Defend the Yarl's Wood Five - Release them from Prison Today!

A message from Women Behind the Wire @ Yarl's Wood

• Posted on Mar 2, 2010

Denise McNeil         from Jamaica
Aminata Camara     from   Guinea
Sheree Wilson         from   Jamaica
Shellyann Stupart   from Jamaica
Gladys Obiyan        from   Nigeria

Should be released from prison today without fail, returned to their communities or immediate return to Yarl's Wood IRC.

Aminata, Sheree, Shellyann, and Gladys, were resident in Yarl's Wood IRC on Monday 8th February 2010, when an absolute and unwarranted response to a peaceful hunger strike by Serco staff, led to eight hours of chaos. Many of the detainees were injured.

Aminata, Sheree, Shellyann, and Gladys, were removed from association and transferred to Bedford police station, where they remained overnight. They were then transferred to Colnbrook STHF and on Thursday 11th February; Aminata & Shellyann were moved to HMP Bronzefield and Gladys & Sheree to HMP Holloway.

Denise McNeil, was put into segregation in Yarl's Wood on Monday 8th February and remained there till Sunday 20th. Then she was moved to Colnbrook STHF and remained there in segregation until Friday 26th February, when she was moved to HMP Holloway.

None of the women have been charged with any offences or were in any way involved in any actions at Yarl's Wood that were other than peaceful.

UK citizens cannot be remanded to prison, except they have been brought before a judge and the judge orders it so.

Denise, Aminata, Sheree, Shellyann, and Gladys, have not and will not be brought before a judge, they have been remanded to prison on the whim of Phil Woolas MP, Minister of State for Borders and Immigration.

No doubt there will be a full investigation into the events of Monday 8th February, until that investigation is completed. Denise, Aminata, Sheree, Shellyann, and Gladys, should under no circumstances be detained in a prison establishment.

Immigration bosses to be quizzed after asylum seekers were 'beaten' by guards
On Tuesday 2nd March 2010, Lin Homer, chief executive of the UK Border Agency, and John Vine, the agency's chief inspector, are expected to be questioned by the home affairs select committee over the claims, that women in Yarl's Wood detention centre were physically abused by officers during hunger strike, which are denied by staff.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/feb/28/yarls-wood-assaults

Legal challenge over Yarl's Wood women|
* Centre breaching human rights, say lawyers
* Treatment of inmates is 'cruel and degrading'
Lawyers are due to launch a legal challenge today on behalf of four women held at Yarl's Wood detention centre, claiming their incarceration amounts to "cruel, inhumane and degrading" treatment that breaches their human rights.
http://tinyurl.com/y8crudz

What You Can do to Help:
The detained women are asking you to Email/fax/phone/write to: Rt. Hon Alan Johnson, MP, Secretary of State for the Home Office, requesting that Denise, Aminata, Sheree, Shellyann, and Gladys, are returned to Yarl's Wood immediately or released into the community.

Model letter (at end of text) which you can copy/amend/write your own version, there are no Home Office reference numbers available as the women were moved from Yarl's Wood, with out their belongings.

Rt. Hon Alan Johnson, MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office
3rd Floor, Peel Buildings
2 Marsham St
London SW1 4DF
Telephone: 020 7035 0195
Fax: 0870 336 9034
Email: Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Emails: UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Please let the campaign know of faxes/emails sent:
WomenBehindTheWire@ncadc.org.uk

Please keep sending Solidarity messages

Source for this Message:
Women Behind the Wire @ Yarl's Wood

Rt. Hon Alan Johnson MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office
3rd Floor, Peel Buildings, 2 Marsham St
London SW1 4DF
Telephone: 020 7035 0195
Fax: 0870 336 9034
Email: Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Emails: UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Dear Mr. Johnson,
I have been following events at Yarl’s Wood, since Monday 8th February 2010; there has been considerable coverage in the press and on TV, a debate in Parliament, (House of Commons / Feb 2010: Column 1006). An Early Day Motion, EDM 919: Hunger Strike At Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre, was tabled on 23rd February 2010.
Aminata, Sheree, Shellyann, and Gladys, were resident in Yarl's Wood IRC on Monday 8th February 2010, when an absolute and unwarranted response to a peaceful hunger strike by Serco staff, led to eight hours of chaos. Many of the detainees were injured.
Aminata, Sheree, Shellyann, and Gladys, were removed from association and transferred to Bedford police station, where they remained overnight. They were then transferred to Colnbrook STHF and on Thursday 11th February; Aminata & Shellyann were moved to HMP Bronzefield and Gladys & Sheree to HMP Holloway.
Denise McNeil, was put into segregation in Yarl's Wood on Monday 8th February and remained there till Sunday 20th. Then she was moved to Colnbrook STHF and remained there in segregation until Friday 26th February, when she was moved to HMP Holloway.
None of the women have been charged with any offences or were in any way involved in any actions at Yarl's Wood that were other than peaceful. As you know, UK citizens cannot be remanded to prison, except they have been brought before a judge and the judge orders it so.
Denise, Aminata, Sheree, Shellyann, and Gladys, have not and will not be brought before a judge, they have been remanded to prison on the whim of Phil Woolas MP, Minister of State for Borders and Immigration.
Immigration bosses to be quizzed after asylum seekers were 'beaten' by guardsOn Tuesday, Lin Homer, chief executive of the UK Border Agency, and John Vine, the agency's chief inspector, are expected to be questioned by the home affairs select committee over the claims, that women in Yarl's Wood detention centre were physically abused by officers during hunger strike, which are denied by staff.
Legal challenge over Yarl's Wood women
* Centre breaching human rights, say lawyers * Treatment of inmates is 'cruel and degrading'Lawyers are due to launch a legal challenge today on behalf of four women held at Yarl's Wood detention centre, claiming their incarceration amounts to "cruel, inhumane and degrading" treatment that breaches their human rights.
No doubt there will be a full investigation into the events of Monday 8th February 2010, until that investigation is completed. Denise, Aminata, Sheree, Shellyann, and Gladys, should under no circumstances be detained in a prison establishment.
I am requesting that Denise, Aminata, Sheree, Shellyann, and Gladys, are returned to Yarl’s Wood, where there are bed spaces, or released into the community immediately.
Yours Sincerely,
Name:

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