About 70 people have held a demonstration in Glasgow calling for the release of a Ugandan asylum seeker and her children. Zahra Byansi and her two sons were arrested at Brand Street immigration centre in Govan on Monday.
Campaign group Positive Action in Housing claim the family are due to be deported to Uganda on 17 January.
Campaigners said Ms Byansi was an upstanding member of the community who should be allowed to stay in Scotland.
The family are currently being held at the Dungavel asylum detention centre in South Lanarkshire and are expected to be moved to Yarlswood Immigration Removal Centre in England.
Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action in Housing, said: “She (Ms Byansi) is very depressed that her children are being held in prison conditions and have been taken out of school.”
SNP MSP for Glasgow Sandra White said she had been “targeted” for removal because of her high profile campaigning for other asylum seekers.
She said: “The unfortunate thing is people come along here to Brand St to sign and they have to give their fingerprints.
“They are taken to another room, put in a van and swooped down to Yarls Wood without being able to go back to get their belongings.
“That is inhuman and has to stop.”
Campaigner Amal Azzudin visited Ms Byansi in Dungavel earlier in the week.
She said: “Her son, who is five, said ‘tell my teachers I am holiday’. What kind of holiday is that, to be locked up? It is something that will scar him for life.”
Ms Azzudin said Ms Byansi’s older son was very depressed by the experience.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6258005.stm
11 responses so far ↓
William Russell Jones // January 15, 2007 at 6:39 pm |
The following is recent communication I entered into with Strathclyde Police regarding the decision to charge Linda Kelly; Dear Mr Jones
I have unfortunately just received your message today and hope to assist you. With regard to gathering evidence for prosecution in Scotland, whilst I am not overly familiar with the system in England & Wales, in Scotland the police (and other enforcement agencies, eg Customs & Excise), report alleged crimes to the Crown and Procurator Fiscals Service, with each area having a senior PF in charge. It is the PF who decides whether the allegations will be tested in Court, with the potential for the Defence to call witnesses to counter the Prosecution’s version of events, or dealt with by way of non-court disposal, eg. PF Fine, warning letter or indeed, No Proceedings are to be taken. Details of this process is available on the C&PF’s web site.
With regard to the actions of HM Immigration Services, this has been subject of much debate in the media in recent times re “dawn raids”. I also understand the policy has been discussed in the Scottish Parliament. I also understand that Immigration is a retained matter for the Home Office in London
“Raids” are instigated by the Immigration Dept and not Strathclyde Police. The police only become involved if there is a likliehood of disorder or violence.It is not possible for Strathclyde police to comment on any individual cases as all such matters which may result in Court Proceedings are “sub judice” IF the Procurator Fiscal determines that action is to be taken.
I know this may not answer all your questions. If there is anything else that I can do to help that the Crown Office or HM Immigration cannot assist, please do not hesitate to contact me direct.
Colin Houston
Chief Inspector
Glasgow West End Police Office
______________________________________________
From: Contactus
Sent: 06 December 2006 11:31
To: Adiv MgtSupport
Subject: FW: Linda Kelly
This e mail was received at the Force contactus address. It has been passed to you for direct reply. Please do not respond to the contactus address. When replying, you will have to type the recipient’s address. Using the reply button will send your message to the contactus address, not the intended recipient. If you require any further assistance, please contact the mailroom on 700 2575.
Anne Kelly
Administration FHQ
—–Original Message—–
From: William Russell Jones [SMTP:williamjonesjonqms@supanet.com]
Sent: 06 December 2006 10:46
To: Contactus
Subject: Linda Kelly
In the first place I would like basic information on how prosecutions and charges are brought about in Scotland.In England and Wales Police are obliged to gather evidence,and rpoduce a file for the Crown Prosecution Service,whose decision it then is whether charges are to be brought.What is the criteria operating in Scotland for such matters?
I will now go into the matter in my subject heading.That of the decision to charge Linda Kelly with “obstructing the course of justice” following the recent dawn raids by immigration officials in the Yoker/Kingsway Flats area.
