Desperate asylum seeker cuts himself because of extended custody

July 23, 2004 in Asylum and refugees, Self harm/suicide, Social care leaders

An asylum seeker who has been detained in a prison for over a
year and a half after his criminal sentence finished has seriously
cut him self in despair, it was alleged this week,
writes Amy Taylor.

Sue Conlan, from Tyndallwoods solicitors said that her client,
23-year-old Kais Hadi, had cut himself earlier this month when
prison officers attempted to move him to another prison.

“When they came to take him to another prison, not even to an
immigration detention, it was the last straw for him and he hurt
himself in his despair,” said his wife, Soumia
Berkaoui.

Conlan said Hadi was arrested and charged for fraud offences in May
2002, convicted in July and due to be released in January 2003 but
was then transferred to Blakenhurst prison and held under the
Immigration Act.

Conlan said Hadi has had his asylum claim refused and that his
appeal against the decision finished in April 2004. She added that
the Home Office has issued a decision to deport him but he is
currently appealing against this and has launched a fresh claim for
asylum.

Hadi is still in prison despite the agreement of the Immigration
Service in April 2004 to transfer him to a detention centre, she
said.

A Home Office spokesperson said that they did not comment on
individual cases.