Muhammed
Aamir Ashraf is a journalism graduate and holds a diploma in IT. His
wife Hummera has a Master's Degree (Literature) and was an M.Phil
student. They married each other in Pakistan on their own choice against
their families.
Due to the
threat of Honour Killing, Aamir and Hummera escaped from their parent's
home. After family members published an article in a newspaper against
them and following police raids, it became very difficult to hide
themselves in the other parts of their country. Pakistan has many
different ethnic groups, who have separate languages, dress and even
facial appearance. No one would take a risk to provide accommodation to
a young couple for fear of 6 their own security. In this worst
situation, with the help of a Professor, they were able to flee from
Pakistan in 2002.
The Pakistani Police do not offer adequate protection from HONOUR
KILLING; In fact the couple is also under threat by the police because
Hummera's family made false allegations against them.
The report
"State of Human Rights in 2004" published in February 2005 by the Human
Rights Commission of Pakistan notes that "despite the passage of a bill
on honour killings no effort was made to ensure an improvement in ground
realities" and that "little attention was devoted to the plight of an
increased number of couples who faced a death threat to their lives
after choosing to marry of their own free will".
According to The Home Office country report on Pakistan (Oct 2004),
which draws on information from an Amnesty International document,
"Insufficient protection of Women: Honour Killings are carried out by
men who assume that their wives, daughters or sisters have in some way
contravened norms relating to the behaviour of women thereby damaging a
man's honour".
The US State Department report notes that "The [Pakistan] Government
also failed to prosecute vigorously cases in which families punished
members (generally women) for marring or seeking a divorce against the
wishes of other family members".
Meanwhile,
they have received bad news from Pakistan. The Professor emailed to
Aamir that he had been threatened by his wife's brother and that "your
family would be in danger if you return to Pakistan". Hummera's family
continues to hunt the couple down and have used threatening behaviour
against a friend of theirs who gave evidence to their solicitor.
Hummera's claim has been rejected. In Ashraf's case the Immigration
Adjudicator allowed the claim on human rights ground but the Home Office
appealed against that decision. The case had been "remitted back" to an
adjudicator three times. The whole process has taken 3 years so far.
They have two children now, both born in Manchester.
The Ashraf
Family with friends and supporters have set up a campaign to try and
persuade Tony McNulty, Minister for Immigration to allow them to remain
in the UK. The campaign has drawn up a petition and model letter
attached, which they are asking everyone to print off, fill them in and
get as many other people as possible to do the same, and return them to
the campaign office. When they have collected enough signatures, the
campaign will present them to the Minister.
Let your friends know about the 'Ashraf Family Must Stay!'
Campaign and get them to visit the web page, read about the case and
download the model letter and petition.
Individual letters of support addressed to the Minister for Immigration
are very much welcome - please ensure the below reference numbers are
included
Muhammed
Aamir Ashraf, Home Office Reference No. A1147849
Hummera
Aamir, Home Office Reference No. A1184573
For further information please contact
Ashraf
Family Must Stay! PO BOX 111 Chorlton Manchester M21 0YU
