Category: Detention

STOP THE WAR AGAINST IRAN NOW!

STOP THE WAR AGAINST IRAN NOW!

Defend Iran Against Imperialist War

Defeat Trump & Netanyahu’s Fascist/Zionist War Drive

Build Workers’ Action in Offices, Factories & Ports to Boycott Arms Trade with the US & Israel

Stop all UK government cooperation with Trump’s War against Iran

All British Armed Forces out of the Middle East & Mediterranean

To fight Racism & Fascism anywhere we must fight for real refugee & immigrant rights in Britain– Free Movement! Open the Borders

The Iranian People Have the Right to Determine Their Future

The US/Israeli War is a Failing Attempt at Recolonization, NOT Liberation – the Iranian People Know it and Reject it            

28/03/2026

Trump and Netanyahu’s unprovoked war against Iran has raised the specter of demented fascism, genocidal Zionism, and total war – And the whole world shudders. The Middle East becomes even more unstable. The long-standing crisis of the global capitalist economy deepens. Resolving the worldwide climate crisis of a world tied to oil & gas is delayed again, to an even more distant future. The poor and oppressed become poorer, sicker, and more oppressed. The ruling classes of every country buy more armaments, paid for by more cuts to whatever educational, social and health services are left.

However, from the very start of this war, Trump & Netanyahu have met with far greater, better prepared, and more creative resistance from Iran than they ever thought possible. Iran’s strength is already exposing differences between their agendas: Trump’s focus is on asserting his self-image as the world’s dominant fascist ruler; for Netanyahu, the attack on Iran is a long-planned stage in the long war for Israeli control & occupation of the Middle East. The imperialist governments and ruling classes of Europe – the supposed NATO allies of the US – recognize this US/Israeli war as another sign of their declining power and the effective break-up of the NATO alliance. They are hanging back, watching developments, and dithering.

All working class, progressive, anti-racist & anti-fascist organisations must unite in action & fight by any means necessary to end this war, and to prevent our government taking any part in it. Today’s mass demonstration is a show of our potential unity. We must unite to stop the war. We must exploit the divisions & hesitations of the politicians in order to block their inevitable inclination to join Trump’s war. The mass movements for Palestinian freedom and the rights of workers, refugees, immigrants etc have that potential power.

Iran and Imperialism

The war against Iran is an attempt to reverse the 1979 Iranian revolution, which was a major defeat for western imperialism, and for the State of Israel – the principal agent of the US in the Middle East.

Iran has the largest land area and population of the Middle East’s big oil producing countries. For more than a century, imperialist powers tried to carve it up or take control of its politics & its resources. In the 1920s, the British imperialists deposed the old royal family and imposed the rule of the brutally repressive Pahlavi dynasty. When an elected Iranian government nationalized the oil industry in the early 1950s, Britain and the US organised a coup and reinstated the second Pahlavi Shah (King).

Under the last Shah’s notoriously brutal rule, Iran was second only to Israel as the western imperialists’ ally & agent in the Middle East. In 1979 he was overthrown by the people’s revolution. The religious leaders (Ayatollahs) who the Shah sent into exile, returned to Iran. In the turmoil of the revolution, they were able to use their authority to establish a theocratic state which has become increasingly repressive.

Ever since that revolution, Iran has come under increasing pressure and sanctions from the US and its allies. This has caused increasing poverty among the Iranian people. In response, the regime has increased its authoritarian control and turned to Russia and China for support. The regime’s authoritarianism has been challenged by outbreaks of resistance that have shaken its authority, but they have been repressed by its considerable military power.

The imperialist pressures on Iran have done more to preserve its authoritarian, theocratic regime than remove it. The great mass of the Iranian people knows better than to trust the imperialists’ false promises, and they have demonstrated that they have no intention of turning their country over to US imperialism and Israel.

Why the US and Israel Have Gone to War – and How They Miscalculated the Response

For Trump’s fascist regime in America and Netanyahu’s fascist regime in Israel, the current war on Iran is a continuation of their genocidal war and ‘ethnic cleansing’ against the Palestinian people, in order to destroy all resistance and maintain their domination of the Middle East and its resources. At the same time, Netanyahu has stepped up Israeli attacks on Lebanon and occupied the southern part of that country.

