AMDANI JUMA CAMPAIGN

Despite the huge public outcry and support that Amdani has received over the last year and the intolerable wait he has had to endure, he heard last week that his case has been refused. And although we're still awaiting a full and detailed explanation from the Home Office regarding the reasons behind the decision we are concerned that they could try and detain him when he next signs on this coming Wednesday 27th May.

Amdani was not detained, but he is still in danger. Please watch this page for more details.

Amdani's appeal was turned down, he was arrested and was due to be deported in a few days. This came as a bitter blow to all Amdani's friends and supporters in Nottingham. No refugee has done more to integrate into the host community by working selflessly for others. So we wonder what exactly do refugees have to do to be accepted by home office officialdom?

About Amdani: you've probably seen him around, he is a worker at NNRF and also a volunteer, so he spends a lot of his time helping other people. But now he needs help himself because the Home Office have refused to grant him indefinite leave to remain. This despite the fact that he is no less in danger now than he was when he arrived here - the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office considers that ‘the human rights situation in Burundi remains poor’.

Amdani volunteered at the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum, joined the management committee, and has been employed by NNRF since 2005 as part of our integration support team. In addition he is involved in numerous local and national organisations and campaigns, including African Initiative Support, Nottingham Council Tenants Forum, the National Refugee Integration Forum, National African HIV Prevention Program, African HIV Policy Network, Refugee Action. He also advises Nottinghamshire Social Services and other East Midlands bodies on asylum issues.

At this year's AGM, a resolution was passed supporting Amdani's claim for ILR, deploring the decision of the Home Office and committing NNRF to do all it can to ensure that Amdani's appeal is successful. For full text of resolution,.click here.

The picture on the left shows Amdani with his supporters after his appeal hearing. He is looking cheerful despite having gone through a very harrowing day.

Click here for a page about Amdani's case on the Institute for Race Relations web site.

The home office has called off Amdani's judicial review which was to have been on the 14th. Whether or not this bodes well, is impossible to say at this time; it is looking very unlikely that the judicial review will take place before mid-late November. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE E-PETITION IS STILL LIVE - SIGN IT IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY. We are taking signatures right up to the start of the judicial review.

As you can see from the pictures, the demonstration in the Market Square on Saturday, October 11^th, was well supported with 75 sheets of the petition on display, and excellent press coverage. For more photo's by the great Tash on Indymedia, click here.

Amdani Juma was arrested on 30^th of May when he signed on at Loughborough Immigration reporting centre. He was due to be to deported to Burundi on June 4^th. But there was massive community support for Amdani; within 6 days of his detention, there were 3 local rallies, 2500 petition signatures were gathered. Over a hundred supporting letters were sent by friends and colleagues in local and national organizations. Angelina Namiba, Programme Leader at the African HIV Policy Network said:

"Amdani works tirelessly to reach his community in Nottingham with important health promotion messages. He also plays a key role in delivering national HIV prevention work. He should be allowed to stay in order to continue his pivotal work on HIV. Amdani's removal will be a setback to achieving the aims for better prevention, better services and better sexual health."

Alan Simpson MP said: “To do this sensitive work you need the networks, you need the cultural awareness and you need the standing. Only Amdani Juma has all these.”

Monday, June 2^nd: at 5pm, 250 people gathered in Nottingham City Centre in support of Amdani Juma. Nottingham MP Alan Simpson spoke of Amdani’s irreplaceable contribution to AIDS and HIV prevention work in the City and Council leader Jon Collins praised Amdani’s contribution to the local community over the past 5 years. Below right, people signing petitions at the vigil stall outside St Peter's Church, Nottingham.

Sunday, June 8^th: Amdani was moved to Colnbrook detention centre, near Heathrow Airport - ominously booked in as a short stay detainee - where he had to endure a harsher regime. Then on the day he was due to fly out, his application for a judicial review was accepted so his deportation on the Kenya Airways 8.00 pm flight for Nairobi was cancelled. His visitors inside were prepared to sit on Amdani until 8.00 pm in the event of a fast one being attempted. Outside, we watched the Kenya Airways plane climbing over Colnbrook at 8.30 pm with relief. Amdani was more relieved. Another battle won, but we still have to get him bail and win the rest of the war.

Saturday, June 14^th: just after lunchtime, Amdani 'phoned with news of a riot and fire at Campsfield House IRC. Amdani was OK. But we were extremely anxious for about half an hour as the crackling of flames could be heard over the 'phone, Amdani said the fire was about 50 metres away from him and there was no sign of the Fire Brigade. Then in the next call, the Fire Brigade had turned up, and he was safely outside. The police had moved Amdani with others between two fences; football was being played (probably not with the police, because their riot shields would have got in the way) - click here to read BBC news report. At around 6.45 pm, Amdani was still outside, getting a bit cold and thought they would all be dispersed to other IRCs; we were concerned that this will somehow interfere with his bail hearing on Monday. By about mid-evening he was back in his room and he had been given a sandwich, having not had anything to eat for around 7 hours.

Monday, June 16^th: bail hearing. Amdani was bailed, despite the home office opposition, and came back to Nottingham in the evening. One of his bale conditions is that he cannot resume his jobs, both of which are about helping people. There was a big panic in the morning relating to the video link up which the home office/Courts had down for Colnbrook, when in fact Amdani was still in Campsfield, but fortunately Carol and Leo were on the case and sorted it in time.

The struggle continues. We now have a Judicial Review to win, as well as looking at ways that we can effectively support others from Nottingham facing similar treatment and deportation.

IT'S NOT OVER YET...

IT'S STILL ESSENTIAL THAT WE GET MORE SIGNATURES ON THE PETITION; MORE LETTERS WRITTEN AND MORE E-MAILS, FAXES SENT

Apparently, Amdani’s detention and threatened removal is "...proportionate in order to maintain effective immigration control". The home office Minister of State for Borders and Immigration is Phil Woolas.

It is still really important that we all act as quickly as possible.