Afghan football coach facing deportation
Article published: Friday, November 19th 2010
Long-time Manchester resident Mehdi Merzae is facing imminent deportation to Kabul in Afghanistan, where he fears he will be tortured again. He is currently being held in Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre and is due to be deported at 3am on Tuesday 23 November on Charter Flight PVT 800.
Mehdi, 26, fled Afghanistan in 2003 after his family were murdered because of his father’s involvement in an anti-government group. Mehdi himself was detained by the authorities and tortured, but was able to escape with the help of his uncle.
The UK Border Agency refuses to accept that Mehdi’s life would be in danger if deported, even though his uncle has told him that the Afghan authorities have been searching for him since he escaped. Afghanistan is currently listed as the sixth worst failed state in the world, defined as: “having little or no governance, endemic corruption, profiteering by ruling elites, very poor Human Rights, the government cannot/will not protect the population from others or itself, massive internal conflict, forced internal/external displacement, institutionalised political exclusion of significant numbers of the population, progressive deterioration of welfare infrastructure (hospitals, clinics, doctors, nurses) not adequate to meet health, needs, progressive economic decline of the country as a whole as measured by per capita income, debt, severe child mortality rates, poverty levels.”
Mehdi has been an established member of the community in Manchester since his arrival, working tirelessly to improve the opportunities of young people, particularly through sport. He set up Omid FC, a local football team, while also finding time to volunteer with the Manchester Hazara Community Organisation as a sports co-ordinator.
With Omid FC Mehdi organised a tournament for other grassroots teams in Manchester. He has been recognised by local teams and community organisations for his commitment to using the game as a force for community cohesion and social inclusion for young people.
“Mehdi has made Manchester his home and he has become an important figure in grassroots community football. The Home Office refuse to believe that he has made a life here but the community support around his campaign suggests the exact opposite. Mehdi’s family were murdered in Afghanistan but he describes the community in Manchester as his family,” said Jenny Lomas, a close friend and colleague of Mehdi.
In 2006 Mehdi was brutally attacked by an unknown assailant who stabbed him in the eye with a screwdriver, leaving him with hearing, sight and other sensory difficulties. The attack also had serious ramifications for Mehdi’s mental wellbeing as he became increasingly depressed and worried for his safety.
Despite this he has continued putting huge amounts of energy into his work with young people and the community. However, the prospect of being forcibly returned to Afghanistan has seen Mehdi become more and more distressed.
Help Mehdi now
Friends of Mehdi in Manchester are campaigning over the weekend to keep an outstanding member of their community where he belongs in Manchester.
Please email Jenny at lomasjenny@yahoo.co.uk or 07795567447 for information about what you can do over the weekend. There is a lot to do so whatever time you have, even if you can only spare half an hour, please get in touch.
Email Theresa May:
Please write to Theresa May reminding her that Afghanistan a failed state. Ask her to stop the removal of Mehdi, release him from detention and reconsider his case with a view to giving some form of refugee protection. Remind her that if she does this Mehdi will be able to continue his unique contribution to the Manchester community.
The following information can be used to contact Theresa May:
Rt. Hon Theresa May, MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office,
2 Marsham St London SW1 4DF
Fax: 020 7035 4745
mayt@parliament.uk
UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
When emailing include the following information:
Mehdi Mirzae (Home Office ref: M119648) aged 26 is a national of Afghanistan and long time resident of Manchester. He is currently detained in Dungavel IRC and due to be forcibly removed from the UK at 03:00 hrs by Charter Flight PVT 800 on Tuesday 23rd November to Afghanistan.
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More: Manchester, News
Comments
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Surely I don’t need a reason. Read the fucking article.
Comment by Brent Liam Barker on November 22, 2010 at 5:59 pm -
[…] The 26 year-old, who has lived in Manchester since 2003, fled Afghanistan after his family were murdered for involvement in an anti-government group. Captured and detained by the authorities, he suffered torture but was able to escape with the help of his uncle. […]
Pingback by Emergency appeal to raise funds against deportation of football coach — MULE on January 6, 2011 at 12:39 pm
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