Amdani released on bail

Friends collected him from Campsfield Detention Centre, and brought him back to Nottingham the night after his hearing. He has spent 18 days in detention since being detained on Friday 30th May when he went to sign at a Reporting Centre in Loughborough.

In that time, 3 rallies were held in Nottingham in support of his case and an online and paper petition supporting his right to stay have attracted a combined total of over 5,000 signatures, including Alan Simpson MP and Noam Chomsky. His deportation was postponed once to give both sides more time and then a second time pending a Judicial Review application.

The bail hearing was conducted by video link. There had been some confusion in the morning relating to this, which the home office/Courts had down for Colnbrook, when in fact Amdani was still in Campsfield House. Fortunately, supporters were on the case and able to sort things in time.

Amdani is a Burundian national. In 2003, he was granted 3 years Humanitarian Protection but his later application for Indefinite Leave to Remain was turned down. A further application for discretion by the Home Office was also refused resulting in his present detention. Alan Simpson MP for Nottingham South and Nottingham Council leader Jon Collins have both spoken out about Amdani’s proposed removal.

A welcome home/campaign meeting was held at Nottingham & Notts Refugee Forum on Tuesday 17th June. Although getting bail is an important victory, the struggle continues. There's now have a Judicial Review to win as well as looking at ways that others from Nottingham facing similar treatment and deportation can be supported