Vigil this evening for hunger strike journalist
Article published: Monday, August 15th 2011
Supporters of journalist and human rights activist James Fallah-Williams are to hold a solidarity vigil this evening to mark the fourteenth day of his hunger strike in protest against the UK Border Agency’s handling of his asylum claim.
An active member of Manchester NUJ, Fallah Williams claims to have become trapped in an “immigration limbo” following repeated failures by the UKBA to answer queries put to them by both his legal team and his local MP, shadow minister for education Andy Burnham.
Originally from Sierra Leone, Fallah-Williams has been resident in the UK for 13 years, claiming asylum in 2008 following death threats received after he wrote articles critical of the actions of politicians in his home country. While waiting for a decision on his case Fallah-Williams found employment as a caseworker for local charity the Manchester Refugee Support Network.
Suspicion surrounding his case emerged when his work permit was revoked and asylum case turned down shortly after a family he had been working with won a landmark case at the Asylum Support Tribunal Court in London. Adding to the controversy, the UKBA provided misleading information to Fallah-Williams’ local representative Andy Burnham following interventions by the Leigh MP, for which action the government body later apologised.
A spokesperson for Manxchester NUJ said the branch “wants to know why the UKBA, after first misleading Andy Burnham about aspects of James’ immigration history, is now refusing to answer his MP’s queries and is also ignoring letters from his lawyer.
“We are angry and dismayed that one of our members has reached a point where he believes he has no choice but to take this action. We are writing to the Home Secretary and Immigration Minister to urge them to intervene and ensure that James’ case is examined properly.”
The vigil will take place outside the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal Offices on Mosley Street, Manchester City Centre at 5pm, this Monday 15 August.
More: Manchester, Migration and asylum, News
Comments
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A great shame that the notice for this was so short. I would have been there had I known.
Comment by Darren Mackenzie on August 16, 2011 at 11:34 am
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