Support the campaign to prevent the removal of Mustafa Abdulrahim Mustafa, Sudanese cameraman, from the UK
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Support the campaign to prevent the removal of Mustafa Abdulrahim Mustafa, Sudanese cameraman, from the UK
HO Ref: M1247034
Mustafa Abdulrahim Mustafa is a Sudanese national of dual ethnicity : his mother is from the Dinka tribe of Southern Sudan, and his father is from the Masseleit tribe in the West of Sudan. Although born in the South, Mustafas family moved to Khartoum when he was just a child and he was educated in Khartoum. However, like all Sudanese men, Mustafa was required to undertake national service, and he worked as a camera man for a television programme in Sudan, and also for the military media unit.
In 1997 Mustafa lost his job after overhearing a high ranking military man (Major General), who was in charge of media in the operation zone, discussing the deaths of civilians during military operations. Mustafa questioned what he had overheard, and was insulted and verbally abused, his ethnicity insulted, before being dismissed from his post. Another television cameraman disappeared from the same film unit at about this time.
Mustafa continued his work as a film maker, making short films with students critical of the regime. The films were parodies of the regime and produced for distribution abroad. The smuggled films were discovered and Mustafa was arrested and detained for 6 months, during which time he was tortured: beaten and humiliated, interrogated, confined to a space in which he could reach both walls with his outstretched arms, sleeping on a bare concrete floor. His left eye is seriously damaged due to the beatings during that time, and he suffers from pains in his legs.
On release, Mustafa was warned that if he continued to make films he would be shot on sight. He was told that he could not leave Sudan. Mustafa was advised by his father to leave Khartoum, fearful that the whole family would be subject to imprisonment if Mustafa remained. Mustafa moved back down to the South, where he lived with his Aunt in Al Fashir.
In 2004 the Sudanese army and the Arab militia attacked Tawila in Darfur, near to where Mustafa was staying in Al Fashir. The town was under military siege, with an arrest campaign of anyone opposed, or suspected of opposition, to the Government, including students and others. Ghost houses sprang up everywhere (these are houses turned into torture centres and prisons). Your neighbours house could be a ghost house. They were everywhere.
Passing by with his camera, Mustafa heard shouts and screams coming from within one of the houses and filmed what he saw, using a zoom camera lens. A couple of months later, after the attack on Tawila, thousands of homes were searched, people were arrested and disappeared. Everyone was accused of supporting the Darfuri in the war in Darfur. Mustafas' home was searched in his absence, and his footage of a film that he was making about the atrocities in Darfur, (prepared for the Justice and Equality Movement) was seized. A neighbour warned him that his camera had been seized and urged him to leave.
Mustafa first arrived in the UK in 2004 and claimed asylum. He believes that his films incriminate him in a way that the regime in Sudan will not forget. Mustafa has provided evidence of his ethnicity, and his ID as a cameraman. He has suffered psychologically because of the events and incidents that he has observed, and his fears that he may be returned to Sudan. He suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and is treated at the local hospital for this. He also suffers from visual problems and pain in his legs.
Mustafa is a gentle reflective man, with a passion for football. Under his guidance his team went through to the semi finals in a local international Football league this summer. Those that know Mustafa know him to be a gentleman: an honest, considerate and kindly man, who does his best, within his limited means, to care for others in the Nottingham Community who are suffering from the impact of destitution and fear. We urge the Home Secretary and the Minister for Immigration to grant humanitarian protection to Mustafa and to allow him to remain in the UK.
HO Ref: M1247034
Mustafa Abdulrahim Mustafa is a Sudanese national of dual ethnicity : his mother is from the Dinka tribe of Southern Sudan, and his father is from the Masseleit tribe in the West of Sudan. Although born in the South, Mustafas family moved to Khartoum when he was just a child and he was educated in Khartoum. However, like all Sudanese men, Mustafa was required to undertake national service, and he worked as a camera man for a television programme in Sudan, and also for the military media unit.
In 1997 Mustafa lost his job after overhearing a high ranking military man (Major General), who was in charge of media in the operation zone, discussing the deaths of civilians during military operations. Mustafa questioned what he had overheard, and was insulted and verbally abused, his ethnicity insulted, before being dismissed from his post. Another television cameraman disappeared from the same film unit at about this time.
Mustafa continued his work as a film maker, making short films with students critical of the regime. The films were parodies of the regime and produced for distribution abroad. The smuggled films were discovered and Mustafa was arrested and detained for 6 months, during which time he was tortured: beaten and humiliated, interrogated, confined to a space in which he could reach both walls with his outstretched arms, sleeping on a bare concrete floor. His left eye is seriously damaged due to the beatings during that time, and he suffers from pains in his legs.
On release, Mustafa was warned that if he continued to make films he would be shot on sight. He was told that he could not leave Sudan. Mustafa was advised by his father to leave Khartoum, fearful that the whole family would be subject to imprisonment if Mustafa remained. Mustafa moved back down to the South, where he lived with his Aunt in Al Fashir.