The goals of Trump & Netanyahu put the State of Israel in a state of permanent war, which, if continued, will end in self-destruction. It is only possible at present because of American support. They are united by their fascist delusions, which is what makes them – and this war – so dangerous.

For Trump & his declining circle of devotees, this is his fascist war, and that is all it is. There are no rational reasons for this war at this time. It is deeply unpopular in America, even among Trump’s own supporters. This fascist president’s only purpose in going to war against Iran at this time is to demonstrate to the world his unrestrained power of inhuman, fascistic destruction, to demonstrate – not only to enemies but to unhappy former supporters – that their views are of no account, he is King of Kings.

At this point in history, Trump and Netanyahu believed they had an opportunity because the regional influence of the Iranian regime’s was in decline, following the setbacks suffered by the anti-Zionist resistance groups it had sponsored: Hezbollah and Hamas. However,they were blinded to the power of resistance by a people under attack and did not expect the resurgence of Hezbollah.

For the poor & oppressed of the Middle East and the whole world, for all the discriminated-against communities, refugees, immigrant workers etc in Britain, the most positive resolution of this war is the military defeat of the US and Israel.

Workers’ Action Can Stop the War: Boycott All Support & Supplies for War Against Iran

The movement in Britain that has marched for Palestine is still marching. Those who have built the mass anti-war movement of resistance to Starmer’s warmongering, defended Palestine Action, mobilized against fascists, and filled countless courtrooms are now on the streets demanding an immediate end to the US/Israeli war against Iran. Every time we march for Palestine we must be marching for Iran – One struggle! One fight!

All those progressive & anti-war forces in Britain, especially in the trade unions, must now organise boycotts to undermine and disrupt the US/Israeli attack on Iran. We should act in the spirit of the dockworkers in European and Mediterranean ports who have blockaded arms shipments to Israel, and British civil servants who refused to license arms for Israel, and we must act more widely and creatively to stop, disrupt, or undermine the transport and delivery of any form of armaments, goods, services, & communications that could assist the attacks on Iran.

We must demand that our trade union leaders organise this campaign of action, or at least support and defend it, but we cannot wait for them or rely on them. The need for this action is urgent, so we have to organise rank-and-file action groups in our workplaces, whatever and wherever they are.

The Fight Against Fascism

This fight is not simply a campaign against an imperialist war; it is a battle against fascism. A victory for the US & Israel would mean a victory for fascism on a global scale – and further wars. Rich & powerful capitalists across the world are turning to fascism because their economic & political system has reached a dead-end. They have created the greatest levels of inequality in all human history, and they cannot solve any of the huge problems they have created. They turn to the fascists to CRUSH US, to take away ALL our rights & freedoms, to deny our right to free speech etc. That is what Trump is trying to do, and what Netanyahu is doing in Israel.

To achieve power, the fascists use racism, ethnic nationalism, religious divisions, and violent thuggery on our streets – and they use Parliament as well. That is happening now in Britain – it is not “Far Right,” an imprecise term that hides the reality. It is fascism, and to defeat the fascists, we have to fight for the rights & freedoms they plan to destroy – freedom of speech, demonstrations etc, defense against racist/fascist attacks, and fighting for the free movement of people, which is a fundamental human right. Destroying freedom of movement, as Starmer’s government is doing, is increasing racism. Our mass movements should build anti-fascist defense unit, and demand OPEN THE BORDERS.

If we in Britain, as workers, refugees and immigrants, as black, Asian & Muslim people, as poor and oppressed people fight by any means necessary to build significant action against the US/Israeli war machine that is attacking Iran, we will have weakened our own racist, anti-working class government, and struck a major blow against Trump’s fascist programme in the US, and against fascism in this country, across Europe, and in the Middle East. THAT MUST BE OUR AIM.

