The Mehmeti Family
THE MEHMETI FAMILY APPEAL SUCCEEDS - December 2003
THE MEHMETI FAMILY have been given 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' (ILR)
under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act (which protects the right to family
life, as I understand
it).Prominent among the 'pro' arguments given in the judgement, was the
'huge local support' that the amily have received. The Mehmetis wanted
to pass on their heartfelt thanks to everyone who has helped their campaign.
Thanks to all the people of Bristol who gave their support; for more on
ruling.
The Mehmeti family fled to England from Kosovo after witnessing the brutal murder of their relatives, Robert Mehmeti's parents and brother. The Home Office say that Robert Mehmeti and his family must return to Kosovo but he fears for their lives if they are forced to go back.
The family, came to England in the back of a lorry in 2000 after paying smugglers £10,000 to get them out of Kosovo and settled in Knowle where the children attended local schools. . Faced with their desperate plight the father of three tried to take his own life earlier this year and was saved by his ten year old daughter, Elina, who put her own life in danger to save him.. Their case has been taken up by the Bristol Campaign to Defend Asylum Seekers.
Spokesperson Paulette North said: "What Elina did was amazingly brave, but the whole thing underlines the point that the family can not go back. The Government says Kosovo is safe, but there is nothing there for the children or the family. Their home and business has been destroyed."
The Evening Post has campaigned on behalf of the family. Acknowleding the danger of possible allegations of favouritism and unfairness. Simon Peevers of the Evening Post said his paper was using the Mehmetis' situation - along with other cases - to highlight the refugee issues facing Bristol.
Diane Mehmeti has been in contact with Dawn Primarolo who is to ask the Home Office to speed up the resolution of their case, as requested by the family, in order to reduce the stress of waiting.
Bristol currently accommodates about 500 asylum seekers under the dispersal scheme.
Local politicians pledged support for Bristol's asylum seekers and for the Mehmeti campaign at our local election meeting in April 2002
At a packed meeting on the 9th April 2002, representatives of 5 parties standing in the local elections pledged unequivocal support for the Bristol Defend Asylum Seekers Campaign, and to support the petition for the Mehmeti family.
Daiane Bunyan, Labour councillor, recently promoted to become Leader of the Council said: "Whitehall policies are racist and a kneejerk reaction to the Daily Mail ... I am extremely embarrassed to belong to a party that holds such ideas ... Bristol has a duty to welcome asylum seekers."
Dennis Brown, Liberal Democrat councillor for Henleze said asylum seekers should get the same benefits as anyone else, otherwise it creates a different class of citizenship. "What we need is a human rights policy, not an immigration policy."
John Devaney (Green Party), Phil Jones (Socialist Alliance) and Bernie Kennedy (Socialist Labour) all made the point that while there is freedom of movement for capital and armies, there is no freedom of movement for the people who end up losing their homes and livelihoods and fleeing persecution.
All five speakers pledged to make support for the Mehmeti family part of their election campaign.
Also present at the meeting was Julie Palmer, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Bedminster. She said: "I'm proud to be a member of the Bristol Defend Asylum Seekers Campaign. The asylum issue is a major part of my campaign in Bedminster. Too many people are still unaware of the dreadful plight of these people."
Although all political parties were invited to send a speaker to the
meeting the Tories chose not to.