In 2004 the Sudanese army and the Arab militia attacked Tawila in Darfur, near to where Mustafa was staying in Al Fashir. The town was under military siege, with an arrest campaign of anyone opposed, or suspected of opposition, to the Government, including students and others. Ghost houses sprang up everywhere (these are houses turned into torture centres and prisons). Your neighbours house could be a ghost house. They were everywhere.
Passing by with his camera, Mustafa heard shouts and screams coming from within one of the houses and filmed what he saw, using a zoom camera lens. A couple of months later, after the attack on Tawila, thousands of homes were searched, people were arrested and disappeared. Everyone was accused of supporting the Darfuri in the war in Darfur. Mustafas' home was searched in his absence, and his footage of a film that he was making about the atrocities in Darfur, (prepared for the Justice and Equality Movement) was seized. A neighbour warned him that his camera had been seized and urged him to leave.
Mustafa first arrived in the UK in 2004 and claimed asylum. He believes that his films incriminate him in a way that the regime in Sudan will not forget. Mustafa has provided evidence of his ethnicity, and his ID as a cameraman. He has suffered psychologically because of the events and incidents that he has observed, and his fears that he may be returned to Sudan. He suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and is treated at the local hospital for this. He also suffers from visual problems and pain in his legs.
Mustafa is a gentle reflective man, with a passion for football. Under his guidance his team went through to the semi finals in a local international Football league this summer. Those that know Mustafa know him to be a gentleman: an honest, considerate and kindly man, who does his best, within his limited means, to care for others in the Nottingham Community who are suffering from the impact of destitution and fear. We urge the Home Secretary and the Minister for Immigration to grant humanitarian protection to Mustafa and to allow him to remain in the UK.
144 Signatures
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miriam hollis
- Comments
- I support the campaign to keep Mustafa in the UK
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Ottillie
- Comments
- Mustafa is a good man. If he says that he is in danger he should stay in the UK
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H. HL
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- As a media student I support Mustafas campaign to stay in the UK
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Teodora Todorova
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Arthur Piper
- Comments
- Mustafa needs protection because he risked his life as a journalist to tell the truth about his country. The government should support Mustafa by granting him asylum
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Stuart Brown
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Catherine Taylor
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angela taggart
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- a humanitarian response is expected in this case
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John O
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- "Never be silent whenever wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides."
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Jonathan SIlvey
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claire hollis
- Comments
- please let this man have a safe life in this country
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Aria Ahmed
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Konnie Lloyd
- Comments
- It is our duty to provide sanctuary to thos e who are persecuted and likely to face, imprisonment, torture or even death when they are returned to their country in this case Sudan.
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Barbara Malinen
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Chris Cook Cann
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- Please grant safety to Mustafa. After the terrible things that have happened to him, the least we can do is to let him stay here. Nottingham will be happy to welcome him back.
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richard mccance
- Comments
- Everyone should have a right to remain in the country of their choice, withour fear of prosecution, or fear for their safety, This man has suffered immeasurably.
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Aurelie Guinard
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Peter Roberts
- Comments
- humanity is critical if we are to be able to live harmoniously together on this one small planet.
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T Patel
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Mary Foley
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- It is very unlikely that a person like Mr Mustafa could lie low in Sudan without being discovered by the authorities
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Mandy Roland=Smith
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- Journalists need protection if they are to continue to report what they see. Mustapha needs our protection from what would almost undoubtedly be a terrifying and possibly deadly fate if he is made to return. He has suffered enough and is surely exactly the sort of person asylum is for. Please allow him to stay in the UK and to make a secure life for himself.
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Paul Swift
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- It is a measure of a civilised society as to whether we can provide sanctuary for those fleeing torture and oppression. Mustafa must be allowed to stay in the UK.
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RIchard Whincop
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A. Marina Iossifides
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Dan Robertson
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Claire Taylor
- Comments
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Jennifer Campbell
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John Hort
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Susan King
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Isabel Turnbull
- Comments
- Do not force Mustafa back to Sudan where he is in danger. He should be welcolmed to the UK and not treated like this.
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paul wilkinson
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Edward Llewellyn-Jones
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Amdani Juma
- Comments
- Please stop removal of Mustafa from the UK. He came to seek protection. He will be in danger if returned to Darfur where there are ongoing brutal conflicts
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Alan Davies
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Patricia Brand
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Jo keely
- Comments
- This should not happen! Do the right thing, please
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Aladdin Dawood
- Comments
- Save his live, give him a chance to live a better live in UK , don't send him to his deth in his country... Please.
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abakar Hassane
- Comments
- Mustafa belong here removing Him from England Will not improve the credit Crisis .The home office can only loose here He is educated and well manered.
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SA Omer
- Comments
- Mustafa's life will be danger if deported to Sudan
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Roy Ashman
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Carol Wolter-Gustafson
- Comments
- Please prevent this man's removal!
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Kam Harte
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Dr Trevor Trueman
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Melissa Hatcher
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Guy Whitmarsh
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- this is a brave man of integrity who deserves our protection
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Gillian Proctor
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Ben.Homfray
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Beatrice Millar
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Catherine Tonge
- Comments
- This man is clearly under threat of grave danger if returned to Sudan, let him stay and be free.
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Zeinelabdin Sa;ih
- Comments
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144
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