite a 21-year-old asylum seeker being served with three removal notices and sustaining a broken hand during one attempted deportation to Congo-Brazzaville, he has, with the help of campaigners, now been given temporary admission to the UK and submitted a fresh asylum application based on new evidence. Anicet Mayela, a 21-year-old asylum seeker from Congo
Death case throws up police failings
On 29 June, at a second disciplinary tribunal of police officers involved in the failed police investigations into the murder of Jay Abatan in January 1999 in Brighton, two police officers were found guilty of various misconduct charges – for which they were reprimanded or cautioned. The tribunal revealed many troubling details about the police