Sayed Hashemi Press Release
August 4th, 2006
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NCADC News Service
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Asylum for Sayed Hashemi
Sayed Hashemi is a friend of Mahdi Hidari whose story and model letter were circulated last week by NCADC. Sayed was snatched with Mahdi on July 15th when Immigration Officers raided his shared home in Canterbury. Both young men were taken to Dover Port and then separated 5 days later when Sayed was moved to Colnbrook IRC away from his community in the Canterbury, Whitstable area. Mahdi has been released on bail to a Whitstable address and has removal directions for August 22nd.
Sayed has just been given a deportation date for Sunday August 13th to Afghanistan He is very anxious, particularly as he was in Colnbrook IRC a few months ago and says he was then injured by Immigration escorts when he resisted forced removal. An independent medical examination and photographs taken by Home Office Officials documented his injuries.
Sayed like Mahdi fled Afghanistan as an unaccompanied child five years ago. Sayed is from the province of Mazar-i Sharif. His family were persecuted as Uzbeks by the Taliban and his father and 4 brothers were detained and beaten. After this Sayed’s father arranged his flight from Afghanistan to the UK. Sayed arrived in Folkestone after a 3 month traumatic journey and was placed in Foster care in Whitstable.
Sayed studied at Whitstable Community College obtaining GCSES and A/S levels. The Head of the Community College and Sayed’s teacher have provided character references for Sayed ’s solicitor to send to the Home Office. Sayed ’s further studies at Canterbury College were disrupted by stress and lack of funding when his asylum claim was refused.
Sayed has lost touch with his family since leaving Afghanistan and does not know if they are in the country or even still alive. Like his friend Mahdi he will be at risk of further persecution from the local Commanders who have infiltrated the corrupt and ineffective police force in Kabul and will be extremely vulnerable without any family to shelter him.
Afghanistan is going through its worst violence since U.S.-led forces overthrew the Taliban government in 2001. Almost 1,800 people have been killed in attacks by Taliban, drug barons and operations by foreign forces this year. (Alert Net 04/08/06)
The NGO Human Rights Watch have also reported the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the increase in suicide bombings and other civilian attacks. Six British soldiers have been killed in the last two months in Afghanistan. Yesterday a bomb in Panjwayi district killed 21 children and adults. Also yesterday four Canadian soldiers were killed and ten wounded in a roadside attack.
Sayed ambitions are to finish his education in the UK and find a good job so that when safe he could return to Afghanistan and contribute to rebuilding the country’s infrastructure.
However the Immigration Authorities have decided Sayed’s future, that he should be frightened, alone and destitute on the streets of Afghanistan.
Friends of Sayed and Mahdi are launching a campaign for both of them to remain in the UK with a stall in Whitstable High Street on Saturday August 5th. Local media who have shown concern and interest in the situation for young refugees who come without their families and face detention and deportation will cover this.
Community Action for Young Refugees (CAYR) and Kent Campaign to Defend Asylum Seekers (KCDAS) are supporting Sayed and Mahdi.
What you can do to help
Friends of Sayed Hashemi with the support of CAYR & KCDAS are organising a fax campaign to try and persuade Liam Byrne the Immigration Minister to change his mind about removing Sayed, model letter attached, (copy/amend/write your own version).
Fax No: 020 7035 4745 from outside the UK + 20 7035 4745
Please notify the campaign of any faxes sent:
For further information contact
Kate Adams
KCDAS
079 4096 4551
kadams314@hotmail.com
Councillor Wes Maclachlan, CAYR, 07761683494
Category: Sayed Hashemi, Campaign News