The charges brought against Linda Kelly involve highly descriptive matters,and show that Strathclyde Police have effectively a one sided view of these incidents.You have chosen,at best to condone the blatant thuggery of immigration officials in the manner they carry out these raids.At worst there is evidence Strathclyde Police have actually collaborated with immigration officials in these raids.
I trust you will give the matters I have raised in this communication your most urgent consideration.
Regards
William Russell Jones
31,Heol Y Plas
Cefn Mawr
Wrexham
Wales
LL14 3PP.
——————————————————————————–
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da Kelly;
Robert McKenzie // January 18, 2007 at 8:14 pm |
I support our immmigration officials and police in their extremely hazardous and legal task of preparing legally failed asylum seekers for rightful repatriation to their own countries. Misnamed ‘dawn raids’ would be unnecessary If these failed asylum seekers would leave when legally notified to do so. They have been told to prepare for deportation and either failed to turn up or absconded. The Linda Kelly case is an explicit example of the disruptive actions of the so-called asylum seekers’ support groups (mob rule) which our officials have to face. Hence the need for police presence to protect our immigration officials.
Our silent MP‘s, MSP‘s and councillors back off from supporting our immigration officials and police. I would remind these elected politicians that in the positions they hold they should be seen to uphold our laws and support our appointed officials.
MSP Sandra White, SNP, Glasgow, in her support of the failed asylum seekers chooses to flout the laws of our country and undermine our law enforcers. She should resign her position or be removed for ‘breach of contract and promise.’
The laws of our courts and the decisions of our judges must be upheld. Our appointed immigration officials and police must be supported.
Michael Woods // January 20, 2007 at 6:32 pm |
In reply to mr Robert McKenzie,
who states that he supports officials in their “extremely hazardous and legal task” etc. Where do you get your information mr McKenzie ? As no officers are ever injured carrying out these dubious and inhuman tasks how are these tasks to be considered hazardous? A reply with official sources quoted would be much appreciated.
Robert McKenzie // January 22, 2007 at 4:54 pm |
In reply to Mr. Michael Woods:-
’extremely hazardous and legal task’ Source:- Daily Record, October 4, 2006, front page headline, ‘ASYLUM RIOT’ and photograph. Caption:- ‘These were the incredible scenes in a Glasgow housing estate this morning when police moved in to remove a family of Turkish asylum seekers. Dozens of supporters attacked around 20 officers after the dad threatened to jump from the 20th floor of a Cardonald tower block.’ Are you aware the reason as to why our police officers escort our immigration officers is to protect them from the unruly supporters of the asylum seekers? Also, do persons have to be injured before a situation can be classed as hazardous?
Michael Woods // January 28, 2007 at 4:32 pm |
Daily Record. ?? I’m sorry I thought you might quote a credible source. And yes there must be some kind of injury before anything can be described as hazardous. Read the dictionary. Strathclyde Police are at this very moment attempting to distance themselves from Immigration Service activities. Were there actually any injuries to Police? No. Most of those involved were Scots nationals by birth.
paih // January 29, 2007 at 12:18 pm |
For the record, the’asylum riot’ referred to by the daily record was in fact a peaceful protest. The lady who was pictured had suffered a seizure while being removed from a sit down protest by the police. She lay on the ground comatose where they left her and was later taken away in an ambulance. The grimace on her face was from the seizure she was suffering. There was no riot. There was peaceful protest. The Daily record did no justice to the issue by describing it as a riot. They did however misinform the public. Michael Woods is correct when he says police are trying to distance themselves from the dawn raids. They don’t want involved and say it categorically.
