Naima and Her Children Must Stay! And Stay They Shall!
Naima Alam and her children granted Indefinite Leave to Remain
Naima and her husband started their anti-deportation campaign over three years ago. Sadly her husband was deported back to Bangladesh at the end of March 2005. Naima was pregnant at the time. She and her two sons were devastated. Naima struggled on. She and her older son, Jubaer, spoke out in public.
"Naima is a founding member of Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST), Manchester. She does the cooking for WAST every Friday, and for many other groups' events as well. Despite having been through some extremely hard times, she has always been out there, fighting - for her family and for others. Naima and her children had been detained and were on the brink of being deported. Had they not fought back and campaigned, they may well not have been here today."
Emma Ginn - NCADC North West
The family's campaign included letters, petitions and Naima featuring in an Observer magazine article, "It is as if I am dead already". Last Refugee Week, they organised "Crying Freedom"; an evening of poems, writing and songs by asylum seeking and refugee women and their supporters - Jubaer read one of his poignant poems about missing his dad, remembering what family life was like with him and wishing to grow wings to fly and meet his father. The family's campaign supporters included Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley in Coronation Street), PEN (International Writers Group), Index on Censorship and the Transport & General Workers' Union Voluntary Sector Branch. Baroness Uddin and Gerald Kaufman MP wrote letters on the family's behalf.
"Her victory is a testament to her tenacity, courage, determination and spirit during the 6 years she has been here, and campaigned for their right to stay. She has shown amazing strength in carrying on, especially when her husband was deported 3 years ago. Hopefully he will now soon be able to join his family here -and see Jaffrin, (born December 2005) the daughter he has never yet been able to see. Thank you all for the support you have given, without support Naima and children would not now be looking forward to a safe and settled life here."
Margaret Manning - Naima and Her Children Must Stay campaign
Background ;
http://www.ncadc.org.uk/emmaginnsfolder/emmaginnsfolder/oct%2006/Naima.htm
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Naima and Her Children Must Stay campaign
