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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/oct/05/home-office-refuses-to-say-why-it-confiscated-journalists-passport

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Home Office refuses to say why it confiscated journalist's passport Home Office refuses to say why it confiscated journalist's passport
(about 3 hours later)
Home secretary Amber Rudd needs to get a grip on her department. The Home Office is clearly in disarray over its decision to confiscate the passport of Syrian journalist Zaina Erhaim, the story I wrote about yesterday.Home secretary Amber Rudd needs to get a grip on her department. The Home Office is clearly in disarray over its decision to confiscate the passport of Syrian journalist Zaina Erhaim, the story I wrote about yesterday.
Its press office failed to answer queries emailed to it yesterday morning. Some 11 hours later, a spokesman called (just after 8pm) to say he “was still trying to get information together”.Its press office failed to answer queries emailed to it yesterday morning. Some 11 hours later, a spokesman called (just after 8pm) to say he “was still trying to get information together”.
He identified himself only as “Mickey”, which could have been Nicky, and left no number or email address. He also said he didn’t think it could have been an urgent matter because I hadn’t “chased it”. He left no number or email address. He also said he didn’t think it could have been an urgent matter because I hadn’t “chased it”.
He had obviously failed to notice that the article had been up for nine hours and indicated that answers to serious questions were required.He had obviously failed to notice that the article had been up for nine hours and indicated that answers to serious questions were required.
So this morning, before 9am, I tried again because this is anything but a trivial issue. The Home Office has taken away a journalist’s passport in order to comply with a request from Bashar al-Assad’s murderous regime.So this morning, before 9am, I tried again because this is anything but a trivial issue. The Home Office has taken away a journalist’s passport in order to comply with a request from Bashar al-Assad’s murderous regime.
I asked a couple of simple questions: has the Home Office handed over Zaina Erhaim’s passport to the Syrian authorities? If so, to whom?I asked a couple of simple questions: has the Home Office handed over Zaina Erhaim’s passport to the Syrian authorities? If so, to whom?
Further, if the Home Office still retains Erhaim’s passport, is there a possibility that better counsel will prevail and that it will be given back to her? I added:Further, if the Home Office still retains Erhaim’s passport, is there a possibility that better counsel will prevail and that it will be given back to her? I added:
“This is not a matter to be brushed aside. An heroic woman has had her passport removed at the request of a regime with which we are at war.“This is not a matter to be brushed aside. An heroic woman has had her passport removed at the request of a regime with which we are at war.
Please can I have an answer, and quickly. I will write again about this for Media Guardian by midday.”Please can I have an answer, and quickly. I will write again about this for Media Guardian by midday.”
I received no reply so I called the press office about an hour ago to be told that they were still trying to get answers. Nor am I alone in trying to discover what moved the UK borders agency to harass Erhaim.I received no reply so I called the press office about an hour ago to be told that they were still trying to get answers. Nor am I alone in trying to discover what moved the UK borders agency to harass Erhaim.
Helen Goodman, the Labour MP for Bishop Auckland and chair of the National Union of Journalists’ parliamentary group, has written to Rudd registering her amazement at what has happened.Helen Goodman, the Labour MP for Bishop Auckland and chair of the National Union of Journalists’ parliamentary group, has written to Rudd registering her amazement at what has happened.
“I am appalled that the Home Office is taking instructions from Assad,” she wrote. Her letter continued:“I am appalled that the Home Office is taking instructions from Assad,” she wrote. Her letter continued:
“Ms Erhaim is an award-winning journalist who works for a UK-based institute. Of course the Assad regime don’t want reports of their bombardment of civilians reaching us. The British government should not collude with this censorship.“Ms Erhaim is an award-winning journalist who works for a UK-based institute. Of course the Assad regime don’t want reports of their bombardment of civilians reaching us. The British government should not collude with this censorship.
She is being targeted by the Assad regime of which she has been critical. By removing her passport, the Home Office is complying with Assad’s wishes.She is being targeted by the Assad regime of which she has been critical. By removing her passport, the Home Office is complying with Assad’s wishes.
To make matters worse, they suggested Ms Erhaim could seek help from the consular services of the very government that is persecuting her.”To make matters worse, they suggested Ms Erhaim could seek help from the consular services of the very government that is persecuting her.”
She concluded: “The Home Office should offer Ms Erhaim all possible assistance and urgently review its policy and procedures for dealing with cases in which a repressive regime seeks to exercise power through British border controls.”She concluded: “The Home Office should offer Ms Erhaim all possible assistance and urgently review its policy and procedures for dealing with cases in which a repressive regime seeks to exercise power through British border controls.”
Yes, it should. And it should also reveal why it treated Erhaim as it has done and answer the questions: has the British government given Erhaim’s passport to the Syrian authorities? If so, why?Yes, it should. And it should also reveal why it treated Erhaim as it has done and answer the questions: has the British government given Erhaim’s passport to the Syrian authorities? If so, why?