This afternoon, Ben from Detention Action conducted a live Q and A with ‘Abdi’ who is currently detained, under immigration powers, in a prison.
Ben asked Abdi questions that you, the public, had sent us via Twitter and Facebook and at the various Unlocking Detention events Right to Remain and Detention Action have held recently. Thank you to everyone who sent us a question!
And a huge thank you to Abdi, whose stepping in at a last minute after we lost contact w/ Ali early this week #Unlocked16 #DetainedInPrison pic.twitter.com/JkwE6NJSxB
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Fact we lost contact w/ Ali is indicative of v.real barriers to communicating w/ those detained in prisons – extremely isolated #Unlocked16 https://t.co/m7uz1z8I2C
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Ben could only speak to Abdi for ten minutes at a time – the maximum length of time those detained in prison can use the phone for.
First question for Abdi: How long have you been detained in prison following the completion of your sentence? #Unlocked16 #Time4aTimeLimit
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Abdi: I've been here 5months after my sentence. Sentence was 20-odd wks for shoplifting. I’m here because of a bottle of whiskey #Unlocked16 https://t.co/ZNm91zTZKm
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Hey @DetentionForum, I have a question please for tomorrow's Q&A session. Thank you. #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/SvckoD4W4I
— Sylvia ???????? (@CricklewoodMum) October 13, 2016
Abdi: Immigration officer comes on the wing once a wk to give me my monthly report. He told me I’m entitled to immigration bail. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/ce6kEu83Sv
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
A question from AVID, the Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees:
Abdi: There’s the immigration officer but the normal prison guards don’t know anything about it, they can't really help. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/G14VtmLcjM
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Next question is from someone who came to Right to Remain’s annual gathering in September: do you know how long you will be in here? How long you could be in here?
Question for Abdi about indefinite nature of detention from @Right_to_Remain conference #Unlocked16 #Time4aTimeLimit #DetainedInPrison pic.twitter.com/SFXJ0esTk8
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Abdi: I have no idea how long. They’re basically saying ‘detention is full’ and the priority is for those that are ‘flying’. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/jjSC2tOWq6
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Some questions from Scottish Detainee Visitors: Are you in a separate part of the prison now that you are in immigration detention? Are you able to leave your cell more?
More questions for this week. @DetentionForum @DetentionAction #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/D6tyRvXy1T
— ScotDetaineeVisitors (@SDVisitors) October 11, 2016
Abdi: Still in the same cell, with the same people around me…People still serving their sentence. It's wrong I am still here. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/M5T7PxKYnZ
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Q for Abdi: Is anyone preparing you for being moved to detention (in same way that prisoners are 'prepared' for reintegration)? #Unlocked16
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Abdi: No, nothing. No release date, no information, no idea what is happening next. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/4aKbGJjE3z
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
What would you ask someone detained in prison under immigration powers? Tweet your ques. @DetentionForum https://t.co/iiA5Sr402F #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/aNvK0xozxy
— Detention Action (@DetentionAction) October 6, 2016
Abdi: The prisoners feel sorry for me. I’ve finished my sentence & should be released. Who’s signing off on me still being here? #Unlocked16 https://t.co/TCPFnzReMP
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
@DetentionForum Q for Abdi – Day to day, what do you find most difficult about your situation?
— Fences&Frontiers ? (@FencesFrontiers) October 14, 2016
.@FencesFrontiers Abdi: Not knowing what’s next. Your freedom & human rights are taken away in here. #Unlocked16 #Time4aTimeLimit https://t.co/OLtnhf3DxL
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Next up: The Home Office say they only detain people in prison in exceptional circumstances. Are there others there in prison with you, detained under immigration powers?
Abdi: Immigration officer told me there are 50 of us. Some of them speaking no English…All here because 'detention is full'. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/Zud54UgXWy
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Another question from Scottish Detainee Visitors: When were you told you wouldn’t be released at the end of your sentence? How did that make you feel?
Abdi: On the day itself they said I had some ‘immigration issue’. It was a huge shock. Basically, I was pissed off. I was upset. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/A43fIjq9ph
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Another question from the Right to Remain gathering: Have you got any legal assistance?
Abdi: Just managed to get someone last week. Most of them are saying their private & its £500 just for the initial consultation. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/sUdNLqZOgc
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Q for Abdi: Do you have access to internet, or any resources to help research your case? #Unlocked16 #BarriersToJustice #BuildTrustNotWalls
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Abdi: Internet not allowed. Phones not allowed, only the wing phone for 10mins. Can't research nothing. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/OgWjfg26Bf
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
A question from Kalina Shah @KalinaShah: how many hours are you made to stay in your cell, and are you given any free time?
Abdi: 1hr a day out of the cell. And there are 70 people trying to use phone/shower. Its fucking hectic. No time to do anything. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/UHAdI80CHm
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
How often can you see your friends and family? Can you receive regular visits?
Abdi: You can get 2 visits a week, I think. My family sometimes come, but not regularly. It feels good to come out of your cell. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/htkXrsPKc2
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
A question via the Unlocking Detention Facebook page:
Abdi: Sometimes the SOAS Detainee Support Group come. They are a big help to me. https://t.co/20r7nnxG9l #SDS #Unlocked16 @detainedvoices https://t.co/XKvHtIBduY
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Ques. for Abdi from @DetentionAction's launch event for their new report on alternatives #WithoutDetention #Unlocked16 #BuildTrustNotWalls pic.twitter.com/VrZWGPLdDt
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Abdi: Very hard on your head – it sends you insane. The want you to give up. I feel forgotten…like I’m not even a human being. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/dV3MMaA00l
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Abdi: Its inhumane, shameful, what the Home Office is doing. Being detained here is even worse than being imprisoned as a lifer. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/nfQF9TlmtE
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Abdi: I’d probably be with my girlfriend…I miss her. And I’d run around! Only real exercise I get is is press-ups in my cell. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/9Lh0IfhGoK
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
And another question via the Facebook page, thanks to Eleri of Swansea City of Sanctuary:
Abdi: Detention is all about discrimination, it's an abuse of power. Migrants are seen as less than convicted British murderers. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/nLdWmAsKqB
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Our question for Q&A with Abdi, currently detained in prison under immigration powers? #Unlocked16 #BuilldTrustNotWalls @DetentionForum pic.twitter.com/bt26fKGfbP
— Detention Action (@DetentionAction) October 14, 2016
Abdi (1/2): Yes. Least when you get a sentence you know you done a crime & you have to serve your time. But where's my sentence? #Unlocked16 https://t.co/9TWS2SjULj
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
Abdi (2/2): And I'm here when no-one can even say you are definitely gonna be deported? It shouldn’t be allowed, man. It's wrong #Unlocked16 https://t.co/LuZNuhAHDY
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
That's it for #Unlocked16's first live Q&A. Enormous thanks to Abdi, especially given logistical difficulties & having to stop/start…
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016
And big thanks to all who sent in questions for Abdi. He says getting his voice out means alot, so please spread the tweets! #Unlocked16
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 14, 2016