University worker detained by immigration following unfounded 'terror' arrests.
May 26 2008 17:27
A Nottingham anti-militarist and university employee is threatened with deportation on Sunday 1st June having been arrested whilst at work under anti-terrorism legislation (held uncharged for 6 days) and then rearrested under immigration legislation. No charge was brought after this second arrest, but he's now in Colnbrook Detention Centre (Heathrow) and they are going to deport him Sunday 1st June. Colleagues and students hold the University as responsible as the Police & Home Office for the arrest and victimisation of this employee. A Nottingham University student was also arrested, held without charge, and released. For the full outrageous story concerning 'radical materials' being downloaded (on instruction from tutor!) and reproduced as source material for university study, please see:
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/
There will be a demonstration at University of Nottingham on Wednesday 28th June where the 'radical materials' will be read aloud in public followed by a march to the building where the univeristy employee was arrested. See http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/ for details and flyer.
See also international coverage May 25th in Herald Tribune:
Terrorism arrests on British university campus raise questions over academic freedom:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/25/europe/EU-GEN-Britain-University-Arrests.php
May 27 2008 22:53
#2
this has been getting a lot of coverage
I think there should be a pretty good turnout for the demo on Wednesday (tomorrow)
it's one of those things where the govt./university seem to have gone out of their way to be arseholes - meaning it's pretty difficult for people not to support this one
May 28 2008 19:29
#3
Local TV coverage of demo (and words from the student who was also arrested) here:
http://www.itvlocal.com/central/news/?player=CEN_News_15&void=194057
Local BBC written report of demo here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7423544.stm
Also Hicham is now back in Colnbrook removal centre at Heathrow and the removal flight no. is now known:
BA894 at London Heathrow T5 (destination Algiers) on Sunday 1st June at 9.45am. Keep checking with http://notts.indymedia.org.uk & http://freehichamyezza.wordpress.com/
Obviously any No Borders action over this will be useful.
May 28 2008 19:38
#4
Facebook group ("Global Support to Stop The Deporation of Hicham Yezza") has over 2000 members.
May 28 2008 20:00
#5
Write to BA/Willie Walsh to protest the removal of Hicham Yezza at:
Fax: 020 8759 4314 (0044 20 8759 4314 if you are faxing from outside UK).
May 28 2008 21:28
#6
good local news report - second in the headlines is pretty impressive - shame it seems to have slipped off the national news agenda though
May 29 2008 09:02
#7
You can send faxes for free via the internet. Found this one with a quick google:
May 29 2008 09:11
#8
There's now a model fax specifically for Hicham which can be modified as required:
http://freehichamyezza.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/model-letter-to-british-airways/
May 29 2008 13:43
#9
nastyned wrote:
You can send faxes for free via the internet. Found this one with a quick google:
http://www.burnham-on-sea.co.uk/fax.html
I just tried it and this site links through to a non-functioning CGI script linked to website http://www.tpcint.org/tpc/index.html which is a free online fax service that has been around on the web for many years. I have tried tcpint forms to try and send faxes before but I never had any confirmation that my faxes actually got sent, which makes me a bit wary (in fact we used to have link to tpcint on AF prisoner's page but removed it as we couldn't confirm it was still up and running, if ever).
If the service does still work, according to the tpcint site it seems that to reach BA CEO fax you would simply have to email your letter to:
remote-printer.Willie_Walsh@442087594314.iddd.tpc.int [NOTE just tried this and it failed to deliver].
(in general: remote-printer.First_Last@xxxxxxxxxxxx.iddd.tpc.int ) where xxxxxxxxxxxxx is the fax number with country code at the start but with following '0' dropped).
If anyone can confirm either way that this really works, that would be most useful (maybe only to USA numbers?). Better still send message to BA using a real FAX machine if you have access to one (and while you are at it send one to yourself via the above method and see if it works - just don't blame me if tpcint turns out to be a FAX spamming service!).
May 30 2008 20:41
#10
It's not over yet but Hicham Yezza has had his Sunday deportation directions cancelled while an application for judicial review is considered. At the same time we now have 2 refugee forum volunteers (who are themselves asylum seekers or refugees) detained from Nottingham in last 2 days, one with a deportation notice for next Wednesday. Think we need a worldwide revolution soon...
Details for all of these on: http://www.nobordersnottingham.org.uk
Jun 2 2008 12:01
#11
Notts Indymedia report: Hicham Refuses To Be Transported To Fifth Detention Centre
Following the cancellation order on his deportation and despite being unjustly incarcerated for over two weeks, Hicham Yezza has received news that he is to be transported to a fifth detention centre. He released this statement today from Colnbrook immigration removal centre:
Quote:
“I have just been informed that I am to be move to a detention centre in Dover. This would be the fifth movement in 9 days and is therefore unacceptable. It is deeply and saddening for both myself and my visitors it is also a great source of distress at this time and an affront to human dignity and my human right to be treated with respect and consideration. I am thus categorical refusing to go.
I am not a piece of luggage, but a human being and deserve to be treated as such.”
Full story: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2008/05/399911.html
and
This serves to highlight systematic abuse by operators in the immigration service - a policy which is designed to harass, demoralise and make support more difficult.
Hich has now been moved to Campsfield detention centre in Oxfordshire.
Support website:
Stop the Deportation of Hicham Yezza
http://freehichamyezza.wordpress.com/
More info about Hich on Notts Indymedia:
University of Nottingham Graduate and Employee Facing Imminent Deportation Without Hearing
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2008/05/399569.html