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POSITIVE ACTION IN HOUSING

FAMILY WHO FOUGHT TERRORISM IN ALGERIA FEAR SUDDEN REMOVAL AT BRAND STREET IMMIGRATION OFFICE, GOVAN ON MONDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2005



Please attend a peaceful candle lit vigil at 1.30 pm on Monday 19 December 2005 outside Brand Street immigration offices for the Souidi family who are due to report at 2 pm and fear being removed for deportation to Algeria.

The campaign to end inhumane asylum practices on Scottish soil continues - and a broad social movement grows. See the programme below.

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Brand street immigration office - Monday 19 December 2005


1.30 pm  - a statement to the press with the Souidi family in attendance with their supporters

2.00 pm - the family will enter Brand Street Immigration Office for signing accompanied by Robina Qureshi, Church of Scotland minister and Reverend David McLachlan.

After 2.00 pm - Supporters will wait for the family to return from reporting. The family anticipate one of two outcomes, being released from the Centre minutes after signing OR being removed in a 'dawn raid' van through the gates of Brand Street.



STRICTLY NO BANNERS - BUT PLEASE BRING CANDLES



"We are scared all the time . every morning I get up between 5 and 6 o clock and get .dressed .I don't want to be in my night clothes when they bring the door down. I want to be ready so that I don't get shocked and so my children don't get frightened in their hearts. They are so small .what happens to children of 7 and 3, they could not stand the shock of doors being brought down, seeing my husband being handcuffed, being separated from their mother. I don't know what kind of country we came to for sanctuary. I really don't understand why this is happening. Would the British government like us to just go back and pay money to terrorists and live our rich lives? I thought this country was against terrorism. We are against terrorism. My only question is why punish us for fighting terrorism.?"

Mrs Ahlam Souidi, 35, writer, mother, wife, human being, Sunday 18 December 2005.


BACKGROUND TO THE SOUIDI FAMILY


Fears are growing for the Souidi family from Algeria, who face removal tomorrow when they go to sign at Brand Street Immigration office in Govan. The entire family have been ordered to report to Brand Street Immigration Office at 2 pm today, Monday 19 December 2005.

Robina Qureshi and Reverend David McLachlan are intending to escort the family inside Brand Street at two pm, their allotted time for signing, although Brand street officials forbid friends or supporters to enter their offices.

The family's many supporters, who will be waiting at Brand Street, anticipate one of two outcomes: either they will be released immediately after reporting at Brand Street or they will be removed in a caged 'dawn raid van', leaving behind their home and all their belongings, including personal items, their clothes and the children's toys.

Why they fled Algeria

Mourad Souidi, 41, was a well known, wealthy businessman. He fled Algeria after refusing to finance Algerian terrorists through his business. Mourad was then beaten and tortured. He finally fled with his family, Ahlam (35) and their two sons Mohamed Ali (7) and Rayane (3) five years ago. The family made their home in Pollok where they were extensively involved in volunteering and creative writing initiatives, and more recently in Maryhill.

If they are removed to Algeria, their lives are in danger from Algerian terrorists.  Ahlam's husband, Mr Mourad Souidi, 41, a wealthy business man, fled Algeria for the UK with his family after refusing to finance Algerian terrorists from his business assets. Mrs Souidi's father died after his factory was burned down when he refused to pay his business profits to Algerian terrorists.

Fresh asylum claim submitted after new threats against Ahlam Souidi

Official documentation from Algeria also demonstrates that Ahlam, 35, is also now being targeted for speaking out against human rights abuses in an article she wrote for the Big Issue Scotland in June 2005. The Souidi family's lawyer, Grace McGill, is preparing a fresh asylum claim based on the latest threats against the life of Mrs Souidi.

