STATEMENT BY SALEEM SADDIQ
Written while detained in Yarlswood Detention Centre

My name is saleem siddiq and I fled with my family to th UK in 2005 and we have claimed asylum at Hetahrow airport. We could hardly managed to escape from Pakistan because I had been attacked twice and once I was abducted at gun point from members of my opponents. 
When we came to UK and claimed asylum in july 2005, I thought that our problem has been over and I am goanna live a peaceful life with my family but I was wrong. Since we came to this country we are keep gettin negative response from the Home office which makes me and my family depressed and helpless. I have provided a number of substantial evidences to the Home office but they have turned down everything. They beleived that my evidences are not credible.In that situation I can't challenge their believe and I can't change their mind set because I am a helpless person and even I can't resist against their massive power and authority. After a very long struggle and hard work my asylum claim has been refused and I have no rights to remain in the UK. Now I am a failed asylum seeker.           

I have a son born in the UK, now 21 months old. My daughter is four years and she is happy, settled and attending Holy Rosary nursery in Harehills. I was struggling with depression since my ordeal in pakistan. Now I am excelling on a BTEC National Award in Airport and Airline operations. My tutors have commended my commitment and motivation and my course will due to finish on 20 March 2008. My wife volunteered with sure start , helping families to integrate and studied English, Maths and computers to a high level.
 
On 26th Feb early morning around 6:45 am. A heavy storm flooded in my house. Around 8-10 policemen including 2 women they have raided my house. Initially they banged the door so hard but we did not open the door because we were so scared. After that they warned me that if you don't open the door then we will gonna break the door and at the same time they start breaking the door with horrific noise.  At this moment me and my wife rushed to the top room leaving my children in the middle room because they woke up and they were so terrified and they were start shouting and screaming due to that horrific scene. 

In the end we heard a noise of window smashing and finally they broke the door and get into the house and they were shouting " Police, Police, Police" and they rushed to the top room where they found me and my wife and then they have detained us. 

They brought me and my wife to the ground floor and then they brought down my children from the middle room. There were small pieces of glass all over the ground floor. They have taken our mobile phones and they said that you are not allowed to make any phone call unless you have reached to the Kirkstall reporting centre. After that they separate me and my wife and given 20 minutes to pack up our belongings. 

They took my wife to upstairs and asked her to pack up some children stuff but my wife was really terrified and her mind was stop working and she refused to take anything.  When she asked them to change her clothes so they said that you can change in front of us which my wife did not accept and she refused.  Then they bring down my wife and asked me to go upstairs and collect your belongings.  I went upstairs and took some of my clothes and my immigration documents and my college assignments.  

I have changed my clothes in front of them because they did not want to leave me alone, It was a humiliation.  In the end we got into the van and all of our neighbour's were looking at us, which was so embarrassing.  After that we had driven to the Kirkstall reporting centre at 8:00 am. 

We spent two hour's in the reporting centre during that time I spoke to my solicitor and my classmate to inform them that I have been detained.  We left for Manchester around 10:00 am because they have planned to pick up another family on their way to Yarlswood detention center.  We left Manchester at 11:30 am and reached at Yarlswood detention centre by 2:30 pm. It took around 45 minutes to get entry clearance into the detention centre because they had some paper work to do but the children were so frustrated because they had been in the van since 8am in the morning.                  

Anyway after a long struggle we got access in the detention centre around 3:15 pm.  Since then we were waiting in the waiting area and we asked them on number of occasions that when they would disperse me and my family to the room and they were keep saying that today we are dealing with number of families and as soon as we make necessary arrangements we will take you to your room. 

 Finally they took us to the room around 7:00 pm and the children were really shattered. They handed over my mobile around 6:00 pm after keep reminding them that I want to speak to my solicitor but when I got my mobile the solicitor office was already closed.

During our stay in the waiting room they call us on several occasions for different formalities and the children were really frustrated.  Due to that panic situation I lost my documents which I  received from the Home office.  Since we have been moved to that room, I have filled up a request form that I want to check my bags which are under their custody.  Even I need my USB (Memory stick) because all my college assignments has been saved in that USB.  So I can complete my college assignments but they said you are not allowed to use your memory stick due to some data protection.  Apart from that I haven't got access to check my bags to find out my immigration documents which are quite important for me but still I am trying my best.  

Anyway I am writing this letter in my room and it is 3 '0' clock in the night.  My wife and my children are sleeping and the clock is tickling very fast and we are running out of time. It is a very uncertain situation and I think this would be the end of our story.