A Nottingham HIV/AIDS prevention worker whose anti-deportation campaign was featured in IRR News in November 2007 has had a last-minute reprieve. In a statement issued this week, Amdani Juma’s solicitor said that his removal had been postponed to give both sides time for further consideration. Hani Zebeidi said he hoped reason would prevail in the
Theme: Education
From the frying pan into the fire?
Why the new London mayor’s culture adviser can hardly be regarded as a step up from the old mayor’s equality adviser. Let me declare from the outset, I have a vested interest in writing this. I find Munira Mirza hard to stomach. I don’t know her personally, I have never even seen her. But every
Asylum seeker takes his life in Belgium
A Cameroonian national has apparently taken his own life in a Belgian detention centre only days after a failed attempt to deport him to Cameroon. Ebenizer Folefack Sontsa, who is reported to have been either 29 or 32 years old, was found hanged by bed sheets in a bathroom at the detention centre in the
Nigerians in the UK urge boycott of British Airways
British Airways has been criticised over its handling of a forced deportation and its treatment of Nigerian passengers on a flight from Heathrow airport. Passengers on board the 27 March BA flight to Lagos began to protest about the manhandling of Augustine Eme, a Biafran independence activist, who was allegedly being restrained by up to
Hillingdon fails to support asylum seeking children
A new report from the Children’s Commissioner for England has criticised the London Borough of Hillingdon for its treatment of unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC). The Commissioner’s organisation – 11 Million – found that Hillingdon failed to support children in their basic health and educational needs and that decisions were often made without taking into
Few safeguards for asylum-seeking children
A recent report by the Children’s Commissioner for England has highlighted failings in the UK’s treatment of unaccompanied child asylum seekers at asylum screening units. An investigation by 11 Million, the organisation led by the Children’s Commissioner, found that children’s basic needs for food, accommodation and legal advice were often not met. The report suggested
Protests break out in removal centres across the UK
Detainees in Harmondsworth and Yarl’s Wood removal centres have been taking action in the last month in protest against the conditions inside the centres and the ‘fast track’ processing of their asylum claims. In Harmondsworth on the morning of 1 May, a peaceful protest started with almost all of the detainees refusing food. They later
Campaigning victory for Sukula famliy
Three years after contacting IRR News and launching their anti-deportation campaign, the Sukula family have won indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Daniel Sukula, then aged 15 and living in Bolton, wrote to IRR News in 2005 telling of his fears of being deported. ‘I am writing this because me and my family face
Death in Pentonville prison
IRR News has learnt that, on 30 March 2008, a man detained under immigration powers was found hanged at Pentonville prison. Alfredo Castano-Fuentes, 24, was found hanged in his cell during a routine cell inspection. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead. Alfredo had served a one-year sentence for possessing a
Conference on sub-Saharan African migrants stranded in Morocco
The first conference to discuss what can be done to help Sub-Saharan migrants in transit in Morocco was held this week in London. The Moroccan NGO, Association Beni Znassen pour la culture (ABCDS), with support from the Migrants Rights Network, launched its European-wide campaign to raise awareness about the plight of sub-Saharan African migrants in