As reported over the last week, Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum volunteer Jane Mary Mutetsi is still detained by the police. We are more than sick of this. All who value freedom must say no to this continuous abuse of asylum seekers, refugees and migrant workers. We maintain that no one is illegal. We in No Borders defy the very idea of nation states and national borders that mean nothing to us. The greatest hypocrisy is that capitalist exploitation of labour and the environment is global, and war can be waged across borders by the rulers and armies of nation states against the wishes of most of the world’s population. Yet people are not free to move from one place to another to escape this madness. Little longer than 100 years ago passports did not even exist. Further before that, neither did nation states with border controls. These are human constructs that can and must be challenged and ultimately destroyed.
Continue reading Jane Mary Mutetsi’s incarceration & the meaning of No Borders
Monthly Archives: May 2008
Hicham Yezza refuses to be transported to fifth detention centre
Following the cancellation order on his deportation and despite being unjustly incarcerated for over two weeks, Hicham Yezza has received news that he is to be transported to a fifth detention centre. He released this statement today from Colnbrook immigration removal centre saying, “I am […] refusing to go. I am not a piece of luggage, but a human being and deserve to be treated as such.? Read more on Indymedia:
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk
Also read interview with Hicham and a damning article about the current climate of ‘self-censorship’ in universities in Guardian newspaper today:
http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/new…2283183,00.html
Please note Hich is a a respected anti-militarist activist who has been in Nottingham for 13 years.
Continue reading Hicham Yezza refuses to be transported to fifth detention centre
Amdani Juma indymedia report, petition, letter to home office & press release – and another demo on Monday
Amdani Juma is due to be deported to Burundi on Wednesday. Please visit http://notts.indymedia.org.uk for model letters to home office, Kenya Airways & an online petition, plus reports and pictures.
There will be a second demonstration in Nottingham’s Market Square on Monday June 2nd at 5pm. Let’s make it even bigger than Saturday’s demo.. It is requested by the organisers that everyone wears black if possible.
Continue reading Amdani Juma indymedia report, petition, letter to home office & press release – and another demo on Monday
Nottingham Market Square demos on Sat (1pm) and Mon (5pm) against detention & deportation of Amdani
To protest against Amdani Juma’s detention this morning and Notice of deportation (for next Wednesday), two demonstrations have been quickly organised, one for tomorrow Saturday 31st May at 1pm, and the other at 5pm on Monday 2nd June, both in Nottingham’s Market Square. Please come and show your support for Amdani. Some placards will be provided by the Friends of Amdani support group or make your own, bring drums or other instruments, or just bring yourself, family and friends, and make your feelings known!. Read more
Continue reading Nottingham Market Square demos on Sat (1pm) and Mon (5pm) against detention & deportation of Amdani
Amdani Juma detained while reporting at Loughborough – removal date set Wed 4th June.
Amdani Juma removal date has been set for Wed 4th June on Kenya Airways flight KQ101 (Terminal 4, Heathrow) which is the usual flight used by government for deportations to Africa.
Following Jane Mary Mutetsi’s detention earlier this week, our other well known friend & NNRF volunteer Amdani Juma, who has been in the UK for many years as a survivor from Burundi but whose appeal for Indefinite Leave to Remain was turned down by the Home Office on 5th Dec, has now himself been detained whilst reporting at Loughborough reporting centre today. He has already been moved to Campsfield Detention Centre in Oxfordshire. Amdani’s case has previously been reported on the No Borders Nottingham website and elsewhere:
http://www.nottsrefugeeforum.org.uk/first.htm#amdani
The Friends of Amdani will be helping to keep him strong and hope to free him from the hands of the immigration authorities. More to follow.
Continue reading Amdani Juma detained while reporting at Loughborough – removal date set Wed 4th June.
Protest to British Airways against Hicham Yezza removal! – model letter available online
Nottingham University’s Hicham Yezza is due for removal on flight BA894 from Heathrow T5, destination Algiers, at 9.45am this Sunday, June 1st. A model letter for protesting to British Airways demanding they refuse to carry him is available at:
http://freehichamyezza.wordpress.com/. It can be modified as you wish. Address/fax details follow the letter. BA can refuse to carry Hicham. They have a choice. They must be made to take the right decision.
The university should be ashamed at its disregard for an innocent employee caught up the mess they have created by going along with the government’s Stasi-like ‘anti-terror’ procedures.
Continue reading Protest to British Airways against Hicham Yezza removal! – model letter available online
NNRF volunteer Jane Mary Mutetsi is detained
Only days after a new campaign was launched, Nottingham & Notts Refugee Forum volunteer Jane Mary Mutetsi was today detained at the Bridewell police station in Nottingham. We will do everything in our power to prevent yet another attack on a vulnerable asylum seeker in Nottingham. We are thinking of you Jane Mary!