Join MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE. We Fight to Win

PRESS RELEASE: MFJ report on the treatment of cross Channel refugees in repurposed Yarl’s Wood highlights lack of access to legal advice and failure to identify victims of trafficking and torture

First insight into new regime in Yarl’s Wood detention centre since its conversion into a short term holding facility for cross channel refugees. Report highlights lack of access to legal advice and failure to identify victims of trafficking and torture.

Since August 2020 there have been no more women detained in Yarl’s Wood and the Home Office confirmed that its small short term holding facility was expanded to process cross channel refugees[1].

The report we release today is the first public insight into the new regime and is the result of four weeks of discussions with 20 refugees who were detained in Yarl’s Wood during September 2020.  

Over half of those we spoke to had been victims of torture or trafficking; many had been enslaved in Libya and subject to brutal torture, forced labour and rape. They spent 5-7 days in Yarl’s Wood[2].

During this time, no one was provided with access to a solicitor; the Detention Duty Advice Scheme (DDAS) was not functioning. Some were given a list of numbers after several days but lack of phone credit and language difficulties meant it was impossible for them to secure representation.

People are moved to other accommodation with no representation, no support, and in many cases with no phones. They are dispersed to areas where charities are overstretched and where legal aid immigration solicitors either have no capacity or are few and far between. Language difficulties and lack of phone or phone credit makes it impossible for many to find the legal advice, medical help and support they need.

Home Secretary Priti Patel and the Home Office have been vocally critical of ‘last minute legal claims’ which ‘frustrate’ removals; this report reveals the truth, that people are denied legal advice at an early stage and victims of trafficking are not being identified. For these refugees a ‘last minute claim,’ when they are taken to Brook House and given notice of a flight, is the only way to stop what would be an unlawful removal.

“The UK’s stated commitment to Human Rights is being trampled on by Priti Patel, the UK Home Office and this government. They have designed a Dover to Deportation pipeline, at every stage frustrating refugees’ ability to get the legal advice, care and support they need. Yarl’s Wood is but one link in that pipeline, but it is a crucial one. Had those asylum seekers been able to access legal representation at the earliest opportunity they would not have been subject to the further torture of detention and threat of removal, which has led to so many suicide attempts in Brook House[3]. Karen Doyle (MFJ National Organiser)

Victims of trafficking and torture, people with families here, people with serious health conditions and mental health difficulties are being taken from their accommodation and thrown into Brook House IRC for removal on charter flights with just five days notice[4]. When lawyers take on these cases at short notice and help their clients to access the protections available to them in law they are branded as ‘lefty lawyers’, akin to traffickers, and vilified simply for doing their job.

“This government is pursuing a relentless and dishonest campaign to vilify refugees and those who support and represent them. It has an incited an epidemic of race hatred and attacks, like the recent attempt to murder an immigration lawyer[5] and fascists targeting places where refugees are being housed. We will fight together with refugees and immigrants to end the super-charged Hostile Environment of Boris Johnson and Priti Patel. Antonia Bright (MFJ Chair)

Yarls-Wood-report2

[1] BBC News (Look East) Report 18/08/2020: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-53810521

[2] 7 days is the maximum someone can be detained in a Short Term Holding Facility

[3] https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/aug/12/asylum-seeker-removal-flight-go-ahead-despite-last-minute-court-action

[4] https://corporatewatch.org/cast-away-the-uks-rushed-charter-flights-to-deport-channel-crossers/

[5] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/oct/10/lawyers-claim-knife-attack-at-law-firm-was-inspired-by-priti-patels-rhetoric

photo/video report from MFJs immigrant rights march 4 July 2020

On Saturday 4th July 2020 we marched for immigrant rights as part of the growing worldwide #BlackLivesMatter movement. We started in Brixton, stopping at Brixton Police Station to remember those who’ve died at the hands of Brixton police, marched on to Serco and G4S head offices (the private companies responsible for the brutalisation, abuse and murder of so many) and ended at the Home Office. At each stop people who have experienced the racism and brutality of detention and deportations spoke out.

