Update on Camara's situation

Camara has removal directions for this Saturday. The UKBA have not issued an immigration decision which means removal directions for this Saturday are now lawful. Camara's solicitor has requested to see the immigration decision but they have not sent it.

Camara is currently being held in this prison although he has committed no crime. It is known as Colnbrook Immigration removal Centre

This means that to postpone the removal directions we need to do what is called a Judicial Review, where UKBA's actions (or lack of) are reviewed in court and a Judge stops the removal.

A judicial review costs more than £1000. This should be covered by legal aid. However the solicitors firms that work in detention centres were chosen by the Home Office and the majority do not have a good reputation among asylum seekers of providing a good service to the clients.

We are faced with the choice of pressuring Duncan Lewis, the solicitor firm who Camara saw in detention to do a Judicial Review, or fundraising to pay a solicitor privately.

Legal Justice just for the powerful and privileged? Or for all?

If you are able to make a donation towards his legal fees, and others in a similar situation, please do so through Bristol Refugee Rights.
http://www.bristolrefugeerights.org/support-us/

We won £1,000 for the Campaign from Lush at the Green Gathering

                                                               Congratulations

After the demonstration a few month ago last Sunday 5th August, 'Dignity for Asylum Seekers' was invited to take part in the Lush campaigns competition at the Green Gathering. Esam and Alice talked and we won £1000.

Afterwards many people came and told they were being influenced and also cried while Esam and Alice were speaking and want to help and support. I always believed people can be really helpful  and care if we can tell them who Asylum seekers are.

Manesh

Dignity for asylum seekers

A few months after the start of the movement and amazingly asylum seekers attended many different ceremonies and events, like Refugee week, City of sanctuary, Radio, TV. We've have protests that were well attended by supporters and asylum seekers and then Ibrahim's beautiful movement and the strike against homelessness and rising confidence in them, so let's continue the challenge and be optimistic of the future.
Manesh

Koniagi Camara in detention

On Wednesday 18^th July, Koniagi Camara was detained

while signing at Trinity police station

 

 Camara playing scrabble at this years Refugee Week event in Queen Square.

Camara is an active member of the Refugee Welcome Centre in Bristol, probably most known for his sharp scrabble skills, but he has many other talents. Recently he did a radio interview before the demonstration listen, and has participated in the City of Sanctuary organising process, including co-leading a participatory research session with the asylum seeking community.  He is a much loved and respected member of our community.
 
He is being held at Colnbrook Detention Centre, near Heathrow and has removal directions for Saturday 11^th August to The Gambia. He fled The Gambia, from persecution there and his life would be at risk if he was returned against his will. 
 

For those of you who know him, please write a short letter of support; how you know him, what your connection with him is, what you remember about him. Letters of should be signed and include his HO ref; L1175562. Letters are more effective if accompanied by a photocopy/scan of your photo ID. This can be done the Welcome Centre at Malcolm X. Please give into reception or send to asylumisnotacrime@mail.com

CAMARA BELONGS IN BRISTOL- NO FORCED REMOVAL

Press release - eight detentions is eight too many

Today, 35 people gathered outside Trinity Police Station to protest against the detention of 8 people by United Kingdom Border Agency. They held a banner saying “Eight Detentions is Eight Too Many” and passing cards beeped their horns in support.

One asylum seeker from Buruni was detained at 11am by officers carrying guns and was visibly shaking and terrified during the forced detention. She is currently being held despite her having an active legal case which means she is not able to be deported.

“Home Office policy is that no one should be detained unless they are going to be deported, yet today they have detained at least two people with no legal reason. This mass detention creates fear among asylum seekers that they also could be put in a detention centre and deported at any moment. This is a form of psychological torture, this is wrong and should not happen.” said Claire Hall from Bristol Anti-deportation Network.

 
Another asylum seeker from Afghanistan was detained at 11am and was later released after it became clear that there was no legal ground for his detention.

“I really feeling sad when I heard what happened. Bristol is a City of Sanctuary but it is not safe for asylum seekers. We are feeling unsafe, nervous and stressed when we go to sign at the police station. And if they scrap human rights for asylum seekers today, tomorrow they will do for another kind of person living in Bristol.”said Esam Amin

People sang “We who believe in Freedom can not rest” and chanted “Stop Stop Deportations, Our Detention and Destitution”and passerbyers stopped to read messages, to ask questions and make donations towards legal costs for those detained. Letters of support and food were also passed to those detained.

“I am here to support these people in detention. People are living here a long time and it is very unfair for them to be deported. Everyone has serious reason to come here, they are not tourists. Home Office must give asylum seekers leave to remain. If they don't, they destroy lives of many people” said Nassour Hussain, a refugee from Sudan.

This protest builds on the success of the Dignity for Asylum Seekers demonstration in June which saw 250 people march for an end to destitution, detention and deportation and on protests in College Green in support of Ibrahim who has been sleeping there for over three weeks in protest of the forced destitution of asylum seekers.