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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear colleague,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>MANSOOR HASSAN
CAMPAIGN</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Please find attached (and pasted) a press
release.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Would you kindly ensure that this is posted as
widely as possible please.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Best wishes</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bob Pounder</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><STRONG><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=5></FONT></STRONG> </P>
<P class=MsoTitle style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><STRONG><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=5>Press Release</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoSubtitle style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><STRONG><FONT size=5><FONT
face="Times New Roman">19 April 2005<U><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></U></FONT></FONT></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Coronation Street star,
Julie Hesmondhalgh to host press conference in support of exiled journalist
Mansoor Hassan’s appeal to the European Court of Human Rights</SPAN></B><FONT
size=3>.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><STRONG><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Julie Hesmondhalgh who plays Hayley Patterson in
Coronation Street will appear at a press conference at the offices of the
National Union of Journalists, Fifth floor, Arthur House, Chorlton Street,
Manchester on Thursday 21 April 2005 at 11am. </FONT></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Julie will be adding her support to a campaign
supported by the NUJ and the National Coalition Against Deportations to prevent
exiled journalist Mansoor Hassan from being deported to Pakistan, where his life
is under serious threat.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Mansoor Hassan’s journalistic work led to exposes
of government corruption, political complicity with honour killings and illegal
drug dealing.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>During the course of this work he was beaten up,
shot at and his family were subject to severe barbiturate poisoning. Whilst
visiting his father’s house, gunmen attacked the property and burned it
down.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>According to Human Rights Watch, the Pakistan
government: “Systematically violates the rights of journalists”</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Mansoor Hassan said: “If we return to Pakistan we
will be killed. As soon as we land in the country the government will be alerted
of our return, they key details into the system at the airport. We will be
detained immediately.”</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>He has now been granted leave to appeal to the
European Court of Human Rights to appeal against a UK government decision not to
grant him asylum.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>The appeal papers along with a solid portfolio of
supporting evidence have now been forwarded to the ECHR in Strasbourg. The
appeal rests on the following criteria.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Article 2. Right to life</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Article 3. Prohibition of Torture</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Article 6. Right to a Fair Trial</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Article10. Freedom of Expression</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear has written to
the Home Office seeking assurances that due process may take place before any
decision in respect of<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mansoor
Hassan’s status in the UK is implemented.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Contact:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Bob Pounder</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>0161 339 6740</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>07837558036 </FONT></P></FONT></DIV>
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