Friday, 13 December 2013

Holes in hearts


Holes in hearts

A mother spoke about her daughter.
A hole in her heart she cries out.
But that was not why we came,
we came so she would not be abused.

Her mother saved her
becoming
a gendered violence statistic.

And became
another governments' statistic
alive
just

Her mother saved a brother
her kidney passed border control
now labelled a british citizen
leaving her behind
here destitute

High risk
of kidney infection
High risk
from immigration bill
High risk
of being left to die

by those with emotionless holes
in their hearts.

Wednesday, 11 December 2013

We are going to survive


He speaks bravely
he speaks boldly,
voice clear loud,
fingers trembling reveal
our shared vulnerability
when we speak our truth.

Here is how I heard him:

I want
you to imagine
I am your brother, your uncle, your son.
Would you want
me to be
denied
healthcare
if I need it in the future?

My fear
is what will happen
to me.

It
won't
be
easy.

I don't want
to use this word
but I
think it is a torture
method.

How am I
going to pay
when I am not allowed to work or to receive any money?

How does government think
we are going to survive.



Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Asylum Seekers denied healthcare - Health Care For All


Sunday, 13 October 2013

Bristol asylum seeker Esam takes the message to immigration minister Mark Harper on Sunday Politics West - BBC1 West today at 11:15am

Esam marching with many others for Dignity not Destitution in June.
I went with Dr Naomi Millner, chair of Bristol Hospitality Network to BBC Bristol to meet the immigration minister Mark Harper for the TV programme Sunday Politics West. (Watch here)

I told him that I am not an illegal person, I am a human being like you. I am an asylum seeker, my life is at risk, that is why I am here.

I hope he understood that I claimed asylum for my safety. I know my story is true, but his system didn't believe me and it has made me destitute. I can’t return to my country because it is too risky for me.

I asked him if he can imagine having £5 a day for food and everything, as this is the support he gives asylum seekers and I don’t even get that at the moment. I am lucky that I have friends helping me. Others are not so lucky, they are living outside or in bus shelters.

While me and Naomi didn't get a long time to speak, I hope we passed the message about asylum seekers being destitute and living a suffering life to Mark Harper and people like him. I hope he understands that asylum seekers are seeking a safe place in UK. Please watch the BBC programme on Sunday and tell your friends and leave your comments here.


You can watch the show at 11:15am on BBC One in the West only or watch online afterwards here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b019cfjw