[Anarchafeminists] Fw: [faf] Fwd: Press Statement regarding child detention and incarceration of Sehar Shabaz and her 8 month old baby daughter Wania at Dungavel Removal Centre, Scotland.

Tue May 18 15:56:11 UTC 2010

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From: Nimda 
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Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 4:51 PM
Subject: [faf] Fwd: Press Statement regarding child detention and incarceration of Sehar Shabaz and her 8 month old baby daughter Wania at Dungavel Removal Centre, Scotland.

Begin forwarded message: 
  
From: Positive Action in Housing <home at paih.org> 
Date: Tue May 18, 2010  4:16:40 PM Europe/London 
Subject: Press Statement regarding child detention and incarceration of Sehar Shabaz and her 8 month old baby daughter Wania at Dungavel Removal Centre, Scotland. 
  
Press Statement regarding child detention and incarceration of Sehar Shabaz and her 8 month old baby daughter Wania at Dungavel Removal Centre, Scotland.

Speaking this afternoon from Dungavel Removal Centre, 25 year old Sehar Shabaz, who is currently locked up in Dungavel Removal Centre with her eight month old baby, said: 

“I have been living in the UK for three years. I was forced into marriage in Blackburn, England. My husband was often drunk, violent and threatened to kill me. He forced himself upon me sexually. On several occasions, he kept me locked in the house for days at a time before returning. After some months, I attended my husband’s sister’s wedding in Pakistan. On this occasion, I begged my family to take me back. However they could not support me. I cannot forgive my family for this. In May 2009, my daughter was born and I could take it no more. I had no money and was worried he would kill me. I called the police when he became violent but they referred me to the Social Work Department in Blackburn.  I spoke to the Social Work and asked them for refuge accommodation and they said they could not provide me accommodation because I was not a British Citizen. They suggested that I go to the Refugee Council. I left in December 2009 and came to Glasgow. Some people helped me to come to Glasgow and I went to the Scottish Refugee Council and told them everything. Social work in Glasgow put me into homeless accommodation and I was assisted to make an asylum application. My husband followed me to in Glasgow and I was given help to move elsewhere. It is impossible for me to return to Pakistan.  My in-laws are harassing my family and claiming that I am a fallen women who has run off with another man. This couldn’t be further from the truth. This is the system I would be returning to if they deport me. They won’t spare me, it’s not a small issue if a girl runs away from her husband or in-laws. Our only value in Pakistan now is if I am dead. 

“Yesterday morning, I went to report to Brand Street Reporting Centre  where I report every two weeks. I have never absconded or missed my reporting visits. I was told to attend with my baby. When I arrived the Brand Street reporting centre officials told me I was being detained. I told them I wass signing every two weeks and I am continually running from a very bad situation, why are you detaining me? They said to me “This is what we have decided”. I said I have a small baby and I have none of her clothes or baby things. They said that was not their problem and I was put into the back of a van and after an hour my baby and I were taken to Dungavel. I just could not stop crying. She was due for medical treatment today and despite giving them a medical letter at the detention centre for my daughter they insisted on detaining me. 

“This is just a prison. We are kept locked in in the family area. But why? We have never ran away or tried to break the law. We are being treated worse than criminals. I can’t take my baby out for fresh air when she needs it. That is the worst thing, not being able to play in the open with her, and I don’t like her seeing the barbed wire or to know what it means – that we are like criminals and cannot leave.  I just want to be able to raise my daughter in peace, find work and stand on our own two feet and make a simple life for us. Nothing else. We are not criminals so why are they locking us up like this? My daughter is just a baby, she has done nothing to harm anyone. I just ask the government to release us from here.” 

Robina Qureshi, Director of Positive Action in Housing, said: 

“Sehar Shabaz’s story is typical of many Pakistani women fleeing violent partners. They become stigmatised by society for leaving their husbands and it is impossible to live without fear of reprisals e.g. murders, social ostracisation, acid attacks on womens faces and bodies. Since 2001, Positive Action in Housing, together with human rights campaigners and others, has campaigned for the release of children and their families who were locked up in detention centres across the UK. In every case we dealt with, not one single family had absconded either before their detention or after. All endured the terror of the current asylum policy, and in many cases, won their right to remain after enduring dawn raids, destitution or detention. The facts speak for themselves. So why is this young woman being locked up with her young baby? Especially after the coalition government made a show of ending child detention only a few days ago. 

“Being in government is about more than words of intent. It is utterly shameful that children continue to be locked up in detention centres in the UK when the coalition government itself only days ago took news headlines for its intention to scrap child detention and condemned it as an inhumanity towards children and families. 

 “We call on the government to stand by its words and release Sehar Shabaz and her baby immediately and all families with children who are currently detained. There is no need for prevarication while alternatives are sought. The evidence of harm to children is incontrovertible. The alternative to detention is extremely straightforward – allow asylum seekers to stay in their homes while their asylum claims are still ongoing”. 

Sehar Shabaz has been told that she will be deported to Pakistan on 22 May 2010. We call on womens groups, refugee campaigns and everyone to campaign for Sehar's release. Please email your MP and MSP and demand the release of Shear Shabaz and an immediate end to the shameful practice of child detention in the UK.  

Notes to editors: 

Positive Action in Housing Ltd is a Scottish wide charity working with communities, housing providers, voluntary organisations and faith groups to enable everyone to have an equal chance to live in good quality, affordable and safe homes, free from discrimination and the fear of racial harassment and violence. We offer advice, information and support to people from new migrant, refugee and minority ethnic communities. We run a free, confidential and impartial casework service for those facing poverty, homelessness, racism or poor housing. We run a Hardship Fund and provide emergency shelter and practical resources for destitute asylum seekers and their families. We provide volunteering and sessional work opportunities. We support human rights and anti-racist campaigns. We inform social policy from a user-led perspective.  
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Press enquiries - Robina Qureshi 07530 690 234 
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