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Battle to let family remain in Leeds
Anti-deportation campaigners are fighting to halt the removal to Pakistan of a family who were seized in Leeds.
Saima and Saleem Saddiq and their children Zulekha, 3, and Abdul, 1, were arrested in a dawn raid on their home in Harehills.
At around 6.30am last Tuesday eight to 10 police and immigration officers are reported to have battered down the door of the family's back-to-back house.
Campaigners say the officers found the terrified parents in the attic trying to reassure and calm the two young children. The family were arrested, taken to Waterside immigration centre in Kirkstall Road, Leeds, and then transferred to Yarlswood detention centre in Bedfordshire. They have been given a removal order for Friday. The family are being supported by the campaign group Leeds No Borders, and students and staff at Park Lane College in Leeds.
A group spokesman said: "Saleem Saddiq and his family are from Karachi in Pakistan. They fled to the UK in 2005 because Saleem suffered persecution there due to his active membership of an opposition political party.
"Saleem himself was kidnapped and beaten. Despite numerous reports and appeals to the police, he received no support or protection.
"This started in 2004 with threatening messages from members of rival parties, developing into terrifying violent assaults including abduction at gun point and being shot at in the street.
"Saleem was forced to go into hiding but his enemies still found him. Saima received threatening phone calls and visits from people trying to find him.Terrified for his own and his family's lives, Saleem fled to the UK to seek asylum."
Saleem and Saima's daughter Zulekha was born in Pakistan but is now settled in Holy Rosary Nursery in Harehills, Leeds. Their son, Abdul, was born in Britain.
Saima has been attending classes at Park Lane college and does voluntary work. Saleem has been in full-time study working for a BTEC National Award in Airport and Airline Operations.
The Home Office has refused the family's claim for asylum.
In support of his claim the secretary of the political party Saleem belonged to wrote a letter confirming the details of Saleem's political persecution. The group says three days after writing the letter the secretary was himself assassinated.
Their solicitor has submitted a fresh claim, with additional documentary evidence. Saleem fears for their lives if they are deported.
The group is urging supporters to write to their MPs and Home Office and support the campaign for the family to be allowed to stay. Contact: supportsaddiqfamily@clanebor.co.uk.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We do not comment on individual cases. All applications for asylum are carefully considered by trained caseworkers based on accurate up to date information, taking into account all the circumstances of an application.
“If an application is refused, there is a right of appeal to the independent appellate authorities against that decision.
“The UK Government is committed to providing protection for those individuals found to be genuinely in need, in accordance with our commitments under international law.
“However, in order to maintain the integrity of our asylum system and prevent unfounded applications it is important that we are able to enforce returns of those who do not need protection.”
peter.lazenby@ypn.co.uk
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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