OUR DEMANDS…

* End the racist Hostile Environment for Immigrants policy

* No more charter flights – Stop immigration raids & deportations

* Shut down ALL detention centres

* Amnesty Now! Extend settled status to ALL immigrants who want it

* Defend & extend the free movement of people

* Widen the Windrush Scheme to all Windrush Generation descendants

* Jail killer police and immigration enforcers

* Build the independent, integrated, youth and immigrant led mass movement fighting for immigrant rights and equality

The fight against racism will decide our futures. It will decide whether Britain, the USA and Europe have a future of progress as democratic, multiracial societies based on equality, whether poor and oppressed people can resist and defeat our exploiters, whether young people can live hopeful, creative lives – or if our countries will be dragged backwards by the politics of Donald Trump and his backers, Boris Johnson and Brexit, and the Far Right across Europe. That is why we, on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, responded immediately to the mass movement that took to the streets after the police murder of George Floyd, and is still marching in every city & state in the US, day after day and week after week. 

A future without racism requires the defeat of racist policies that blame immigrants and black youth for the failures of government to meet the needs of poor, exploited and oppressed people. We are marching today, on 4th July, as youth speaking the truth about racist police brutality, and as immigrants and communities fighting for our right to live here with respect and dignity.

Black lives more than matter: the leadership of black and Asian people has been critical to every progressive victory in Britain for decades – to every victory that has taken us closer to equal quality education, decent healthcare and workers’ rights. Each new generation of immigrants from Britain’s former colonies and the rest of the world brings a new, fierce aspiration for a bright future, that is shared by the youth of all races.

That is the basis of the dynamism and hope that can fire a mass movement. That is the fear of the politicians and the rich & powerful who are desperate to divide us and dampen our ambition. 

Our fight back matters: The anti-racist movement that has taken to our streets must assert our power to decide our future, by raising and fighting for clear demands. The Home Office runs the immigration system and police; it is responsible for too many deaths and acts of brutality and too much forced squalor at the hands of the police, the immigration authorities and the private contractors who profit from the government’s racist Hostile Environment policy. We demand: jail all killer cops and immigration enforcers; announce an amnesty for all immigrants; shut down all immigration detention centres; stop immigration raids and deportations.

This first video is of Ugandan lesbian activist and leader in MFJ, Prossie. She was detained for 5 months in Yarls Wood in 2013 before being removed to Uganda under the now unlawful fast track system, for the first time here she publicly speaks out, in front of Serco headquarters (who run Yarl’s Wood) about what she went through and why she continues to fight…

At Brixton police station as we started to speak about those who have died at the hands of Brixton police, a passerby started shouting ‘all lives matter’ – they were swiftly shouted down!
“Immigrants – HERE TO STAY – Charter Flights – NO WAY!” marching through central Brixton
“When they say go back – FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT BACK!”
“Tear down the fences – OPEN THE BORDERS!”
“whose streets? OUR STREETS! and Where is our power? ON THE STREETS!”
“How we gonna do it? BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!”
“Yarl’s Wood – Shut it Dooooown SHUT IT DOWN!”
“no Justice – NO PEACE – AGAIN – NO JUSTICE – NO PEACE!”
“IMMIGRANTS HAVE THE RIGHT – HERE TO STAY HERE TO FIGHT!”
MFJ leader and Windrush descendant Eulalee speaks outside Serco Head Office, her son was deported to Jamaica and murdered five months later.
Outside G4S Headquarters “I SAID – No Justice – NO PEACE!
“the racist immigration system is a virus – at least they are looking for a cure for coronavirus”
Perfect chant for outside the Home Office “WE ARE STRONGER!”
MFJs Tacko speaking outside G4S headquarters
MFJ’s Eulalee speaking outside the Home Office
MFJs Larry speaks about his experience as a Gay Nigerian asylum seeker

Resistance to Detention and the Urgency of Abolition

MFJ submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Immigration Detention, October 2014

Download: MFJ Detention Inquiry Submission

Detention-Inquiry-submission

Download: MFJ Submission Appendices

Detention-Inquiry-Appendices