Support this fight for asylum
Mansoor Hassan and Family Defence Campaign
Supported by the National Union of Journalists
FIGHT FOR ASYLUM FOR MANSOOR HASSAN AND HIS FAMILY!
SUPPORT FREEDOM OF JOURNALISM ! PROTECT THE JOURNALIST!
SOLIDARITY NOT PITY!
The background
Mansoor Hassan, his wife, Aqila and four children are from
Pakistan. Mansoor is an investigative journalist. As a result of his exposures
of political, criminal and social corruption he was forced to flee the country
in 2002 and seek asylum in the UK. Like thousands of other applicants his case
was refused and his family are under immediate threat of deportation.
The
asylum claim
There are many ways in which Mansoor is now in
danger in Pakistan:
-
He
exposed one government minister (Tareen) for selling adulterated pesticides
-
He
exposed another government minister (Mehmood Khan) for involvement in murder
of a woman (a so-called “honour killing” following her refusal to enter into a
marriage)
-
As
a result of the above he was beaten up in his newspaper office, his car was
rammed from the road and his father’s house burned down
-
He
exposed a murderer (Nazara Hotti) who subsequently shot him
-
There was subsequently an attempt to poison him and his family resulting in
their hospitalisation
-
Finally, in exposing a narcotics gang linked to government politicians he was
issued with an ultimatum by them to leave the country
The legal
case – a miscarriage of justice
Mansoor’s case
was heard by an Adjudicator (an immigration judge). Mansoor suffered a complete
miscarriage of justice. The Adjudicator believed most of the above evidence. He
also recognised the ongoing links between gangsters and politicians and the
police (“the background information does confirm that members of the Pakistani
intelligence services and politicians have been involved in narcotics
trading...”, “the police have taken strong action against individual
journalists”). However in spite of all this Mansoor was refused asylum!
Prepared to Struggle
Mansoor along with his family is a fighter. He
is now fighting for asylum. If Mansoor had been working as an investigative
journalist in this country, he would be seen as a hero – and that’s why the
National Union of Journalists is supporting him.
The local newspaper has run a campaign in Mansoor’s support.
Hundreds of petitions have been signed. Mansoor’s family have played an active
part of the community. He has served as a parent governor and their children go
to local schools. Mansoor’s wife is a voluntary classroom assistant and works
with children of other refugees.
No-One Is Illegal!
By a stroke of the Home Office pen Mansoor, his wife and four
children have been defined as “illegal”. They share this (non) status with
thousands of others.
But how can a person be illegal? Only actions can be illegal –
and Mansoor has not engaged in unlawful actions. We say No-One Is Illegal! We
say everyone should have freedom of movement.
WHAT
YOU CAN DO TO HELP BUILD THE CAMPAIGN
TOGETHER
WITH THE NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
Mansoor is a member of the National Union of
Journalists. The union is supporting Mansoor in his campaign. We ask you to join
in this support by:
-
Writing a letter to the Home Secretary demanding asylum
for the family. Write to Charles Clarke MP, Home Office, Queen
Anne’s Gate, London SWIH (quote the Home Office reference number :H1093727)
-
Sending a copy of your letter to your MP (at the House of Commons,
London SW1), to Mansoor’s MP (Tony Lloyd MP) and to the campaign
-
Sending money to the campaign; cheques to be made out to “NUJ
Manchester Branch (Mansoor)” and sent to the address below
-
Signing the petition
-
Ensuring that all organisations to which you belong do the above. We would
particularly ask trade union organisations at branch, regional and
national level to reproduce this leaflet in their union’s name and circulate
it.
-
Inviting Mansoor to speak at your organisation’s meetings
-
Coming to our weekly campaign meetings – and asking your organisation
to send a delegate to these. They are held every Wednesday at 7.00pm.
(for now) at NUJ offices (see below) opposite Chorlton St bus station,
Manchester
Mansoor
Hassan and Family Defence Campaign
Address:
NUJ, 5th floor Arthur House Chorlton Street, Manchester M1 3FH
Email
: mhassanmuststay@gmail.com
Phone :
0161 237 5020
Websites:
www.thecrime.org ,
www.mhassan.com
January 2005
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