Protest against death of Iranian asylum seeker, Ramin Khaleghi
The Leicester Civil Rights Movement is organising a demonstration on Saturday 3 February 2001, at 10.30am in Leicester, to remember Ramin Khaleghi, an Iranian asylum seeker who took his own life on 18 January while resident at the 'International Hotel' asylum hostel. His death came just a few days after the Home Office ruled that his claim for asylum was unfounded. They ignored the fact that he had been a political prisoner in Iran for four years. They ignored irrefutable medical evidence that he had been tortured. Ramin had been forced to move out of London as part of the government's dispersal programme, so he was out of contact with other members of his family. The march will be a chance to remember Ramin's life and to protest against the policies that contributed to his death at the age of just twenty-seven.
We demand:
1) An opportunity for the Khaleghi family to meet with Barbara Roche, Minister for Immigration and Nationality, to make their concerns known.
2) An immediate improvement in the living conditions of asylum seekers in the Leicester 'International Hotel'
3) A public inquiry into the circumstances, which led to the death of Ramin, including an investigation into the effect of the Home Office dispersal policy and the impact of rejecting well-founded asylum claims
March in memory of Ramin Khaleghi, 1974-2001
Assembler 10.30am, Town Hall Square, Leicester
Saturday 3 February
"I believe that my nephew was killed by the Home Office and would like to ask for an inquiry into his death." Ramin's uncle, N. Khaleghi
"Sometimes you get so frustrated when your life is in other peoples' hands. You fear for your life back home in Iran but when you get here you live in fear too. When you get an answer from the Home Office it is likely to be a refusal. Hopelessness can easily trigger suicide. All of us can identify with Ramin." Iranian refugee, Leicester International Hotel
"We have lost a young man. He told his friends that he would not go back to Iran alive. Is it a crime to ask for the right to live? A deportation order has become as good as a death sentence. We demand to be treated as human beings." Bongie Mpofu, Zimbabwean refugee, Leicester International Hotel
The demonstration is supported by the family of Ramin Khaleghi, the residents of the 'International Hotel' asylum hostel in Leicester, the International Federation of Iranian Refugees, the National Civil Rights Movement and the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism. For more details, please contact Priya on 0116 253 1053 or Chris on 07718 629 651.
FAX / LETTER CAMPAIGN
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Support us by faxing or writing to Barbara Roche, the Minister for Immigration and Nationality, with your concerns.
Barbara Roche MP
Minister for Immigration and Nationality
Home Office
50 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1 9AT
United Kingdom
Fax (from within UK): 020 7273 2043
Fax (from outside UK): +44 20 7273 2043
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
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On January 18, 2001, the body of Ramin Khaleghi, a 27-year-old Iranian, was discovered in the so-called 'International Hotel', a hostel housing asylum seekers in Leicester. Ramin had been a political prisoner in Iran for a number of years, before managing to flee to Britain. Yet the Home Office rejected his claim for asylum, despite, we understand, medical evidence of torture at the hands of the Iranian police. One week after learning of his rejection, Ramin took his own life.
Ramin's death comes at a time when claims for asylum from Iranian refugees are getting less and less of a hearing from the UK authorities, despite widespread acceptance of the oppressive nature of the Iranian regime. Since January 18, other asylum seekers at the 'International Hotel' in Leicester have been camped out in the hostel's lobby area in protest at the death of their friend.
Residents have for several months been complaining of conditions in the hostel, a run-down former hotel in the city centre currently housing around 400 asylum seekers. There are severe problems of hygiene, inadequate heating, poor food. Residents also face problems of hostility from some sections of the local population. Most of the residents have been forced, like Ramin, to leave behind family and friends in London and live in Leicester, as a result of the government's flawed dispersal policy.
In September 2000, the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism and the National Civil Rights Movement established a local group in Leicester - the Leicester Civil Rights Movement (LCRM) - to provide support and campaign for refugees and victims of racist attacks in Leicester. LCRM are campaigning for justice for the refugees housed at the 'International Hotel' so that the tragic death of Ramin Khaleghi will not be repeated.
"This tragic death appears to be a direct result of the Home Office practice of wilful and callous rejection of asylum claims from Iranians, no matter how clear, strong and compelling they are." Frances Webber, leading immigration barrister
"The Home Office refusal of Ramin's claim was the final straw that led to his decision to take his own life, rather than be subjected to more of the same barbaric treatment in Iran. Effectively the refusal of asylum has become a death sentence for asylum seekers. We would like to ask Barbara Roche and Jack Straw if this is the price for the prevention of 'bogus' asylum claims?" Priya Thamotheram, Leicester Civil Rights Movement
"After enduring all kinds of mistreatment, imprisonment and torture in oppressive societies, asylum seekers like Ramin are left with no option but to flee to Europe. Upon arrival, they are further abused, detained, dispersed, housed in degrading conditions, deprived by a voucher system and eventually deported." Maryam Namazie, International Federation of Iranian Refugees