FILM NIGHT, Tuesday 7th October at Sumac Centre, 245 Gladstone Street, Forest Fields: YELLOW CARD, film put on by Nottingham Zimbabwean Community Network & Small World Cinema . This will be followed by a discussion with Nottingham Zimbabwean Community Network on the current situation in Zimbabwe. PLUS 2 additional Short films: Amdani Juma: Meet The Man. Starts 7.00pm.
PLUS: advance notice. Sat 11th October 1pm: Rally in Market Square for Amdani Juma.
Continue reading Film night Tues 7th October @ Sumac Centre, Forest Fields: Yellow Card (Zimbabwe feature film) & Amdani Juma: Meet The Man (2 Short films)
Tag Archives: Nottingham
Nottingham’s Mustafa Abdulrahim Mustafa detained & faces deportation on Saturday 4th October: Urgent appeal
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]
Continue reading Nottingham’s Mustafa Abdulrahim Mustafa detained & faces deportation on Saturday 4th October: Urgent appeal
AMDANI JUMA – No let up in local support as hearing date set
Amdani Juma, the Nottingham Community worker whose removal was postponed in June, will have his Judicial Review in the High Court on Tuesday 14th October and this Friday 3rd October. 250 post cards will be posted to 15 MPs to raise awareness about how Amdani has contributed to their constituency through his work. Amdani is a Burundian national. In 2003, he was granted 3 years Humanitarian Protection but his application for Indefinite Leave to Remain was turned down, and further application for discretion was refused by the UKBA/Home Office.
One of the ?Friends of Amdani? says:
?We are continuing to raise awareness about this issue and we won?t let up until justice is done. Some people think that because he was released, it is all over: we are trying to keep everyone updated with what is going on, as well as continuing to let more people know about this injustice. Last Saturday in Nottingham City Centre 150 more people signed the petition in less than 2 hours. The whole of Nottingham will be awaiting a just outcome.?
Local people have rallied to his support with three demonstrations in Nottingham and an online and paper petition combined have a total of over 5,700 signatures.
http://www.petitiononline.com/amdani/petition.html contains many testimonials from the community and has over 2,500 signatures. Paper petitions total over 3,000. A short campaign video paying tribute to our good friend Amdani Juma can be seen on YouTube: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7qNho3_auGA
Continue reading AMDANI JUMA – No let up in local support as hearing date set
No Borders ‘Self-educational’ at Sumac Centre – Friday 26th Sept 7.30pm & food by Small World Kitchen at 9pm
For the second of No Borders Nottingham ‘self-educationals’ (the first looked at immigration camps and border control in and around European Union) we’ll be discussing the situation in the Caucasus and south-Central Asia’s Russian borders. This is the area where warfare has taken place in recent weeks, following bombing by the Georgian military of South Ossetia and reprisals by Russia and South Ossetian militias. This has resulted in huge numbers of ‘internally displaced’ persons (refugees). It is also the region to which Babi Badalov was deported to from Cardiff by the British Government on Sunday, to Baku/Baki in Azerbaijan. All are welcome to turn up to this informal meeting at 7.30pm on Friday 26th September at The Sumac Centre in Forest Fields (follow link for directions). The meeting will be followed by followed by vegan African food cooked by Small World Kitchen at 9pm (suggested donation £3). Members or guests of Forest Fields Social Club may also buy drinks from the Sumac bar.
Continue reading No Borders ‘Self-educational’ at Sumac Centre – Friday 26th Sept 7.30pm & food by Small World Kitchen at 9pm
Judge describes Nottingham ‘illegal’ worker “a perfectly respectable man who fled from Zimbabwe.”
At last, some recognition of the crazy way the British state treats asylum seekers, whilst allowing the populist press and racist troublemakers to call them scroungers. Even though he’d had to obtain fake documents to work and earn a living, Nottingham Evening Post reported that, Judge Dudley Bennett described a Zimbawean man Weldone Javangwe as a “perfectly respectable man” who has contributed to the Nottingham community. “You have been paying your taxes and you have not been a drain on our society in any way.” […] The decision was welcomed by Regis Manyanya, chairman of the Nottingham Zimbabwean Community Network, which campaigns for Zimbabweans refused asylum to be given the right to work. He said: “There are a lot of people in the same situation. Because they are living in destitution some of them feel they have no option but to work illegally. Some are being pushed into prostitution. “They are hard-working and want to make a living, but because of the system they are forced into committing these types of crime.”
Until the day when people are able to escape war and torture freely without borders, all asylum seekers should be able to work so they can try and avoid destitution while they concentrate on their cases and appeals, without this unnecessary additional hassle from vehicle licensing snoopers, immigration officials, police and the so-called justice system.
Continue reading Judge describes Nottingham ‘illegal’ worker “a perfectly respectable man who fled from Zimbabwe.”
Hicham Yezza application for judicial review cancels Sunday removal (but it’s not over yet).
It very good to hear that at 12.30 hours today, an application to the High Court in London was issued seeking a judicial review of the decisions of the Home Office in this matter. The removal directions set for Sunday 1st June have now been cancelled by the Home Office, and an application will be made to them this afternoon for Mr Yezza to be released while his case is reconsidered. David Smith, of Cartwright King solicitors in Nottingham, says ?We hope and trust that the Home Office will now release Mr Yezza and reconsider his case properly and in accordance with the law; we will proceed vigorously with the High Court action unless they agree to do so.? The decision was reported on Channel 4 TV news tonight.
