Union call emergency debate over Azim
THE OXFORD Union is preparing to debate a motion regarding the future of Oxford asylum seeker Azim Ansari tonight, amid protests outside the Union building. The emergency debate, ‘This house believes the case of Azim Ansari is a sad indictment of the UK's asylum policy', will be held at 7:45pm, before the main debate. Des Browne, the Minister for Immigration and government official responsible for Azim's case, will be a guest speaker at the main debate.
The campaign group ‘Keep Azim in Oxford' will conduct a candlelit vigil outside the Union, but have ruled out a noisy protest during the debate as well as any direct action. The Immigration Minister will also be presented with letters of support for Azim from the JCR Presidents of colleges that have passed motions backing the Afghan's bid to stay in the UK.
OUSU executive member, Emma Jones, who is helping to coordinate Azim's campaign, told The Oxford Student: “We must do all that we can to show the minister that Oxford students are united in support of Azim and his brother Wali.” The campaign had originally planned for Azim to meet the minister face to face, but ultimately it was decided that he should remain absent after concerns that this would harm his appeal.
Azim and his brother Wali will make their final appeal against the government's decision to return them to Afghanistan in April.
17th Feb 2005