Update 26/08/11 - James Fallah-Williams, who stopped his hunger strike a week ago after the UK Border Agency agreed to re-assess his case, has been given discretionary leave to remain in the UK for three years. His hard-fought campaign has been successful. See press release here. Throughout his campaign, James has had the backing of Leigh MP Andy Burnham, the National Union of Journalists, RAPAR, and the considerable support of his local community in Leigh and throughout Greater Manchester. He has also received extensive media coverage in the local Manchester press. All of this support played a huge part in forming a strong and successful campaign and James is thankful to all of his supporters. James, a journalist and human rights activist, arrived in the UK in 1998 after fleeing Sierra Leone at the height of its civil war. He studied, worked and volunteered in the UK for ten years with full legal rights. Following a number of threats resulting from his journalism exposing corruption in the Sierra Leonean government, it became dangerous for James to return to Sierra Leone when he finished his studies, so he applied for asylum in 2008. Initially, his application was refused and James appealed the decision. In August 2011, James endured a nineteen day hunger strike to protest against the against the UKBA's behaviour during his appeal process. Their actions included persistently misleading a sitting MP and repeatedly failing to respond to correspondence from his legal representatives (there is a detailed chronology of the UKBA's behaviour below). He came off his hunger strike after nineteen days because the UKBA finally agreed to accept submissions from his lawyer and engage in dialogue with his MP Andy Burnham. The UKBA granted James discretionary leave to remain on August 25th after reviewing the further submissions that were accepted during James' hunger strike. Links to statements: James' statement of intent for his hunger strike here. James' statement announcing the end of his hunger strike here. NUJ's statement about James ending his hunger strike here. |
Media links
Article on NUJ website Article on NUJ website Article in Bolton News Article in Leigh Journal Article www.journalism.co.uk Radio interview on BBC Radio Manchester (from 2 hours 35 mins, available until 28th August) Radio interview with RAPAR matron Rhetta Moran on BBC Radio Manchester talking about why James ended his hunger strike (from 1 hour 44 mins, available until 26th August) Article in Manchester Mule Article in Salford Star Article on NUJ website Article in Sierra Express Media Article in Awoko Newspaper Article in How-Do |
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