The following piece was written for a protest meeting held outside the EU Building in Belfast on 31st August 2015: Tell the EU to stop pushing refugees into the sea. We called for: open borders, the creation of safe passages, the treatment of refugees with dignity and respect, a stop to fueling the wars that…Continue reading Crisis at the borders: as EU leaders prepare to meet, call for open borders.
Author: Anna Morvern
“Just another day in paradise”: the Calais situation
Screenshot from BBC Shorts: “DESPERATE TO GET THROUGH”, BBCshorts.tumblr.com, accessed 3rd August 2015. David Cameron proclaimed this week: “everything that can be done will be done to make sure our borders are secure and make sure that British holidaymakers are able to go on their holidays”. He was commenting as people are injured and dying…Continue reading “Just another day in paradise”: the Calais situation
Why I asked to be arrested for breaking Northern Ireland’s abortion laws
Just over two years ago, I wrote here about the one hundred people who had signed an open letter in an act of civil disobedience in protest at the situation for women needing an abortion in Northern Ireland. Although I am pro-choice, I didn’t sign that letter as my second son was not quite a year old and…Continue reading Why I asked to be arrested for breaking Northern Ireland’s abortion laws
Moazzam Begg: released without charge
Back in February, I wrote at this site about my concern on hearing of the arrest of Moazzam Begg, ex Guantanamo Bay detainee. I had listened to Moazzam speak about his experiences in Belfast in 2009 (my article reporting on his talk at St Mary’s College about his incarceration without charge post 9/11, originally written…Continue reading Moazzam Begg: released without charge
UK arrest of Moazzam Begg, ex Guantanamo Bay detainee – Belfast event
I am concerned to hear of the arrest of Moazzam Begg, former Guantanamo Bay detainee. Here is an article that I wrote for Amnesty International’s blog, “Belfast and Beyond”, when Moazzam Begg spoke about his experiences alongside Guantanamo former military guard at St Mary’s University College in Belfast in 2009. I haven’t followed the work…Continue reading UK arrest of Moazzam Begg, ex Guantanamo Bay detainee – Belfast event
Mr Muaza was deported
I am grateful to James Bridle for allowing me to share his description of deportation activities below. A BBC report also states that Mr Muaza has been deported. Our petition was sent to Theresa May and copied to OFMDFM but has, as yet, received no response. James writes of “immigration removals” in his post: “When…Continue reading Mr Muaza was deported
Call for Theresa May to resign
Many of you may have heard of the case of Mr Ifa Muaza, a Nigerian would-be refugee who has been on hunger strike in an immigration detention centre near London for close to 100 days and whom the Home Secretary nonetheless decided to deport last week, apparently by private chartered jet, which seemingly led to…Continue reading Call for Theresa May to resign
Theresa May’s deathly doublethink
We are confronted today with the Orwellian Doublethink of a Home Secretary who says, on the one hand, that slavery is hidden “in plain sight” across the UK today and that she makes it her “personal priority” to tackle it, and, on the other hand, that she will not release from administrative detention a…Continue reading Theresa May’s deathly doublethink
Supreme Court says Edwin Poots must accept NI courts’ decisions on adoption
This is a guest post by Catherine Couvert, who works as a Publications Officer for a Belfast NGO but is writing here in a personal capacity. On 22 October 2013, the UK Supreme court laid to rest the long saga of the legal battle over adoption in Northern Ireland. Civil partners cannot be barred from…Continue reading Supreme Court says Edwin Poots must accept NI courts’ decisions on adoption
Stop Press! Two-day Colloquium on emotions and law at QUB today and tomorrow
A very exciting two-day Colloquium at Queen’s University on emotional dynamics, law and legal discourse, will be held today and tomorrow. The University has confirmed, this morning, that there are still places if individuals want to attend, with sessions starting today at 1.45 PM (but note the fee in cash or cheque of £25 for…Continue reading Stop Press! Two-day Colloquium on emotions and law at QUB today and tomorrow
We hear their voices today
I would commend the one hundred women who have “shouted out loud” and signed an open letter in protest at the abortion law amendment that is proposed here – it has been noted, proposed by all-male politicians – which would make it illegal to perform an abortion outside the NHS. The proposed amendment under consideration…Continue reading We hear their voices today
NI health department appeals adoption ruling
A guest post by Catherine Couvert. Yesterday(15 January 2013) in Assembly question time, the Minister for Health confirmed that he is challenging Mr Justice Treacy’s decision last October that the rule banning civil partners and unmarried couples in Northern Ireland from adopting was illegal (judicial review [2012] NIQB 77). Mr Agnew [Stephen Agnew MLA, Green…Continue reading NI health department appeals adoption ruling