[imc-sheffield] IMPORTANT: Mohammad Arrian feature

[Helen and Nick]

Hi

Here is a draft of the Mohammad Arrian feature. Please
suggest changes/additions etc. I have been unsure out
to weave all the newswire postings in. Perhaps they
can be linked separately at the bottom? fab if this
can go up this weekend,

Will post some photos up next on the newswire.
Hopefully see some of you at the Beyond TV night
tonight.

Helene

Sheffield People Campaign Against the Deportation of
Mohammad Arrian

Mohammad Arrian, who has been living in Sheffield for
the last three years, is scheduled to be deported back
to Afghanistan on the 17th January despite concerns
that his life is danger if he returns. Twelve years
ago Mohammad fled from Afghanistan, initially to Iran.
Prior to fleeing Afghanistan Mohammad had spoken out
against the regime then in power and his father was
murdered for working for a previous Government.
Mohammad believes that the Warlords currently in power
in Afghanistan would kill him if they knew he had
returned. Mohammad is currently being detained in
Dover Immigration Removal Centre awaiting deportation.
However, while Afghanistan has been deemed safe for
Mohammed's return, the rest of his close knit family
in Sheffield have been granted protection and
indefinite leave to remain in the country because of
safety concerns about returning.  

On Saturday 7th January family, friends, colleagues
and supporters of Mohammad Arrian assembled outside of
Sheffield Town Hall to express their belief that
Mohammad is in grave danger if he returns to
Afghanistan and to demonstrate their support for his
right to asylum and to stay with his family in
Sheffield.[Link to demo photos etc.] Prior to this
family and supporters sent a petition of 400
signatures to the Home Office to demand a rethink on
the decision. There are other demonstrations planned
ahead of the rapidly approaching deportation date
[Link to details of other demos on newswire.]

Mohammad's local MP, Richard Caborn, has been pursuing
the case with the Home Office. The Home Office have
been reluctant to meet with Richard Caborn as they see
no need for such a meeting. The Home Office have told
Mohammad that they do not believe that there is a
threat to his life if he is deported back to
Afghanistan. This is while the UK Foreign Office
[www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618385513]
ironically advises against 'all but essential' travel
in Kabul and against all travel to other provinces in
Afghanistan. The family of Mohammad Arrian is meeting
Richard Caborn again on the 12th of January, and there
is some last minute hope of a meeting with Tony
McNulty
[www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/tony_mcnulty/harrow_east]
the Minister for Immigration.   

Mohammad's fears about forced deportation are very
real. In November last year, the first forced
deportations of fifteen Iraqi Kurds from the UK took
place. On arrival in Iraq they were dumped at the
airport, where some of them were promptly arrested by
local police and as far as is known, not heard of
since [Link to newswire item on UK Iraqi Kurds].
Mohammad is likely to have no help on his return to
Afghanistan. "I will have no relatives, no friends, no
job, no home if I have to go back - nothing. No
support network, nobody to look out for me, I will be
all alone," he says [link to star article where quote
is from.] 




		
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