Mende Nazer Asylum Campaign

Mende Nazer Wins Fight for Asylum

After being threatened with being deported back to the country where she was enslaved for eight years, escaped Sudanese slave Mende Nazer has won her fight for asylum in the United Kingdom.

The British Home Office decision, sent to Mende Nazer’s asylum lawyers, states: ".In view of the widespread publication of her book and the high profile given to her claims both in Sudan and elsewhere, I am satisfied that Ms. Nazer would face difficulties which would bring her within the scope of the 1951 convention were she to be returned to Sudan. For these reasons it has been decided to recognise her as a refugee and grant her Indefinite Leave to Remain in the United Kingdom".

Upon hearing the news Mende Nazer said: "I am overjoyed. I couldn’t have wished for anything better for 2003. I thank the British Government for supporting me in this way and all in Britain, in Germany and Spain who have helped me in my fight for asylum."

Commented Alison Stanley, of Mende Nazer’s asylum lawyers, Bindman & Partners: "I’ve rarely seen a case more deserving of asylum. Clearly, safety from persecution in the form of slavery on the base of race should be an inalienable right. I am so pleased that the British Government have recognised this and that Mende Nazer will not be sent back to the Sudan".

"We’re absolutely over the moon", said John O of the UK-based National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns (NCADC). "We haven’t had much to celebrate as of recent – so this is such good new. It’ll be an encouragement to all those others fighting for a just asylum hearing."

"Anti-Slavery International welcomes the Home Office decision to grant Mende Nazer asylum in the UK", stated London-based Anti-Slavery International. "Thousands of people in Sudan have been abducted and forced into slavery. Despite the Sudan Government’s denial of slavery in the country, it is an established fact. Yet those who raise the issue in Sudan face harassment and imprisonment".

Last Autumn, Mende Nazer published a book about her life story as a slave in Sudan and how she finally escaped to freedom in London - which became an immediate best-seller. In December she won the Madrid-based Coalition Against Racism’s (CECRA) International Award for European Human Rights - which cited her bravery in speaking out and telling her story in her book.

Source for this message: Mende Nazer Asylum Campaign

Enquiries/information: Damien Lewis

Tel.00 44 (0) 208 533 6196 / Mob. 00 44 (0) 7770 844 270 / Fax. 00 44 (0) 207 582 1371

===========================================================================================

Mende Nazer - Partial Victory: Immigration Minister Beverley Hughes, promises to review the asylum application of Mende Nazer.

Mende, earlier this year lost her asylum claim, mainly because Home Office country information on Sudan was not up to date. In a letter to Mende's solicitors from the Immigration Minister, Ms Hughes said, "Regrettably, the letter giving the reasons for refusing Ms Nazer's claim did not deal clearly with some of the issues regarding credibility or the objective country information on Sudan."

    Mende will now have to re-submit her asylum application.

     If the friends of Mende Nazer had not set up a campaign to fight for her to stay, Mende could well have been deported by now.

    NCADC congratulates Mende's campaign for their wonderful effort.

Diplomat's 'slave' can stay in UK, by David Leigh for The Guardian

============================

Background: Mende Nazer Asylum Campaign

A young Sudanese women living in the UK has been told by the British Government that escaping slavery is no grounds for asylum is to appeal the decision. Mende Nazer's lawyer, Alison Stanley, at human rights law firm Bindman and Partners, says that the Home Office asylum refusal is, "outrageous and unjustifiable and that it beggars all belief. If necessary, we will appeal this decision right up to the House of Lords. I hope that will not be necessary". The deadline for the appeal is this Friday, 25th October, after which the appeal itself will be heard by an independent judiciary.
Ms. Nazer's appeal will state that the Home Office has "erred in fact and/or in law in deciding that the Appellant's asylum claim does not fall within the Refugee Convention. On a proper interpretation of the evidence and on a proper interpretation of the Refugee Convention, [Ms. Nazer's] fear of persecution for reasons of race and/or actual or imputed political opinion and/or membership of a particular social group is well founded".

Eric Reeves, US Professor at Smith College and Sudan expert, said: "To suggest that Mende Nazer could safely return to Sudan is utterly preposterous. This reflects a longstanding disposition on the part of the UK government to refuse to accept the real nature of the National Islamic Front regime - its savagery, its brutality, the 'ghost houses,' the arbitrary detention, torture, the extrajudicial executions - the whole long litany of human rights abuses that have been chronicled by human rights report after human rights report. The [Home Office] ruling is a disgrace to Britain and the people of Britain. One can hardly imagine a more depraved judgment".

Amnesty International said: "Despite the Government of Sudan repeatedly denying that slavery exists in Sudan, Amnesty International has received numerous reports that abductions of women and children by government-allied militias continue, particularly in the Nuba Mountains and in South Sudan. Amnesty International believe that Mende Nazer would be at grave risk of intimidation, arbitrary arrest and/or torture were she to be returned to Sudan. We therefore strongly support her asylum claim".

Tory Peer and prominent anti-slavery campaigner, Baroness Cox, said: "It is a sad day for our long-held traditions of British justice and democracy when such decisions can be made by the Home Office. If necessary, I will go on hunger strike outside the Home Office until this decision is reversed".

Reasons for Refusal

* "The Secretary of State is aware that the taking of slaves, particularly in the war zones and their transport to parts of central and northern Sudan continues."

* "As a result of military offensives, the Nuba people have suffered death and serious injury, food shortages, homelessness and internal displacement."

* "Your claim is not based on a fear of persecution in Sudan because of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion".

* "The Secretary of State does not believe that any alleged treatment you received would constitute persecution".

* "The Secretary of State does not believe that the alleged treatment you received whilst living in the United Kingdom would constitute persecution as described by the UNHCR."

Mende Nazer Home Page