(Note: Template Letters at bottom of post)
Marking one year since Mohammed Alam was made destitute and began
his stay in a Glasgow night shelter, the UK Home Office have decided
to forcibly remove him against his will. Alam is being held in
Dungavel detention centre, the only detention centre in Scotland and
will be moved to one of the 12 other detention centres in England
tomorrow in order to be close to Heathrow Airport to access his
intended flight on THURSDAY 26th February via Jet Airways.
Alam has been in the UK for 6 years and despite being made
destitute a year ago has managed to make a life here, most recently
in Glasgow. He is an active member of the night shelter that
accommodates him from 8am to 8pm every night and also volunteers for
Bridging the Gap. Less than two weeks ago he was featured in an
article in the Evening Times highlighting the role the night shelter
plays in his life and situation presently in the UK. There is some
speculation that this may have had something to do with the Home
Office’s sudden vindictive actions towards him. The article titled
‘Inside the Unity Centre: back home in Bangladesh I was tortured…’
can be accessed here
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/shelter-for-the-forgotten-197122n.117816482#disqus_thread
Alam was detained abruptly on the 16th of February at the Home
Office Reporting Centre on Brand Street, Glasgow. He has been
regularly signing at the Home Office Reporting Centre as this is a
requirement of individuals who have claimed asylum. Penalties of not
signing are high as well as constant threats made by the Home Office,
however, in this case the penalty came by following the rules.
Alam’s lawyer has put together a fresh claim for his case,
however, it cannot be put in until a response is gained from legal
aid. There is no reason to suggest Alam would not qualify for legal
aid, however, this is presently the only barrier that would lead to
the definite cancellation of his ticket in two days time.
Details of Alam’s reason for claiming asylum in the UK cannot be
disclosed because of the sensitive nature of his claim and fear of
persecution and likely death if forcibly returned to Bangladesh. It
is apparent, however, that he has no confidence whatsoever in the
Judicial System in Bangladesh and its ability or likelihood of
leading to his protection and safety. This is due to high levels of
corruption within the police and judiciary.
We are calling on supporters and friends to contact Jet Airways to
inform them of the situation facing Alam if removed via their
services. Such action can and often does make a difference and in
this instance will gain time needed for Alam’s legal aid to be
approved.
Please urgently contact Jet Airways through as many channels as
you have access to, to ask them to halt the forced removal of
Mohammed Alam, and allow him to remain in Glasgow, where he belongs.
It seems living in a night shelter, on the floor of a church with
15 other single men in Glasgow, night after night for a year is not
enough to prove Alam’s very real need for protection – so lets
help gain him some more time to meet the unbelievably high levels of
scrutiny the Home Office impose by taking collective action to STOP
THIS FLIGHT and PREVENT THIS INHUMANE FORCED REMOVAL of a dear friend
of Glasgow’s.
Contact Jet Airways – Please quote flight numbers 9W121 and
9W272 on correspondence.
Phone: 0808 101 1199 (Toll Free/Freephone)
020 8735 9650 (Heathrow Office)
0208 735 9650 (London Office)
020 8735 9650 (Heathrow Office)
0208 735 9650 (London Office)
Fax: 0208 735 9655
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jetairways
Twitter: @jetairways
Also contact UK Corporate Communications
Mr. Simon Quarendon,
Keene
Whitehall House,
41 Whitehall,
London – SW1A 2BY
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0) 207 839 2140
Fax: +44 (0) 207 839 1436
Email: jetairways@keenecomms.com
Keene
Whitehall House,
41 Whitehall,
London – SW1A 2BY
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0) 207 839 2140
Fax: +44 (0) 207 839 1436
Email: jetairways@keenecomms.com
TEMPLATE LETTERS:
Word format Letter-to-Jet-Airways
PDF format Letter-to-Jet-Airways
Many thanks!
SOLIDARITY!
Unity!
Unity Centre Glasgow, 30 Ibrox Street, G51 1AQ
0141 427 79 92
Practical support and solidarity to all asylum seekers and
migrants in Scotland.
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