In The Press

Amnesty International UK has shared the story of the Stansted 15; a group of activists who laid down in front of a chartered flight they believed to be about to enforce the removal of a number of people to Ghana and Nigeria in March 2017. It is this type of human rights activism that is at risk as a result of the legal action that has been brought against them. Initially they were charged with aggravated trespassing; however this was later changed to a terrorism offence which incurs a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. It is thought that if their sentence is carried out it will dissuade others from speaking out and challenging unlawful removals from the UK. Toufique Hossain, a public law and immigration director who frequently acts on behalf of immigration detainees at risk of removal, spoke on the Stansted 15’s actions in a documentary by feature film director, writer and composer Sue Clayton, entitled ‘Stansted Fifteen on Trial’. He stated: “…thanks to the Stansted 15 and because of their actions [Mercy*] was not removed to what would be a potentially life threatening [situation].” He commented on the UK’s current hostile environment policy and how it is limiting access to justice, “if those very desperate individuals can’t access justice, they can’t get lawyers because of the hostile environment and everything the hostile environment has done in reducing legal aid, reducing appeal rights and reducing the ability to access lawyers, then you will see people who want to help, who want to intervene and stop these people from effectively being returned to torture and to death. They will intervene in ways where lawyers can no longer assist.” *Please note her real name has been replaced to protect her identity.