Abazi Family Must Stay

     Selami and Emsale Abazi are Albanian asylum seekers from Kosovo who have lived in Manor Park in East London for almost six years. They have three young children all born in London, their son Anid aged 5 and their two daughters, Artina and Adzina aged 3 and 1.

      They are facing deportation to Germany from where they believe they will be returned to Kosovo.

     In 1989 both Mr. And Mrs. Abazi took part in demonstrations protesting against the removal of Kosovo's autonomous status. These demonstrations were broken up by the police who beat up and arrested protesters. In March 1989 Mr. Abazi was arrested and detained during a demonstration; he was beaten by police and then released without charge. The previous month a friend of his was shot dead in front of him by the Serb police.

     In 1990 Mr. Abazi joined the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and was involved in organising meetings and cultural events. The LDK was founded in 1989; it supports the independence of Kosovo by peaceful means but was treated by the authorities as illegal and many members have been beaten, harassed and killed. Following the celebrations to mark Independence Day on 2.7.90 he was arrested and detained for 24 hours in Gjilan police station. In March 1992 he received mobilisation papers to join the Yugoslav army. He was afraid he would be forced to fight in Bosnia against a people with whom he sympathised in their struggle for self determination. He went into hiding at his sister's house in Novosel remaining there for a year and on 11.2.93 he fled Kosovo and claimed asylum in Germany. During this period his father's house was continuously searched and ransacked by the Serb Police.

     Mrs. Abazi who at this time was engaged to Mr. Abazi, was also a member of the LDK. Following completion of her secondary education she had attended college to train as a teacher. In 1993 her family home was targeted by the police who said they were searching for illegal weapons. This harassment continued for three months and most of the family furniture was destroyed. They were also looking for her brother who had left for Macedonia to avoid joining the Yugoslav army. She and sister began to teach privately at home as she was unable to find work as it was difficult for ethnic Albanians to find jobs as teachers. In January 1997 her sister was arrested and detained and Mrs. Abazi went into hiding and left for Germany to join Selami. In February 1998 they were refused asylum in Germany and travelled to the UK to claim asylum.

     Mr. Abazi had to leave Kosovo 10 years ago and his wife 6 years. They have been in the UK for nearly six years. In September 2000 he heard that his first cousin Hajrush Abazi who had also been a member of the LDK had been killed by the armed group the Kosovo Liberation Army. Although also Albanian this group has perpetrated violence against other ethnic Albanians who belong to different political factions. (see Human Rights Watch Report http://www.hrw.org/wr2k3/europe17.html ) The family fear that they would be returned to Kosovo if they are sent back to Germany. They fear persecution from the KLA if they are returned. In early 1998 Mr. Abazi's brother Avdyl was sent back to Belgrade from Germany. He was arrested on arrival and has now been in prison for over 4 years. Mr. Abazi believes the reason for his imprisonment is his refusal to join the army to fight in Bosnia. Up until the present time Mr. Abazi has had no news from him.

     Mrs. Abazi attends English classes at college and their son is at primary school; their two year old daughter goes to nursery. Mr. Abazi's family house in Kosovo has been destroyed by the Serbs; his mother now lives with his two brothers in one room; Mrs. Abazi's family home, also in Kosovo, has only two habitable rooms left.

     In April 1999 the Immigration Service Dover East wrote to the Abazi's solicitors to say that Kosovo Albanians, under the provisions of the Dublin Convention, were not being removed to Germany. At that time the British Government considered that it would be dangerous for Albanians to be returned to Kosovo. The Abazi family have been left in limbo; they have attempted to integrate into British society and their 3 children were born here. If their case had been dealt with in 1999 they would presumably have been given leave to remain in the UK. It is simply unfair to have left their case unresolved for so long.

     What you can do to help
Fax/write to the Home Secretary David Blunkett, using the model letter 'Attached', which you can copy/amend/write your own.
     Fax no: 020 7273 3965 from outside the UK + 44 20 7273 3965

Or write to:

David Blunkett
Home Secretary
Home Office
50 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9AT

Please take time to send a copy of anything sent to:
Abazi Family Campaign
c/o NCADC
Cambridge House
131 Camberwell Road
London SE5 0HF
Enquiries/further information:
Allison Bennett
Phone: 020 7701 5197
ncadc-london@ncadc.org.uk