UPDATE: Mustafa is still here in England, but please continue to fax letters to the home secretary and immigration minister on his behalf. He is still in Campsfield house removal centre and the home office say they have no plans to release him.

Mustafa Abdulrahim Mustafa, who has been in UK since June 2004, was detained when he reported at his reporting centre in Loughborough this week. He is a Sudanese African of dual Dinka/Massaleit heritage ? his mother is from the Dinka tribe of Southern Sudan, and his father is from the Masseleit tribe in the West of Sudan. He criticised the Sudanese regime though his film work for which he was tortured: beaten and humiliated. Mustafa was detained last year when the Home Office were rounding up Sudanese prior to the second HGMO case last year. Another Appeal is set for November this year on the issue of torture of returnees to Sudan. But, as is typical of the Home Office before Appeals are heard, removals are rushed through. Mustafa has been given a Removal Notice set for Saturday 4th October, with BMI flight number BD 997 from Heathrow Terminal 1, flying to Beirut, and then on to Khartoum. We urge you to write on his behalf, to the Home Secretary, the Immigration Minister, and the Airline. Mustafa should not be returned to Sudan. Follow read more link for how to help. Model letters: [attachment=17] and [attachment=18]

Mustafa Abdulrahim Mustafa

UPDATE: Mustafa is still here in England, but please continue to fax letters to the home secretary and immigration minister on his behalf. He is still in Campsfield house removal centre and the home office say they have no plans to release him.

Home Office Ref: M1247034
Port ref: DEU/454546
DOB: 1/1/1967
Arrived UK: 13/6/2004

Model letters: [attachment=17] and [attachment=18]

Mustafa was detained when he reported at his reporting centre in Loughborough this week. Many of you will remember that Mustafa was dertained last year when the Home Office were rounding up Sudanese prior to the second HGMO case last year. Another Appeal is set for November this year on the issue of torture of returnees to Sudan.

Mustafa first arrived in the UK in 2004. He is a Sudanese African of dual Dinka/Massaleit heritage ? his mother is from the Dinka tribe of Southern Sudan, and his father is from the Masseleit tribe in the West of Sudan.

Mustafa worked as a camera man for a television station in Sudan, and also for the military media unit. In 1997 he lost his job after overhearing a high ranking military man (Major General), who was in charge of media in the operation zone, discussing the deaths of civilians during military operations. Mustafa questioned what he had heard and was insulted and verbally abused before being dismissed from his job. Another television cameraman disappeared from the same film unit at about this time.

Mustafa continued his filming work, making short films with students critical of the regime. The films were parodies of the regime and produced for distribution abroad. The smuggled films were discovered and Mustafa was arrested and detained for 6 months, during which time he was tortured: beaten and humiliated, confined to a space in which he could reach both walls with his outstretched arms, sleeping on a bare concrete floor. His left eye is seriously damaged due to the beatings during that time.

On release, Mustafa was warned that if he continued to make films he would be shot on sight. He was told that he could not leave Sudan. Moving to Al Fashir to stay with a relative, Mustafa continued to make short films of family events, parties, and continued to make a living in this way between 1999-2004.

In 2004 the Sudanese army and the Arab militia attacked Tawila in Darfur, near to where Mustafa was staying in Al Fashir. The town was under military seige, with an arrest campaign of anyone opposed, or suspected of opposition, to the Government, including s students and others. Ghost houses sprang up everywhere (these are houses turned into torture centers and prisons). Your neighbors house could be a ghost house. They were everywhere. Passing by with his camera, Mustafa heard the shouts and screams coming from within one of the houses and managed to film what he saw by using a zoom camera lens. A couple of months later, after the attack on Tawila, thousands of homes were searched, people were arrested and disappeared. Everyone was accused of supporting the Darfuri in the war in Darfur. Mustafas’ home was searched and his footage of a film that he was making about the atrocities in Darfur, (prepared for the Justice and Equality Movement) was seized.

Mustafa had not been at home during the search, but a neighbor warned him that his camera had been seized and advised him to leave.

Mustafa is a gentle reflective man, with a passion for football. Under his guidance his team went through to the semi finals in a local international Football league this summer. He has suffered psychologically because of the events and incidents that he has observed, and his fears that he may be returned to Sudan. He suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and is treated at the local hospital for this. He also suffers from visual problems, and pain in his legs.

Mustafa has been given a Removal Notice set for Saturday 4th October, with BMI flight number BD 997 from Heathrow Terminal 1, flying to Beirut, and then on to Khartoum

Those that know Mustafa know him to be a gentleman: an honest, considerate and kindly man, who does his best, within his limited means, to care for others in the Community who are suffering from destitution and fear. We urge you to write on his behalf, to the Home Secretary, the Immigration Minister, and the Airline. Mustafa should not be returned to Sudan.

His solicitor is still putting representations together so please, I know that it must seem like there are many appeals at the moment, please write, phone, fax the Home Office and BMI. We know that BMI Baby are not sympathetic to cases in the past so please do all that you can. I have attached a phot of Mustafa at the football tournament – I am sure that many of you will know/ recognise him.

Please send urgent faxes/emails immediately to Rt Hon. Liam Byrne, Minister for Immigration, asking that Mustafa Abdulrahim Mustafa is granted protection in the UK. Please remember to include Mustafas Home Office Ref. Number M1247034.

Fax.020 8760 3132 (0044 20 8760 3132 if you are faxing from outside the UK)

Email: privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

1) Please send urgent faxes to Nigel Turner, Chief Executive Officer BMI Airways, asking that BMI should not facilitate Home Office enforcement policies, using the attached ‘model letter’ (ElsaIMbayeBMI.doc) you can copy/amend/write your own version, if you do so, please remember to include the following details: Elsa Temesgen Imbaye and her 11 year old daughter, Bethlehem due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Wednesday, 1 October 2008 on British Midland Airways flight BD913 from Heathrow @ 14:15 to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Fax: Fax:: 01332 854875 from outside the UK: + 44 1332 854875

2) Ring BMI Head Office and ask to speak to the CEO, Nigel Turner (Tel: 01332 854000). You probably won’t be able to speak to him personally, but you should be able to leave a message, at least to say that you have sent a fax.

Please let Mustafas campaign know of any emails/faxes that you send omer_babikker@hotmail.co.uk