Sherzad Jalal Ahmad and Katie Le have lived together
for three years but now they are separated by the
UK's 'inhumane and unjust immigration rules'.
Sherzad is locked up in Haslar Immigration Removal
Centre and Katie living in their London home is
fighting to get him released from detention and
prevent his deportation.
Katie's partner Sherzad is an Iraq/Kurd, who has so
far spent nearly six years in the UK. Determined to
establish a new life in a safer country, Sherzad has
set about mastering his English, pursuing his career
to become an engineer and ambition to become an
artist promoting Kurdish culture.
His asylum claims for refugee status was denied
despite the fact that his own country was still
unsafe at the time of his application and even more
unsafe today. Although having to live with
uncertainty, Sherzad nevertheless strove to live an
optimal life studying hard towards being a qualified
engineer, and working to maintain his studying.
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Sherzad Jalal Ahmad and
Katie Le
Photo: NCADC |
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In autumn 2001 Sherzad met Katie, given that they
were both working and studying within proximity. A
friendship that developed into abounding love. They
have been with each other for 3 years and had
planned to get married in the UK, only to find they
are prohibited from doing so, due to Home Office
marriage policy preventing unsettled refugees from
marrying. The Home office marriage policy would
require the couple to get married outside the UK.
"The new immigration legislation is every obstacle
for two people to continue their lives together.
Policy needs to be fair and be in touch with their
humanitarian and morals side of government ruling.
Marriages should be a natural right for every
individual and a special and happy occasion to
prepare for not an ordeal." Katie Le
Katie, also, a refugee herself came to the UK in the
early 1980s with her family all were granted
settlement in the UK. Given this privilege her
family established meaningful and close ties within
the community they lived. Thus, her brothers now
businessmen, her sister a nurse and Katie herself
training to be a teacher. If given the same
privileges and opportunity, Sherzad will no doubt do
the same. Only with a safe and sound home
environment can one lead such a life, unlike the
instability currently experiencing in Iraq.
Sherzad before being detained had established a
vibrant community life and was much loved and by all
those who came into contact with him.
Karzen Sherabayani, (leader of Shano, Kurdish Art
Project)
"Sherzad is a member of Shano, (the Kurdish Dance &
Drama Group), which I have been running in London
for the past four years. He is a very skilled actor
and very great creative person. His contribution to
our group to promote the art and culture of the
Kurds in the UK is not only been appreciated by us
but also the different audiences which we had
throughout our performances in 2003's Edinburgh
International festival, Bath Fringe Festival and
various diversity festivals in London and around the
UK.
Sherzad's enthusiasm and optimism is what exactly is
needed, not only amongst our community but for the
whole London art arena in order to promote more
harmony and understanding between the divers
communities. Sherzad is greatly missed by all of us
in Shano as an actor and a real good friend. Sherzad
has escaped war and terror in Iraq, where as a Kurd
even his basic human rights were denied from him
under Saddam's regime, and to save his life, he took
hazardous journey in order to seek protection and
safety in the UK".
Denis Potter his lecturer at Lewisham College:
"Setting his educational record aside, Sherzad has
proved himself to be honest, trustworthy individual
who has great integrity despite suffering tragic
loss in Iraq".
Sally Petch, Programme leader Lewisham College
" over the years we meet and teach several hundreds
of students and they all obviously have equal right
to our care and attention. However, once in a while
a student will stand out from the crowd and we have
to acknowledge that here is a person of more than
usual integrity and potential to contribute to
society. Sherzad is one of those people.
Unfortunately, all hopes now becomes despair, six
weeks ago Sherzad went to sign at the Home Office as
part of their reporting policy for all Asylum
seekers and has ever since been detained. Should
Sherzad's deportation be 'imminent' the term used by
Home Office, Sherzad's life does not only become
distraught but also in grave danger on return. In
addition, his fiancée accompanying him would also
face danger and risk of lives in Northern Iraq but
of a different nature. Given Katie's nationality and
beliefs (Catholicism) she would more than likely be
rejected by the community.
What you can do to Help:
Katie Le friends and supporters of Sherzad have set
up a campaign to keep Sherzad and Katie together in
the UK. The campaign has drawn up a petition and
model letter (copy/amend/write your own version)
addressed to Tony McNulty Minister for Immigration,
which they are asking everyone to print off, fill
them in and get as many other people as possible to
do the same, and return them to the campaign office.
When they have collected enough signatures, the
campaign will present them to the Minister.
Download the Model Letter, Petition, Campaign
leaflet from :
http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszine62/sherzad.htm
Justice for Sherzad and Katie
C/o Hackney Law Centre
8 Lower Clapton Road
London
E5 0PD
Let your friends know about the 'Justice for Sherzad
and Katie Campaign' and get them to visit this web
page read about the case and download the Campaign
leaflet, model letter and petition.
Enquiries/further information:
Katie Le
OA487@aol.com
www.ncadc.org.uk
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