A judge has ruled that Manjeet, who is Chair of RAPAR (Refugee and Asylum Seeker Participatory Action Research), can stay in her home in Whalley Range Manchester until her asylum case has finally been completed. The judge made his decision based on the paperwork in her case. Manjeet, who uses a wheelchair, was due to travel to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in Manchester for the hearing about her housing support.
But, ironically, the Home Office transport sent to Manjeet’s home to take her to the tribunal was not wheelchair accessible and it took another two hours for the Home Office to send a suitable replacement from Liverpool. She was on her way to the tribunal when her solicitor phoned to say that, after reviewing the paperwork, the judge had ruled in her favour against the Home Office.
Fifty supporters from disability, trade union and community networks joined a lobby outside the tribunal hearing.
In a message to the lobby, Kate Green, MP for Trafford, said: “I have been in touch with Manjeet for some time now. The Home Office’s previous failures on her case have been quite unacceptable. It is now wholly inappropriate for the Home Office to withdraw her support when she has outstanding representations to the Court of Appeal and I have contacted the Home Office to ask why this has happened.”
Manjeet said: “I am very pleased we won the case but it is not my victory alone. I want to thank everyone who came along to support me and show that we will not let vulnerable people be evicted from their homes.”
Dr Rhetta Moran, of RAPAR, said: “It is barbaric what Manjeet Kaur – with this very grossly underfunded Human Rights Charity RAPAR and the support that we have called upon – has had to go through in the lead up to today. We have had to stop the Home Office, in the name of the Government, from evicting a wheelchair bound woman onto Manchester’s streets.
“No victory, including this one, is inevitable. Manjeet’s safe future will be secured when her human rights are being respected as rights – not favours. Her campaign will continue until that future arrives.”
Sharon Hooley, of DAN (Disabled People’s Direct Action Network) said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Manjeet Kaur has won her case against the attempt to evict her. I’m also proud to have been one of so many different communities and groups who came together to support a wonderful woman who dedicates her time to helping others in their fight for their human rights.”
Manjeet had been told by Serco, which manages asylum housing in the North West on behalf of the Home Office, that she would have to leave her accommodation because her asylum claim had been rejected. But, in fact, there is still an outstanding appeal relating to her case.
Manjeet appeared on national television news last year to counter anti migrant policies announced by Home Secretary Theresa May at the 2013 Conservative Party Conference.
Since she sought asylum in the UK more than three years ago, Manjeet has been a tireless campaigner for human rights and worked with the UK Disabled People’s Council to highlight injustices faced by disabled people seeking asylum.
She was told she must leave the accommodation,where she has lived since 2011, by October 9th. The unsigned letter from SERCO, which runs asylum housing in the North West on behalf of the Home Office, said: “Should you refuse to leave the property on this date, we will have no choice but to take legal action to evict you.”
Manjeet, who is from Afghanistan and has used a wheelchair since she was eight years old, recently lodged a claim with the Court of Appeal on the grounds that the High Court has failed to engage with the facts of her asylum case.
Currently, the Home Office is examining her latest appeal. Manjeet’s solicitor Gary McIndoe, of Latitude Law, explains: “In our view, successive judges have failed to address the core issues of the case – Manjeet’s nationality, the harm she suffered in the past and the practicality of removing her to India.”
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