Support this fight for asylum

Supported by the National Union of Journalists

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!

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.

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

• 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, 5^th 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