This interview with Ali, who is detained in Colnbrook, took place last week and we planned as usual to tweet the Q and A throughout the afternoon on the Friday of Colnbrook week of #Unlockd16.
On Friday morning, news broke that a man had died in Colnbrook and that a murder investigation had been launched. As the interview with Ali was not live, there are no questions about this terrible news, or how the people detained in Colnbrook are dealing with such a stressful situation.
We decided it was important to go ahead with getting Ali’s voice out into the wider world.
Here’s the full interview:
More important today than ever that the everyday experience of immigration detention is shared. #Colnbrook #detention #Unlocked16 https://t.co/Akgi4WEV8T
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Just another reminder that the interview with Ali in Colnbrook IS NOT live, so we won't be asking him about the news from today #Unlocked16
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
What we did ask Ali were lots of amazing questions from you, the public. #Unlocked16
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Thanks especially to @ManchesterMiSol @Rene_Cassin @Right_to_Remain for the great questions from their #Unlocked16 workshops
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
First question for 'Ali', currently detained in Colnbrook: Did you ever expect to be in this situation? #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/zPDY9EiihY
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
A: No. I never thought it would happen to me,not in a million years.I heard 'detention' but didn't think that it looks like this #Unlocked16 https://t.co/oyWtIjFkWN
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Next question for Ali, who is right now detained in Colnbrook IRC #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/F4pQQJizWm
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: It's more every man for themselves to be honest. Everyone is so stressed about their own case. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/MdiDtw3nM4
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Next up for Ali in Colnbrook #detention centre, a big question from @Rene_Cassin @Right_to_Remain workshop #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/rgmdnHGJLq
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: I don't know to be honest. It feels like there are laws changing everyday since I was in prison. Who knows. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/GgBqhhQide
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Not a surpise that Ali doesn't know why he is detained – detention makes no sense, for anybody (including the government) #Unlocked16 https://t.co/xF2BIuHGoN
— Right to Remain (@Right_to_Remain) December 2, 2016
Next question for Ali, detained in #Colnbrook: Where are your family? Taps into this year's #Unlocked16 of family and friends … pic.twitter.com/rw8Qh8td2d
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: My girlfriend and kid are down South. My girlfriend has come a few times. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/89d8RrunAM
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
No money provided for family, friends and communities who can't afford to pay to visit detained loved ones (unlike in prison) #Unlocked16 https://t.co/X9IOU6rAiL
— LisaLeziza (@LisaLeziza) December 2, 2016
Ali: I speak to my daughter every day but she's too young to come to a place like this. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/89d8RrunAM
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/EiriOhtani/status/804695595751534592
Many don't want their family to visit it's just too traumatic when they leave. https://t.co/csLE3r2wkH
— Heather Jones BCA ???? (@Heather_Jones5) December 2, 2016
Next question for Ali. Ali is detained in Colnbrook and we interviewed him for #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/5lpG8FxwzP
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: Morning I go gym.12pm I go work. Lunch. Play cards. Some tele…then the same again. Same food, same everything, every day. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/34UYE9iL3i
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
"Same everything, every day" Reminds me of descriptions of "barbed wire disease" I wrote about here #Unlocked16 https://t.co/bqJWgDklHg https://t.co/U5X8TmEESB
— LisaLeziza (@LisaLeziza) December 2, 2016
Another good question for Ali: #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/vHapumJFgp
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
"I came here with my then-wife,we had my daughter.When I first came it was a good time in my life -working and studying.Then…" #Unlocked16 https://t.co/4lYnVCC9Jr
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
"…then everything went wrong" #Unlocked16 https://t.co/CEP752YEEo
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Next question for Ali in #Colnbrook: "How were you detained?" #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/jVaabGVWXQ
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: They brought me here one month before my sentence finished. They said they were sending me home. I've been here 5 months #Unlocked16 https://t.co/IOY9an6wra
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Another question for Ali in Colnbrook, from Right to Remain and René Cassin #Unlocked16 workshop pic.twitter.com/jnbNlJxjdE
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
I love these kind of questions – human to human. Exactly what #Unlocked16 is all about – connecting people outside with those detained https://t.co/V21DePiXXZ
— LisaLeziza (@LisaLeziza) December 2, 2016
Ali: “Oooh, loads of things. I've been prison food, then detention food for time now… “ #Unlocked16 https://t.co/Do8r21BS0c
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: I'd love kebab, some sweet pastry. I'd love to cook myself, y'know. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/Do8r21BS0c
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Next question for Ali… #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/oqNpX0kit7
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: You don't know when you'll get out. You don't get know information. Everyone here is stressed. Everyone here is unhappy. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/53j2TYYloL
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Next question (a great question): What is your favourite music? #Unlocked16 ??? pic.twitter.com/pS8e8sCY9q
