Wednesday May 28th 2003
50 Sneinton Dale
Sneinton
Nottinghamshire
Assemble at 9.30am

Called by: Iranian Federation of Refugees / Nottingham Refugee Campaign Group/Nottingham  & Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum

     We are calling this demonstration in support of Abas Amini.  Mr. Amini is a 33 year old Iranian who arrived in the UK in August 2001.  After initially  being turned down for asylum, and after four court adjournments, he was eventually  able to appeal to the adjudicator on March 24th 2003.  Six weeks later, he  was informed that he had been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK [i.e. full refugee status].

     The Home Office who were not represented at the adjudication then decided to  contest the decision.  As yet no decision has been made on the Home Office's  appeal against the granting of Indefinite Leave to Remain. 

     However, because of his fear of return to Iran and his anger at the Home  Office's indifference to the weight of evidence supporting his asylum case, Mr  Amini took the decision to go on hunger strike on Tuesday 20th May.  since then  Mr Amini has been taking only very occasional fluids.  Mr Amini also decided  to sew up his lips, eyes and ears in an agonising protest.  This is the second time Mr Amini has been on hunger strike since arriving in the UK.

   Friends of Mr Amini are desperately worried that this unnecessary move by the  Home Office may result in serious, possibly irreparable harm, or even death.

    Between the ages of 13 and 33 Mr Amini spent 6 years in Iranian prison, for his political beliefs and protests, including the writing of poetry critical of  the government.  During this time he suffered long periods in solitary  confinement, beatings, including falaka - beatings on the souls of his feet,  suspension of various kinds, mock executions and other forms of physical andmental  ill-treatment.  During his last period in prison, he was able to escape after a  guard was bribed.

      Medical opinion supports Mr Amini's account of torture in Iran and recognises  the psychological pain he continues to suffer. 

Inquiries further information:

Nottingham  & Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum
0115 985 9546

Iranian Federation of Refugees / Nottingham Refugee Campaign Group
Sam Azad
Phone: 07929917756 - 0115 9859546

Messages of support/solidarity for Abas Amini
Jorobdansam@aol.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Iranian refugee who sewed eyes up wins case     Independent Online May 29th 2003
Friends try to stop refugee's protest      The Guardian Thursday May 29th 2003
Asylum victor continues hunger strike         BBC News Online Thursday 29th May 2003
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Refugee who sewed face says he is ready to die   Guardian Wednesday May 28th 2003
Protest as refugee sews eyes up      BBC News Online Wednesday 28th May 2003
Protester's tortured past     BBC News Online Wednesday 28th May 2003
Ready to die: the asylum-seeker      The Independent May 28th 2003
Hunger striker facing death      The Scotsman Wednesday 28th May 2003

Asylum protester sews up eyes
BBC News Online Tuesday 27th May 2003
Refugee sews up his lips, eyes and ears
Catherine Adams and Tania Branigan
The Guardian Tuesday May 27th 2003