Continue reading Hicham Yezza application for judicial review cancels Sunday removal (but it’s not over yet).
NOTTINGHAM REFUGEE WEEK UPCOMING EVENTS
*THURSDAY 19 JUNE – PUBLIC MEETING: Refugees in a Global Era. Speaker: Phil Marfleet.
Venue: The Square Centre, Alfred Street North. Time: 7pm. ALL WELCOME.
*SATURDAY 21ST JUNE – FUNDRAISING EVENT: International food tasting event
Venue: The Vine Community Centre, Bobbersmill Rd, Hyson Green. Time: 7-10pm. Tickets: £20
*SUNDAY 22 JUNE: ?They Don?t Want to Learn English?. Come and celebrate and learn more about the issues faced by refugees and people seeking asylum who are English learners.
Venue: Sneinton. Time: 6.15 ? 8pm. FREE EVENT. Contact: 07905 298137
Continue reading NOTTINGHAM REFUGEE WEEK UPCOMING EVENTS
Remembering Masivi Olido
Nottingham No Borders is sad and angry ? very angry – to have to report the death of Masivi Olido. We are proud to have demonstrated side by side with him for the rights of asylum seekers and to raise awareness in Nottingham of the situation faced by Congolese people that the British state is trying to deport. Too many people are dying in this system, through neglect and worse. In Masivi’s case, very few of us even knew he was ill. We knew him as a fighter. There are questions to be answered here, but in the short term the Congolese community is looking to dignify his memory and help his family a little, so we hope people visiting our site will give a little money and circulate this appeal. Look out for his picture in our random gallery and remember him with us.
URGENT FINANCIAL APPEAL TOWARDS THE FUNERAL COSTS OF MASIVI OLIDO WHO DIED SUDDENLY ON SATURDAY 9TH AUGUST 2008
Let’s dignify MASIVI OLIDO and do good deed as he did for many people. MASIVI OLIDO, a 36 year old young man with a big heart full of compassion died suddenly on Saturday 9th August. Masivi was an active member of the Nottingham Congolese Community, and a member of MPR, who came to the UK and claimed asylum when the Mobutu regime was replaced by Kabila and Rwandan rebel forces in wars that have made the DR Congo one of the most dangerous places on earth. The Home Office sent him to Nottingham in 2001 where he lived until his last hour.
At the moment we need to make sure we have enough funds to bury him in a dignified way. He will be buried according to his cultural tradition. He must look smart as he always used to be.
We need to raise enough funds for this to happen. The funeral costs are estimated to be more than £2,500 We also need to make a one-off donation to his two children, his wife and his elderly mother.
Please click on ‘read more’ to find out more and how to donate to the appeal.
Continue reading Remembering Masivi Olido
Notts Refugee Week programme begins with No Borders night @ Sumac on Friday 13th June: MEETING / FOOD / MUSIC
The official launch of Refugee Week takes place on Saturday but we are kicking off early on FRIDAY 13TH JUNE with a public meeting, food and live music at the SUMAC Centre in Forest Fields. Small World Kitchen and No Borders present an evening of discussion, traditional African vegan food and live music from Ngoma, starting with the meeting at 6.30pm (food at 8pm, music from 9). More details and directions can be found in the Sumac/Veggies events diary: http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=1319
Continue reading Notts Refugee Week programme begins with No Borders night @ Sumac on Friday 13th June: MEETING / FOOD / MUSIC
AMDANI JUMA: BAIL HEARING MONDAY 11 AUGUST
Amdani Juma, the Nottingham Community worker whose deportation has been delayed pending Judicial Review, is to attend a Bail Renewal Application Hearing at Loughborough Reporting Centre on Monday August 11. Mr Juma?s Judicial Review Hearing was adjourned for three weeks on Tuesday July 29, after his solicitor and Home Office legal representatives failed to reach agreement.
A short campaign video paying tribute to our good friend Amdani Juma can be seen on YouTube: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7qNho3_auGA
Background – from Press release by Friends of Amdani :: Wed 6 August 2008
Contacts: Rob Peutrell ? 07846765761 or Leo Keely ? 07742884335
Amdani Juma, a refugee HIV prevention and community worker in Nottingham, was detained by the immigration authorities on Friday 30th May 2008. when he went to sign at a Reporting Centre in Loughborough. He spent 18 days in detention. His removal was postponed once to give both sides more time and then a second time on June 10th pending a Judicial Review application. He was released and returned to Nottingham after an initial bail hearing in London on Monday 16th June. The purpose of the August 11 hearing is to ascertain whether Mr Juma has adhered to his bail conditions. Amdani is a Burundian national. In 2003, he was granted 3 years Humanitarian Protection but his later application for Indefinite Leave to Remain was turned down. A further application for discretion by the Home Office was also refused resulting in his present detention. Alan Simpson, MP for Nottingham South, and Nottingham Council leader Jon Collins have both spoken out in opposition to Amdani?s proposed removal. There have been three demonstrations in Nottingham and an online and paper petition combined have a total of over 5,600 signatures. http://www.petitiononline.com/amdani/petition.html contains many testimonials from the community and has over 2,500 signatures. Paper petitions total almost 3,000. Signatories include Alan Simpson MP, and academic Noam Chomsky.
Update following Aug 11 hearing: Amdani’s bail has been renewed until November.
Continue reading AMDANI JUMA: BAIL HEARING MONDAY 11 AUGUST