Robert McKenzie // January 30, 2007 at 10:40 pm |
Reply to Mr. Michael Woods:-
If you dispute the report from the Daily Record then take it up with ‘Record’s’ management. Be warned. Newspaper lawyers are very professional and scrutinize all copy, especially front page leaders, before going to print. I ’m sure neither Strathclyde Police nor the Immigration Service wish to be involved in the present asylum fiasco in Glasgow. Solution. The failed asylum seekers must accept the laws of our courts and leave when legally told to do so. The asylum seekers’ supporters must accept the laws of our courts and cease obstructing our appointed officials in the fulfillment of their duties. Also, the supporters must cease using insulting, degrading rhetoric such as ‘thugs wearing black, in body armour’ when referring to our officials.
Hazardous:- potentially dangerous to beings or the environment, exposed to risk of loss or injury. Injury does not have to take place. If you consult dictionaries, try and understand the meanings.
Michael Woods // January 31, 2007 at 4:29 pm |
I’m taking it up with you because you quoted it mr McKenzie. If you are not certain of the veracity of a source, don’t quote it. Simple. There was no asylum riot, it was a fabrication. Our officials are often thugs with warrant cards, where have you been these last 30 years? Hazardous only to those not wearing armour. Court decisions are often modified in hindsight hence court of appeal judgements. No-one “must” accept any judgement they feel to be unjust. If the lawyers of the Record or the Asylum service wish to take anything up with me I will happily supply my contact details from mwacogit@hotmail.com. Yours in anticipation. Michael Woods.
Robert McKenzie // February 1, 2007 at 9:43 pm |
Reply to Ms. Robina Quershi, Director PAiH:-
I prefer to believe the incident as reported in the Daily Record. If you feel that the public have been misinformed (you chose not to accuse the newspaper of lying) then use the available official channels to challenge the Daily Record’s reportage. Is this your misconstrued description of a ‘peaceful protest.’ The photograph clearly shows supporters harassing and obstructing British immigration officials from attempting to carry out their legally appointed duties. If the failed asylum seekers would accept the legal decisions of our courts and leave Britain there would be no need for immigration officials to call. The police become involved to protect our immigration officials from the unruly supporters. No supporters – no need for police. If you live in Britain you accept and live by Britain’s laws.
From your website you openly condone the actions of the supporters who blocked immigration officials from removing failed asylum seekers who have no legal right to be in this country. You continually vilify the actions of our officials with your rhetoric of ‘brutal, humiliating dawn raids,’ ‘dawn raid teams,’ ‘immigration snatch squads,’ ’doors being booted in by metal battering rams and children being dragged out screaming.’
And, how dare you set yourself up as a spokesperson for the people of Scotland. If our government wishes to know what the people of Glasgow, Scotland and Britain want with regard to the extremely serious and damaging asylum and immigration problem, then let’s have the long overdue referendum. That’s the democratic way to find out what we, Glaswegians, Scots and British really want. Until then do not speak for the Scottish people.
In passing, I commend PAiH for publishing my diverse views to those of this website without editing or ‘cut and paste.’
Robert McKenzie // February 1, 2007 at 9:50 pm |
Reply to Mr. Michael Woods:-
HO, HO, HO, Here he comes, all guns blazing and spitting fire from his wee book of insults to be used against anyone who has the audacity to speak up against his poor wee asylum seekers.
And here he is again, all mixed up. Try and pay attention. I made it quite clear, I am certain of the ‘veracity’ of the Daily Record’s report. It’s YOU who doesn’t believe their reportage. Don’t hide your insulting statements directed at the Daily Record and our officials on a website and invite them to contact you. YOU contact them. Don’t you realize what I’ve been doing with you – I’ve been using you to make my comments (an alternative view) on this website. You kept responding and even when you deviated from the script, I humoured you. You rally are naive. You state (January 31st. 2007) that you ‘absolutely dissociate’ yourself from a nasty minority, obviously slyly referring to me. Comes at an opportune moment. I’ve no further use of you.
In passing, you have foolishly left your email address on the website – for the record, I have absolutely no intention of activating it.
Michael Woods // February 2, 2007 at 5:55 pm |
Mr McKenzie, please seek some help. Michael Woods mwacogit@hotmail.com.