Letters sent by Home Office to 3 year old Rayane ordering him to submit to being fingerprinted and ID'd and photographed

Mr & Mrs Souidi and their 3 year old son Rayane and 7 year old Mohamed Ali have each received separate letters ordering each of them to:

"provide to an officer of the Secretary of State including passport, birth certificate and ID card; attend [Brand Street] on Monday 19 December 2005 at 2 pm in order to provide finger prints; submit to . photographs, . submit to a process for the recording of information about external physical characteristics (including, in particular, features of the iris or any other part of the eye); make or consent to co-operate with the making of, an application to a person acting for the government of a state other than the UK; co-operate with the following documentation interview designed to enable determination of an application, and attend for an interview at attend [Brand Street] on Monday 19 December 2005 at 2 pm to answer questions accurately and completely regarding the re-documentation process"

Each letter is hand signed and dated by an immigration official underneath a statement which reads that "the contents of this notice have been explained to you in (Language) by me/Interpreter". HOWEVER, THE LETTERS WERE POSTED BY RECORDED DELIVERY TO THE FAMILY AND NONE OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS, WHOSE FIRST LANGUAGE IS ALGERIAN, HAVE HAD THE LETTER EXPLAINED OR INTERPRETED TO THEM - NOT EVEN 3 YEAR OLD RAYANE.

Ahlam's Volunteering Activities

Ahlam Souidi, 35, is a member of the Scottish Executive Refugee Policy Forum. She supports and helps children in Greater Pollok schools with French lessons. She is also a member of the Village Storyteller Group in Pollok. She is a member also of the SRC Framework for dialogue. She is also a member of the Greater Pollok Integration Network. She has written for the Big Issue Scotland.

"My husband refused to finance terrorism in Algeria. We had money, a big house, everything but we could not stay. My husband refused to submit to demands from terrorists to hand over money. He was then tortured and beaten. So we came to Britain where we thought there is respect for human rights and the world is against terrorism. So why is my little family being punished for fighting terrorism? We are here for 5 years now. We want to contribute to this society, be good neighbours.

"We are scared all the time, scared of being taken away in the night and scared of being caught by Algerian terrorists who now know where we are in Scotland because I wrote in the Big Issue and criticised human rights in Algeria.

"Every morning I get up between 5 and 6 o clock and get ready and dressed in case they come to catch me and my family. I don't want to be in my night clothes when they bring the door down. I want to be ready so that I don't get shocked and so my children don't get frightened in their hearts. They are so small and very sensitive. What happens to children of seven and three, they could not stand the shock of doors being brought down, seeing my husband being handcuffed, being separated from their mother. I don't know what kind of country we came to for sanctuary. I really don't understand why this is happening. Would the British government like us to just go back and pay money to terrorists and live our rich lives? I thought this country was against terrorism. We are against terrorism. My only question is why punish us for fighting terrorism by removing us?"

Robina Qureshi, Director, Positive Action in Housing, said:

"Ahlam and Mourad fled Algeria because they refused to finance terrorism. What does it say about this country if we send them back to Algeria? They had a stark choice: to finance terrorists in Algeria and continue to live their rich comfortable lives, OR refuse and opt instead for a freezing cold run down damp ridden high rise in the North of Glasgow. This family deserve commendation of the highest order, a medal for heroism and bravery for fighting terrorism with their lives. What they do not deserve is deportation or to be terrorised by an inhumane asylum policy.

"Imagine what it is like to live in fear 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in fear of a dawn raid by an immigration snatch squad every single night and every day. Imagine what its like to anticipate the next time you have to report to Brand Street as a family and to be terrified like a cornered animal that you might disappear the next time you report. This is how the Souidi family are living, and hundreds of families like them.

"If the Westminster Government think this is acceptable behaviour on Scottish soil then they should think again. A broad social movement is growing in Scotland in opposition to the idea of such utterly inhumane and barbaric practices. Our cause is just and we will continue to campaign to end dawn raids in every legal way possible within the terms of our constitution and our charitable obligations."

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Sign the petition for an amnesty for Scottish asylum families: http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?amn2005

POSITIVE ACTION IN HOUSING

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The opinions expressed in this email and any attachments are not necessarily those of Positive Action in Housing Ltd.

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