Displaying items by tag: asylum seeker

Alid Ahmed, a Moroccan asylum seeker in England, is accused of murdering 70-year-old Terence Carney and attempting to murder his housemate Javed Nouri, a Christian convert, citing ‘revenge’ for Israeli actions in Gaza as his motive. Ahmed, who attacked both victims with knives, also assaulted two female police officers during his arrest. He initially targeted Nouri for being a Muslim convert to Christianity, then killed Carney, mistakenly believing both victims were dead. The attacks occurred soon after the Hamas attacks in Gaza, with Ahmed claiming his actions were to ‘free Palestine from the Zionists’. Despite Ahmed's claims of religious and political motivations, including his desire for martyrdom and references to the conflict in Gaza and Israel's actions, the trial is focussing on determining his intentions during the attacks. The prosecution claims his actions were driven by a combination of personal grievances and his perceived religious and political motivations. The case is ongoing.

One of the many refugees destined for Rwanda under a controversial scheme is an Iranian ex-police commander who fears Iranian agents would kill him in Rwanda. Iran's Revolutionary Guard is known for kidnapping and assassinating dissidents in African countries, including Rwanda. He testified via Skype to a tribunal investigating Iranian atrocities during anti-government protests. He was in charge of sixty police officers when he refused to obey orders to shoot protesters during the rallies. He was demoted by Iran’s military court and sentenced to five years in jail. 1,500 men, women and children were killed in the demonstrations. While out on bail pending his appeal he escaped to Turkey and lived in hiding for fourteen months, before fleeing to England in May. Although his face was covered when he gave evidence, Iran's security forces managed to identify him and have persecuted his family who are still living in Iran. See also article 5 in the World section.

A Christian charity has called on Boris Johnson to grant asylum to a 14-year-old Christian girl, Maira Shahbaz, who was abducted at gunpoint in April and forcibly married and converted to Islam by a married Muslim man. Aid to Church in Need, which supports persecuted Christians around the world, is urging concerned Christians to add their names to an online petition to the PM on Maira;s behalf. In August she fled the home of her alleged husband. The Lahore High Court ordered her to return to her abductor and ruled that she was legally married to him. Regardless of court decisions, her life will for ever be in danger from an honour killing by extremists considering her an apostate. See her video statement