heaven above
August 14th, 2004, 02:04 PM
Round-the-clock watch on dying hunger-striker SHEFFIELD STAR 14/8/04
SOBBING uncontrollably, Burngreave resident Jean Woods clings to the hand of hunger-strike refugee Naseh Jabar Ghafor.
Appalled by the lack of intervention from the Government the 69-year-old English woman and her friends have mounted a round-the-clock compassionate watch over the dying young asylum seeker.
Naseh's plight has touched the hearts of many in Burngreave - regardless of age or ethnic background the community are overcoming language and cultural barriers to support the 20-year-old Iraqi as his life slowly ebbs away.
Others have reacted with anger and demanded that Naseh be deported when the Home Office is satisfied Iraq is safe enough for him to return home.
But Jean, shaking with anger, said: "This man's ordeal makes me hang my head in shame for being British. I wouldn't leave a dog in the condition he is in - lying starving to death on a dirty floor.
"Our Government has just abandoned him to die, but we have a message for Mr Blunkett. This isn't about politics any more and we aren't trying to change the laws of the land - this is just about saving a human life."
Naseh crudely stitched his own lips together 36 days ago in a desperate protest when he was told he must return to Iraq after his appeal for asylum in Britain failed.
He claims he fled to the UK after seeing his father and brother murdered by Saddam Hussein's brutal regime. He says his mother and sister are currently missing.
"We have begged him to go to hospital but he refuses," said Community Leader Ruggie Johnson, of the Monitoring Group North.
"He would rather die of hunger than go back to Iraq. We've now organised a 24-hour watch so that he's never alone and we are trying to get as much support as possible for his situation." Last week in The Star David Blunkett vowed not to bow to the asylum seeker's protest, and despite rising public feeling in favour of Naseh the Home Secretary remains rigid.
A home office spokesman told The Star: "It would set a dangerous precedent for us to grant asylum to people on the basis of their harming themselves.
"We have repeatedly offered Mr Ghafor support which he has repeatedly refused. It is true that that support is conditional on co-operation with us, but there is no question that we would seek to remove someone if it is unsafe to do so.
"We can offer Naseh sheltered accommodation but that is conditional on him co-operating with our immigration laws and leaving when asked to do so."
Mr Johnson has organised a public meeting about Naseh's situation at the Verdon Street Community Centre, Burngreave, tomorrow.
He also plans to set up a round-the-clock picket line outside immigration offices at Milton House, in Pond Street, Sheffield, from Monday at 11am and is asking people for support.
"As a fellow Iraqi and a fellow human being I want to help in any way I can," said translator Shak Taufiq. "I can certainly vouch for his claims that it is dangerous to go back to Iraq."
And for Jean and her friends the ritual of squatting on the floor beside Naseh and trying to offer comfort continues.
"I don't think he understands much English but I've been sitting with him and stroking his hand, which I hope shows him I care," she said. "I've even written to the Queen about it. But I feel so helpless - it's breaking my heart but I don't know what else to do."
14 August 2004
SOBBING uncontrollably, Burngreave resident Jean Woods clings to the hand of hunger-strike refugee Naseh Jabar Ghafor.
Appalled by the lack of intervention from the Government the 69-year-old English woman and her friends have mounted a round-the-clock compassionate watch over the dying young asylum seeker.
Naseh's plight has touched the hearts of many in Burngreave - regardless of age or ethnic background the community are overcoming language and cultural barriers to support the 20-year-old Iraqi as his life slowly ebbs away.
Others have reacted with anger and demanded that Naseh be deported when the Home Office is satisfied Iraq is safe enough for him to return home.
But Jean, shaking with anger, said: "This man's ordeal makes me hang my head in shame for being British. I wouldn't leave a dog in the condition he is in - lying starving to death on a dirty floor.
"Our Government has just abandoned him to die, but we have a message for Mr Blunkett. This isn't about politics any more and we aren't trying to change the laws of the land - this is just about saving a human life."
Naseh crudely stitched his own lips together 36 days ago in a desperate protest when he was told he must return to Iraq after his appeal for asylum in Britain failed.
He claims he fled to the UK after seeing his father and brother murdered by Saddam Hussein's brutal regime. He says his mother and sister are currently missing.
"We have begged him to go to hospital but he refuses," said Community Leader Ruggie Johnson, of the Monitoring Group North.
"He would rather die of hunger than go back to Iraq. We've now organised a 24-hour watch so that he's never alone and we are trying to get as much support as possible for his situation." Last week in The Star David Blunkett vowed not to bow to the asylum seeker's protest, and despite rising public feeling in favour of Naseh the Home Secretary remains rigid.
A home office spokesman told The Star: "It would set a dangerous precedent for us to grant asylum to people on the basis of their harming themselves.
"We have repeatedly offered Mr Ghafor support which he has repeatedly refused. It is true that that support is conditional on co-operation with us, but there is no question that we would seek to remove someone if it is unsafe to do so.
"We can offer Naseh sheltered accommodation but that is conditional on him co-operating with our immigration laws and leaving when asked to do so."
Mr Johnson has organised a public meeting about Naseh's situation at the Verdon Street Community Centre, Burngreave, tomorrow.
He also plans to set up a round-the-clock picket line outside immigration offices at Milton House, in Pond Street, Sheffield, from Monday at 11am and is asking people for support.
"As a fellow Iraqi and a fellow human being I want to help in any way I can," said translator Shak Taufiq. "I can certainly vouch for his claims that it is dangerous to go back to Iraq."
And for Jean and her friends the ritual of squatting on the floor beside Naseh and trying to offer comfort continues.
"I don't think he understands much English but I've been sitting with him and stroking his hand, which I hope shows him I care," she said. "I've even written to the Queen about it. But I feel so helpless - it's breaking my heart but I don't know what else to do."
14 August 2004