Having worked as a professional musician in Iraq for a number of years, Tariq claimed asylum in the UK in October 2006, since his life had been threatened by extreme Islamist elements, who are opposed not only to the anti-sectarian content of many of Tariq's lyrics but also to the very concept of music itself.

His asylum claim was refused by the Home Office of the UK Government in November 2006. The Reasons for Refusal letter informed Tariq not only that "it is not accepted that you were a singer in Iraq" but that, in any case, there is "no evidence to support the notion that other singers have been targeted or forced to leave Iraq".

Tariq was left in legal limbo for almost a year after this refusal: he was entitled to no welfare benefits, was not allowed to take paid employment, and could not consider the prospect of a return to Iraq, for fear of his life.

In October 2008 he found new legal representatives, the Asylum Support & Immigration Resource Team, who helped Tariq to provide new evidence to the Home Office confirming not only the obvious fact that Tariq is indeed a professional musician, but also that more than 70 musicians have been murdered since 2003 in Iraq purely because they dared to claim freedom of artistic expression. The evidence also suggests that nearly 80% of all Iraqi singers have, like Tariq, been forced into exile.
Since last October, Tariq has heard nothing from the Home Office and has absolutely no idea what the future might bring. He is terrified of the prospect of a return to Iraq and is in no doubt that his life would be in grave danger were he to be forced to return.

We will be collecting signatures in support of Tariq's fight for sanctuary in the UK at the Celebrating Sanctuary event in Chamberalin Square next Saturday, June 13th, and urge people to join us to listen to his performance and to show solidarity in the face of the media's ongoing war against asylum seekers.

ASIRT.