For more details see:
http://www.nobordersnottingham.org.uk/index.php?newsid=73
Jane Mary belongs to Nottingham.
Continue reading NNRF volunteer Jane Mary Mutetsi is detained
University washes hands over imminent deportation of their ‘illegal’ employee
NEW: Central News report on 28 May demonstration (video).
plus: Local BBC Nottingham written report of demo
plus: Independent video of the demo – interviews, speechs, march in the rain, support from student & co-workers, phone call with Hich in detention centre, etc.
The University of Nottingham is really scraping the barrel now trying to make an (in)credible case as to why it shouldn?t intervene publicly with the Home Office to prevent deportation of staff member Hicham Yezza this coming Sunday. Since the farcical ‘terror’ arrests and extended detention without charge a fortnight ago, no criminal charge of immigration irregularity has come to anything and was quickly dropped. The Home Office is clearly trying to have him removed as quickly as possible to cover up their embarrassment over police arresting him in the first place, a process initiated by the university.
It’s so infuriating that rather than admit an error and intervene to prevent Hicham’s deportation from Britain, allowing him to sort out any visa irregularies (which must be extremely commonplace in a institution with hundreds of overseas students and staff, and quite easily resolved) the university authorities decide instead, in their immense wisdom, to issue a statement via BBC East Midlands tonight that Hicham Yezza was ?working illegally?. In other words, not their problem. In other words, as far as they are concerned, he can be hung out to dry.
This institution is incapable of taking a reality check. IF Hisham broke immigration law, then they did too by employing him. They seem to think that trying to shift the blame for this supposed crime will stop us pointing out that they have a responsibility to their long-standing student/employee. Basic humanity means that they should intervene against the deportation and let Hicham defend himself against any accusations of deliberate wrong-doing. And then to insist that the least the Home Office can do after 6 days locked up without charge is rectify his immigration paperwork immediately (if that proves to be necessary), and then make sure he is welcomed back to work. Is that too much to ask after what he’s been through? This might also reassure any other overseas staff or student who has forgotten to check their visa recently that they won’t get shafted by the university if they accidently fall foul of ‘terrorism’ paranoia (or accidently get arrested for anything else) during their employment or studies.
Feelings against the University over this and other matters of academic freedom and free speech are running exceptionally high at the moment, and for good reason. Nottingham activists must continue to put pressure on it and challenge its attitude of unaccountability. Please attend tomorrow?s (Wednesday 28th May) demonstration for academic freedom and the freeing of Hicham. It starts at 2.00pm outside the Hallward Library, in the middle of the campus. See campus map (library is building 9).
Continue reading University washes hands over imminent deportation of their ‘illegal’ employee
Stop the Deportation of Nottingham University’s Hicham Yezza – support website
Following the two unfounded ‘terror’ arrests at Nottingham University a support website for the staff member and peace activist Hicham Yezza has been launched, to provide information about how to help stop his imminent deportation on Sunday 1st June.
http://freehichamyezza.wordpress.com/
Information about Hich, by his friends, can be found on http://notts.indymedia.org.uk. Direct link: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/not…/05/399569.html
Continue reading Stop the Deportation of Nottingham University’s Hicham Yezza – support website
Nottingham University employee threatened with deportation after unfounded ‘terrorism’ arrest
A Nottingham anti-militarist and university employee is threatened with deportation on Sunday 1st June having been arrested whilst at work under anti-terrorism legislation (held uncharged for 7 days) and then rearrested under immigration legislation. No charge was brought after this second arrest, but he’s been moved around various immigration detention centres including Colnbrook (Heathrow), and now Campsfield (Oxfordshire) and they are planning to deport him Sunday 1st June. We hold the University as responsible as the Police & Home Office for the arrest and victimisation of this employee. A Nottingham University student was also arrested, held without charge, and released.
For the full outrageous story concerning ‘radical materials’ being downloaded (on instruction from tutor!) and reproduced as source material for university study, please see:
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/
Read May 25 addition (the story goes international): Terrorism arrests on British university campus raise questions over academic freedom (Herald Tribune).
There will be a demonstration at University of Nottingham on Wednesday 28th June where the ‘radical materials’ will be read aloud in public followed by a march to the building where the university employee was arrested. The protest will be about academic freedom and against deportation. See http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/ for details and flyer.
Continue reading Nottingham University employee threatened with deportation after unfounded ‘terrorism’ arrest