Amdani Juma support rally in the Market Square on Friday 24th July at 5.15pm. Click on Read More for the latest Press Release with background to Amdani’s campaign to stay in Nottingham.

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum. Friends of Amdani Juma

Contacts:
Rob Peutrell – 07846765761
Cathy Meadows 07913476905

Monday 20 July 2009

Nottingham City Award Winner, Amdani Juma, faces new threat of removal despite no Home Office decision

Nottingham City award winner Amdani Juma, has been informed by the Home Office that he must leave the UK or face up to 6 months imprisonment and enforced removal to Burundi, even though an official Home Office determination regarding his application to remain in the UK has yet to be made.

In an unprecedented approach which may be wrong in law, the Home Office have notified Amdani of their intention to remove him but have avoided making a formal immigration decision which would provide him with the right of appeal. The 2008 winner of the City of Nottingham Inspiration Award could be removed at any time even though the legal process has not been completed. Solicitor’s acting on behalf of Amdani are in contact with the Home Office in an attempt to get a formal decision.

400 signatures were collected on behalf of Amdani last weekend and a rally is planned to protest against the Home Office actions.

A friend says:

“It seems like the Home Office can do what they want. They play foul, but it’s Amdani who gets the red card. He’s not just a number – he’s a person – he’s even been voted an inspiration to Nottingham! I can’t imagine the impact that this is having on his life; imprisonment, denied work, and now kept in immigration limbo with the constant threat of deportation hanging over his head, it’s shameful – these should be the best years of his life.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Amdani was awarded the 2008 City of Nottingham Inspiration Award for making a significant contribution towards enriching life in the city.

http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/pressreleases/view_article.asp?ReleaseID=4983

Paper petitions in support of Amdani total 3,200.

The online petition http://www.petitiononline.com/amdani/petition.html contains many testimonials from the community and has over 2,800 signatures. Signatories include Alan Simpson MP, Noam Chomsky.

Amdani Juma’s solicitor is Hani Zubeidi of Fadiga and Co Solicitors, London

Amdani Juma, a refugee HIV prevention and community worker in Nottingham,
was detained by the immigration authorities on Friday 30th May 2008 and was nearly deported. He was released in June 2008 following a massive local campaign and pending a Judicial Review.

Alan Simpson MP for Nottingham South and Nottingham Council leader Jon Collins have both spoken out about Mr Amdani’s proposed removal. Amdani’s HIV/AIDS prevention work has had local and national significance and groups have spoken out against the decision that his staying in the UK was not in the interests of the community.

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 detention. He was released in June 2008.

Ends
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Read More to find out what you can do including Market Sq. demo on Friday 24th July at 5.15pm, other public events, petition etc …

Download and print off this leaflet.

Look for us at the Carnival on the Forest this Weekend, 4th & 5th July.

Join our rally in the Market Square on Friday 24th July at 5.15pm.

Meet Amdani at the Nottingham Pride event in the Arboretum on Saturday July 25th, where Amdani will be campaigning once again to help others, in the prevention of HIV in the Black Community.

Please sign the e-petition if you haven’t: http://www.petitiononline.com/amdani/petition.html

And Meet the Man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xyHu3GeNYk

More info: http://friendsofamdani.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/amdanis-campaign-takes-to-the-streets-again/

400 more petition signatures were faxed to the Home Office today and more people pledged their support as campaigners made preparations for a city centre rally this weekend to highlight Amdani?s situation. The rally will take place on Saturday 11 October in Nottingham Market Square at 12.30. A washing line of pages from the online petition, currently at over 2,750 will “be hung out to dry” to demonstrate how Amdani himself has been left “hanging on” for over 5 years, waiting for a decision to grant him a safe and secure future and allow him to get on with his life. The Home Office has delayed the hearing scheduled for Tuesday, 14 October prolonging the wait even further.

http://www.petitiononline.com/amdani/petition.html contains many testimonials from the community and has over 2,750 signatures. Paper petitions stand at 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 Read more for full press release and contact numbers.

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum. Friends of Amdani Juma
Contacts: Rob Peutrell ? 0784676576
Press: Cathy Meadows 07913476905

Thursday 9th October 2008

AMDANI JUMA: CAMPAIGN MOMENTUM BUILDS AS DECISION DELAYED AGAIN

400 more petition signatures were faxed to the Home Office today and more people pledged their support as campaigners made preparations for a city centre rally this weekend to highlight Amdani?s situation.

The rally will take place on Saturday 11 October in Nottingham Market Square at 12.30. A washing line of pages from the online petition, currently at over 2,750 will “be hung out to dry” to demonstrate how Amdani himself has been left “hanging on” for over 5 years, waiting for a decision to grant him a safe and secure future and allow him to get on with his life. The Home Office has delayed the hearing scheduled for Tuesday, 14 October prolonging the wait even further. Nottingham North MP Nick Palmer has added pledged his support to Alan Simpson and industrialist Lance Clark, major shareholder in Clarks shoes who is involved in charitable work in Africa with people who have AIDS has signed the Online Petition.

Since he was granted bail pending a Judicial Review on 8th June 2008 Amdani has not been allowed to continue with his paid employment and has had to take a 40 mile round trip from Nottingham to Loughborough every week to sign. During the long wait and uncertainty, local people have continued to support him and his case and to raise awareness about his huge contribution to the region in the area of HIV prevention work and refugee integration.

