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Shay Family Campaign, Public Meeting
6.30, Thursday 7th September, Friends Meeting House, Manchester M2 5NS.
Dear Friends,
I am writing to you to ask for your support for an important campaign in support of the right of refugees and migrants to be welcomed into the UK and treated with dignity and respect.
Shay Babagar, his wife and their child arrived in the UK seeking asylum as members of the persecuted Balochi people. They were placed in a SERCO run hotel in Stockport, Greater Manchester where they experienced poor living conditions and physical and verbal abuse at the hands of SERCO staff. Shay went on hunger strike and challenged his treatment. A campaign grew around him and his family, and he has now been moved to a house. Additionally Greater Manchester Police, who had attempted to charge and criminalise Shay, have dropped their case against him.
Shay is continuing his fight for justice, and for the right of his family to stay in this country and feel safe here. He also wants to share his experiences of resisting the treatment meted out to him and his family. You can read more about his struggles and victories on this campaign page and in these articles from the Manchester Evening News here and here. On Thursday 7th September there will be a Public Meeting where Shay and others will speak. We hope to highlight the ways in which the Government’s treatment of refugees and people seeking asylum violates their human rights, to expose the conditions in asylum hotels in Greater Manchester, and to encourage others to actively resist.
As you will be aware, the Government intend their scapegoating of refugees and people seeking asylum to divert attention and blame away from their policies that are driving down the living standards of all of us. Trade Unions and sections of civil society have proud traditions of standing against racism and supporting those who are the survivors and victims of it. We very much hope you will support this campaign, and attach a model motion that you might like to use or adapt in order to support the Public Meeting on 7th September. If you decide to donate towards the cost of the Public Meeting, please make payment to:
RAPAR Treasurers Account (Ref: Shay Family Campaign), Acc No 10090286, Sort Code 16-28-24
If you have any questions, please contact admin@rapar.org.uk or phone me on 07776264646
Yours in Solidarity
Dr Rhetta Moran, RAPAR Member
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