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Another Gay Asylum Seeker to be Deported Amidst Whistle- Blower Video

Posted by: Lez Get Real on February 10, 2011.

Melanie Nathan- Feb 09-2011.

As whistle-bloweers of the international security company G4S, provide the UK Guardian this week, release a training video of the physical and forcible removal of deportees and asylum seekers in the United Kingdom, a young man by the name of Jamal Ali Said is set to kick and scream off his deportation escorts for a second time as the UK seeks to return him to Uganda this weekend. The explosive revelation provides a sickening and disturbing visual of the reality suffered by deportees, of which many are gay and lesbian.

Last week Jamal was sent to Heathrow airport after years in detention and 14 years of struggling for asylum. He was injured as he fought hard not to board not to be returned to the place where he faces certain death. Again the United Kingdom Home Office and Border Control are about to try and get him onto the next deportation drop. Jamal’s new flight is scheduled to leave Heathrow in the next few days.

Jamal is afraid for his life – because he is a gay man. He knows he is not welcome in Uganda, and the fact that he has not lived there for 14 years increases his risks of survival. He also knows David Kato was murdered two weeks ago and he will resist again… will the UK contractors exert more force? Read Jamal’s asylum seeking history below and then watch the Video released to the Guardian.

Jamal Ali SAID, Dob.06/06/1970, Home Office Ref- S1319898, Ugandan, who fought removal to Uganda on Monday 02.07.2011. He fears to be return to Uganda because of his sexuality -

Brief about his immigration History in the UK – fcats as submitted to me through UK source:

1. 07.05.1995 date when he first entered the UK and claimed asylum at Heathrow Airport (note: UK dates places day before month)

2. 03.07.1999 his asylum claim was refused

3. 1999-2004 his appeal were dismissed

4. 2005 Jamal was diagnosed with HIV, which he contracted from the UK

5. 14.05.2005 he made another Asylum Claim

6. 23.11.2005 NLGBA (Northampton Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Alliance) writes a support to Home Office for Jamal detailing his medical issues and sexuality (Gay Man).

7. 29.09.2006 IAT refuses Jamal’s claim that is Gay, regardless of the evidence he had provided.

8. 09.02.2007 he made further representations to the Home Secretary under Human Rights

9. 14.02.2008 he was detained by the Home Office, pending removal to Uganda

10. 20.02.2008 he made an application for Judicial Review in the High Court, to review the Home Secretary’s decision to detain him pending his removal to Uganda

11. 04.03.2008 he signed a consent order withdrawing his judicial review as the Home Secretary had agreed to reconsider his further representations of 2007

12. 17.11.2010 he instructed Cardinal Solicitors, who made further representations to the Secretary of State basing on his long residence in the UK and the change in Law in refrence to the Supreme Court of HJ (Iran) 2010

13. 12.01.2011 the SSHD refused Jamal’s representations of 09.02.2007 and detained him. In the SSHD’s letter of 12.01.11, she did not mention anything to do with Jamal’s representations of 17.11.2011

14. 14.01.2011, Cardinal Solicitors, wrote to SSHD asking her to review her decision to refuse Jamal’s case, in line with the current Supreme case of HJ (Iran) and HT (Cameroon) 2010

15. 14.01.2011 UKBA issues removal directions to Jamal for 18.01.2011

16. 15.01.2011 UKBA responds to Cardinal Sols letter of 14.01.2011 maintaining decision to remove him to Uganda on 18.01.2011

17. 18.01.2011 cardinal Solicitors make an application for Judicial review & an Injunction stopping Jamal’s removal to Uganda

18. 18.01.2011 UKBA deferred Jamal’s removal from the UK after an Injunction was granted by Honourable Mr Justice Holman on the same day

19. 28.01.2011 Christopher Symons Q.C Sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge refuses permission for judicial review, stating that the case is considered to be totally without merit.

20. 31.01.2011 Jamal was denied bail by the Immigration and Asylum Chamber sitting at Newport. The judge supported the Home Office that Jamal is a high risk of absconding.

21. 07.02.2011 new removal date for Jamal from the United Kingdom

Home Office’s Concerns

1. Jamal has claimed asylum 3 times within the 14 years he has lived in the country and thus has a poor immigration history.

2. They do not believe that he is Gay, as he currently has got new evidence to support his claim

3. Jamal risks his life if returned to Uganda because of his sexuality; the United Kingdom government has an obligation under the 1951 Refugee Convention to protect Jamal from serious harm.

4. Jamal has lived in this country for 14 years and 8 months, regardless of his immigration history as the Home Office claims, he should be allowed to remain here under Article 8 of the Human Rights

5. Jamal has no convictions for the period he has lived here, he should be given credit for that

6. Jamal has no family to go to in Uganda after being away for that long.

He is currently detained at Campsfield Immigration Removal Center,

He is desperate for any help that can be offered as he fears for his life if removed to Uganda. Reference should be given to the recent Gay Activist (David Kato) who was killed in Uganda on 26.01.20011

Please Join in making a plea to the HON. Therese May, UK Home Office – in the wake of the murder of David Kato, to STOP all deportations to UGANDA and other Nations which criminalize homosexuality, until each case has been provided with a fresh Judicial review in the Courts, pending new Claims, based on New facts and circumstances.

Training film for guards undertaking deportations – video

THE WHISTLE-BLOWER VIDEO – http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2011/feb/08/securicor-g4s-training-video that is now the subject of a case being made by employees of G4S.

The Guardian has obtained a training video used by Securicor – now G4S – to instruct guards deporting asylum seekers on flights. The footage forms part of a dossier of evidence produced by G4S whistle-blowers…. click here to view…

Regarding the whistle-blowers, in the UK Guardian- “The multinational security company hired by the government to deport refused asylum seekers was warned repeatedly by its own staff that potentially lethal force was being used against deportees, an investigation by the Guardian revealed.

Details of how some G4S guards developed a dangerous technique for restraining deportees by bending them in aircraft seats is disclosed in official testimony drawn up by four whistle-blowers from the company.

Their evidence was secretly submitted to the home affairs select committee in the aftermath of the death of Jimmy Mubenga, an Angolan man who died while being forcibly restrained on a flight from Heathrow in October.

The technique, which is strictly prohibited because it could result in a form of suffocation known as positional asphyxia, was nicknamed “carpet karaoke” by G4S guards.

The whistle-blowers also allege that staff were not trained properly, criticized for showing compassion to refused asylum seekers, particularly children, and ostracized if they ever voiced concerns. They state that some guards went years without receiving official Home Office accreditation.

Their evidence contradicts testimony given to parliament by senior G4S executives who were summoned to appear before the home affairs select committee following Mubenga’s death. One senior G4S official told MPs during a the hearing in November that he was “not aware” that his staff had ever raised concerns about any aspect of the removals process.”

Nowhere on the G4S website do we see reference to forced removals….. LGR reached out to G4S for comment and we await….

Melanie Nathan

nathan@privatecourts.com

@oblogdeeoblogda