Refugee Archive Newsletter

This newsletter is produced on a regular basis to help disseminate news and further information in relation to refugee and forced migration issues. The newsletter is produced by the Refugee Archives service at the University of East London.

News and Media Stories

The continuing debate over the BNP invitation to appear on BBC Question Time programme

BBC News (19/10/09) - BNP debate 'illegal', warns Hain: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8313680.stm

The Independent (19/10/09) - Last-ditch bid to prevent BNP appearance on Question Time: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lastditch-bid-to-prevent-bnp-appearance-on-question-time-1805226.html

The Telegraph (17/10/09) - Holocaust survivors will confront BNP on Question Time: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6360260/Holocaust-survivors-will-confront-BNP-on-Question-Time.html

The Independent (15/10/09) - Baroness Warsi to face BNP leader on 'Question Time': http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/baroness-warsi-to-face-bnp-leader-on-question-time-1802814.html

The Independent (14/10/09) - Johann Hari: The looming threat of terror that comes from the far right: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-the-looming-threat-of-terror-that-comes-from-the-far-right-1802167.html

The Times (14/10/09) - BBC ‘endangering public’ by inviting BNP leader to Question Time: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6873599.ece?&EMC-Bltn=DGMBLB

The Planned Visit of Dutch Politician Geert Wilders to Britain

BBC News (16/10/09) - Far-right Dutch MP heading to UK: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8308982.stm

The Guardian (14/10/09) - Should we let Geert Wilders in?: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/oct/14/geert-wilders-free-speech

The Daily Telegraph (13/10/09) - Dutch right-winger Geert Wilders wins challenge against British ban: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/netherlands/6317795/Dutch-right-winger-Geert-Wilders-wins-challenge-against-British-ban.html

The Guardian - Geert Wilders wins appeal against ban on travelling to UK: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/13/geert-wilders-wins-appeal-ban-uk

Asylum Seekers returning to Iraq

The Guardian (19/10/09) - My decade: The asylum seeker: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/17/my-decade-lukman-al-mayahy-asylum-seeker-interview

The Guardian (18/10/09) - Iraqis claim abuse and assault after failed deportation: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/18/iraq-deportees-asylum-seeker-claims

The Independent (19/10/09) - 'They gave me $100 and told me to fend for myself in Baghdad': http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/they-gave-me-100-and-told-me-to-fend-for-myself-in-baghdad-1805220.html

The Independent (19/10/09) - Border Agency to be quizzed over failed deportations - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/border-agency-to-be-quizzed-over-failed-deportations-1805221.html

The Guardian (16/10/09) - Iraqi army confronted UK deportation officials on Baghdad plane: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/16/unhcr-uk-baghdad-deportations

BBC News (16/10/09) - Iraq sends back UK asylum flight: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8310572.stm

The Guardian (16/10/09) - Court blocks six deportations to Baghdad: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/15/court-blocks-baghdad-deportations

The Independent (16/10/09) - Protests as asylum-seekers are returned to Iraq: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/protests-as-asylumseekers-are-returned-to-iraq-1803628.html

The Independent (14/10/09) - Forcing asylum-seekers to return to Iraq is 'inhumane': http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/forcing-asylumseekers-to-return-to-iraq-is-inhumane-1802252.html

The Guardian (13/10/09) - Thirty failed asylum seekers to be sent back to Iraq, says refugee group: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/13/iraqi-asylum-seekers-sent-back

Report on Children in Detention Centres*

The Independent (13/10/09) - Immigration centre's toll on children's mental health: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/immigration-centres-toll-on-childrens-mental-health-1801772.html

The Guardian (14/10/09) - Detention for children can never be justified: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/14/immigration

The Guardian (13/10/09) - Children made 'sick with fear' in UK immigration detention centres - http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/13/children-immigration-detention-health

*These news reports are based on a recently released journal article by Ann Lorek (et al.) in the international journal entitled Child Abuse and Neglect. Access to this journal should be possible for UEL staff and students and a full reference is given below:

Lorek, A. (et al.) (2009). The mental and physical health difficulties of children held within a British immigration detention center: A pilot study. Child Abuse & Neglect 33(9): 573-585.

Link: http://tinyurl.com/yf74ygs

New Reports and Publications

RSC Policy briefing

The Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford, has launched its third

Policy Briefing on Statelessness, Protection and Equality by Professor

Brad K. Blitz (Human and Political Geography, Kingston University and

RSC Research Associate). This briefing provides a typology of stateless

people and contexts, reviews, relevant international law and

jurisprudence, and assesses the links between nationality and the

protection of human rights. It gives recommendations for reducing and

eliminating statelessness in the future.

The brief may be found at http://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/pub_policy.html

Events

Open See by Jim Goldberg

The Photographers' Gallery
16 - 18 Ramillies Street
London
W1F 7LW

16 October 2009 - 17 January 2010

Open See documents the experiences of people who travel from war torn, socially and economically devastated countries, to make new lives in Europe. They have left often violent, oppressive, poverty-stricken or AIDS ravaged communities, in search of stability and the promise of a better future. Originating from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, these ‘new Europeans’ have met violence and brutality as well as hope and liberation in their new homes.

Further information at: http://www.photonet.org.uk/index.php?pxid=956

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Harrell Bond Lecture at the Refugee Studies Centre, Oxford

On 18 November 2009 (5pm), Jan Egeland will give the tenth annual

Harrell-Bond lecture, organised by the Refugee Studies Centre (Oxford

Department of International Development, University of Oxford) . Mr

Egeland is the former UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian

Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. The lecture will be entitled

'Beyond blankets: in search of political deals and durable solutions for

the displaced'. He will chart recent changes which have led to the

enhanced provision of humanitarian relief for the world's displaced. He

will also reflect on the importance of gaining political agreements and

delivering effective security arrangements, arguing how these are

central to any long-term resolution to the refugee crisis.

The lecture will take place at the Oxford University Museum of Natural

History, Parks Road in Oxford (OX1 3TB

<http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&q=OX1%203PW>) and will be

followed by a drinks reception.

For more information or to reserve a seat, please contact Wouter te Kloeze: wouter.tekloeze@qeh.ox.ac.uk <mailto:wouter.tekloeze@qeh.ox.ac.uk> or
+44 (0)1865 281726.