Notes for Editors

http://www.petitiononline.com/amdani/petition.html contains many testimonials from the community and has over 2,750 signatures. Paper petitions stand at 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

Background

Amdani Juma, a refugee HIV prevention and community worker in Nottingham,
was detained by the immigration authorities on Friday 30th May 2008. He spent 18 days in detention during which time a flight was booked for his removal on two separate occasions. Following protests by local people, local and national organisations, a meeting between Liam Byrne and Alan Simpson and representations from his solicitor, Amdani was released on bail on 10th June 2008 pending a Judicial Review.

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. A further application for discretion on the grounds of his contribution to the Nottinghamshire and East Midlands community was also refused. Alan Simpson, MP for Nottingham South, and Nottingham Council leader Jon Collins have both spoken out in opposition to Amdani?s proposed removal. Local people have rallied to his support with three demonstrations in Nottingham and an online and paper petition combined have a total of over 6,000 signatures.

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

PRESS RELEASE: AMDANI JUMA – NO LET UP IN LOCAL SUPPORT AS HEARING DATE SET
Thursday, 2 October, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum
Friends of Amdani Juma

Contacts: Rob Peutrell ? 07846765761
Press: Cathy Meadows – 07913476905

Thursday 2nd October 2008

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 Juma was granted bail pending a Judicial Review on 8th June 2008. Since then he has not been allowed to continue with his paid employment and has had to take a 40 mile round trip from Nottingham to Loughborough every week to report. During the long wait and uncertainty, local people have continued to support him and his case and to raise awareness about his contribution to the region. 250 people have signed postcards to send to their MPs to highlight that Amdani?s work has affected their constituencies.

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.?

Notes for Editors

Background
Amdani Juma, a refugee HIV prevention and community worker in Nottingham,
was detained by the immigration authorities on Friday 30th May 2008. He spent 18 days in detention during which time a flight was booked for his removal on two separate occasions. Following protests by local people, local and national organisations, a meeting with Liam Byrne and Alan Simpson and representations from his solicitor, Amdani was released on bail on 10th June 2008 pending a Judicial Review.

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. A further application for discretion on the grounds of his contribution to the Nottinghamshire and East Midlands community was also refused. Alan Simpson, MP for Nottingham South, and Nottingham Council leader Jon Collins have both spoken out in opposition to Amdani?s proposed removal. 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

Amdani Juma?s solicitor is Hani Zubeidi of Fadiga and Co Solicitors, London

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

Ends

See also: Land of no return. Article in Guardian newspaper on Jun 13th 2008 about community anti-deportation campaigns.

Read an Indymedia report following the showing of Zimbabwe film FLAME at the Sumac Centre on 18th June. Also find more NZCN news on the new blog-site:
http://nzcn.wordpress.com

Refugee Week 2008 events listing (14th ? 22nd June):
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/06/400846.html

Supporters visited him all afternoon at Colnbrook immigration removal centre (run by private contractor Serco with transportation support from Group 4), and stayed well after the flight was seen to take off from Heathrow airport. Amdani’s legal battle to stay has only just begun, and he is not yet out on bail. He was also taken away by the Home Office during visiting this evening and was moved immediately to Campsfield detention centre in Oxfordshire. His bail hearing is set for Monday June 12th in London so he could remain in Campsfield until then, although this is by no means certain. But we can all be relieved and happy he was not on that flight (whilst knowing it was very likely carrying other forced deportees), and we look forward to having him back in Nottingham soon. The campaigning will continue in earnest. More to follow.

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.

Amdani Juma, refugee advisor and HIV/AIDS professional (and all round wonderful guy from Burundi, under humanitarian protection in Britain for 5 years) has had his deportation on Wednesday delayed, but only until evening of Tuesday 10th June. He has been moved from Lindholme detention centre near Doncaster to Colnbrook removal centre at Heathrow airport. The pressure on him must be insummountable. We must stop his removal. More (including news that Noam Chomsky has signed Amdani’s petition) is at: http://www.nottsrefugeeforum.org.uk/ &
See http://friendsofamdani.wordpress.com/ and sign the e-petition.

Hicham Yezza, Nottingham University employee (and peace activist from Algeria, settled in UK for 13 years) has had his deportation cancelled pending a judicial review application but he continues to be held in a detention centre in Dover. He has bravely gone to the press about his experience inside and his resistance to constantly being moved from one detention centre to another (click here to hear MP3 of him speaking). More at:
http://freehichamyezza.wordpress.com/

Continued campaigning on these two high profile cases is vitally important, and we can only hope this results in Amdani and Hicham coming back to Nottingham soon, but let’s not kid ourselves that there are not thousands of others who are in need of support. Huge numbers (around 20,000) forced deportations take place a year which destroy livelihoods made or remade here in Britain. The situation in detention (or so-called ‘removal’) centres is horrific and punative. People are subjected to terrifying dawn raids by the immigration police. After periods of detention sometimes of many years, our neighbours are being transported to frightening and uncertain futures and for some, to their graves. Amdani and Hicham know this as much as anyone.

Britain seems like a strange place at the moment. Whilst anti-immigrant hysteria continues in the press and for political expediency, online projects like Moving Here celebrate and also recognise the hopes, experiences and sacrifices of voluntary migrants like Hicham who choose to live, study and work in Britain. Living projects like City of Sanctuary in Sheffield and our own Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum work towards a long term future for refugees and asylum seekers in our communities. But still this will only reach a minority of those being victimised by government policies which mean even more detention places are being created at this very moment (from 2,600 to 4,000). Therefore, the momentum gained in these excellent high-profile campaigns must be maintained to build a movement against incarceration of any person just because they happen to be born on other soil. We may even be able to take the next step and begin to build a mass movement against the very ideas of nation states and their methods of control.

Find out more about No Borders at our event on 13th June, details at:
http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=1319

Also read: The truth behind the deportation statistics,
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/11/357466.html