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: I like listening to Smooth FM. Or some Kurdish music. Here people are playing hiphop very, very loud. I hate it. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/b2W96G0MBz
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Next question for Ali, detained in #Colnbrook #Unlocked16: "Do you feel like British people, the UK are against you?" pic.twitter.com/BuQWVJLjmN
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: No, I don't think so. I don't have a problem with the British people. I have a problem with the system. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/hOmf2cofft
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Next question for Ali "What has been the worst thing about the process/detention since you arrived in the UK?" #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/pegrkQSqLE
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: The banging shut of the doors at 9pm every night. It makes me feel like a prisoner. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/82RqVnVx0r
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
And on the flip side… "What has been the most positive thing about your experience of the process/detention?" #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/mSdlIDfREZ
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: I met loads of good people here, some good hearts. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/rAMqImh4Ws
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Next question for Ali, on restrictions on movement in detention "How often are you allowed out of your cell?" #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/SPo0yQPu6l
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: 8am to 9pm its open. If there's something special happening then they might bang you up for an hour here or there. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/DvNeeafa1a
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Lockdowns common if a serious incident happens. Worth bearing in mind today #Colnbrook #Unlocked16 https://t.co/3Dj79p2WET
— Right to Remain (@Right_to_Remain) December 2, 2016
Next question for Ali, about legal representation in #detention #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/nToId2Qo1N
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: Yeah, I got both. You have to otherwise you're in trouble. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/Xk9vLQFaSI
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: My room-mate's been trying to get through to his solicitor for three days and she's not answering #Unlocked16 https://t.co/Xk9vLQFaSI
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Next question for Ali – It can be hard for those outside to visualise what day-to-day life in detention is like. #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/mkWuhj740L
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: I like watch the football. I support West Ham. They're rubbish this year. I like Bilic but it's not happening this year. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/DygOzVaVhe
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
More on following football while detained in Colnbrook, from earlier in the year https://t.co/xRDyt44Hl0 #Unlocked16 https://t.co/tM87PBUhi6
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Next question for Ali, detained in Colnbrook: How will you celebrate when you are released? #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/7TwtgqJdMM
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
“Aaah man…I'd celebrate with a walk. 5 miles, 10 miles…I want to just walk. Here you can't walk more than a few metres.” #Unlocked16 https://t.co/fW2y8Ut2nZ
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Question from a member of the public for Ali, detained in Colnbrook: "What keeps you going, how do you stay sane?" #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/Jv9d3XCB1c
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: I have to be strong, I have to be positive, I have no choice. You got to be patient. One day it'll come… #Unlocked16 https://t.co/Msc0ak34iW
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Question for Ali about the impact of being in limbo, with no time-limit on detention #Unlocked16 #Time4aTimeLimit pic.twitter.com/Z7JCyajqgJ
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
"Honestly…it's stress. This month, after Christmas, next year..? I don't know. It's like going to prison for life." #Unlocked16 https://t.co/GfViMMMLi4
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: I know one guy who recently left who was here 2.5 years. Guy next door is 13 months. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/GfViMMMLi4
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Q for Ali: Is there anything in detention you still try and follow on the outside? Eg. Football, politics, soaps #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/Cek99vVJ9J
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: I am following the politics back home a bit. That and West Ham. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/Ry0qlZUbve
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Perhaps one of the most powerful & poignant questions for Ali: What would you being doing if you weren’t in detention right now? #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/Iyk4CaZCxe
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: Probably home with my girlfriend. Cooking maybe. Relaxing. I dunno. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/nHVIYSt3cS
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
What would Ali be doing if he wasn't detained right now? Living. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/5y7NBrmKZf
— LisaLeziza (@LisaLeziza) December 2, 2016
Final Q for Ali from @ManchesterMiSol member: What’s the difference between your state of mind now and before you were detained? #Unlocked16
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Ali: When I first came, I was more active. Staying outside. Now, I am more in my room. The shouting,the noise,it's all too much. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/iYShvLNrMY
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016
Horribly familiar story of decline. So many examples, like these from Unlocking Detention last year #Unlocked16 https://t.co/UzfQZ1Qj2E https://t.co/DNaxX2z755
— LisaLeziza (@LisaLeziza) December 2, 2016
Thank you Ali, for opening a window onto life in detention. We're thinking of him especially today, with the news from Colnbrook #Unlocked16
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) December 2, 2016