The British government has refused their asylum claim and tried to deport them - most recently locking-up the whole family in a detention centre - for 51 days! They have just been released and allowed to return to Manchester.

There have been recent reports in the press highlighting the harmful effects of detention on children. Detention can, “significantly impair a child’s mental and physical health,” (BID Report into the Detention of Children, March 2008). The Children’s Commissioner called it, “an inhuman process,” (Children’s Commissioner, September 08). Home Office guidance says that children should not be detained in this way.

The family is making challenges in the High Court - but it is not enough to put their faith in the law. So they have started a campaign - "Child "M" Must Stay!". Download a leaflet here.

"Child M, like the many other minors detained by the UK authorities in a clear breach of their human rights, has committed no offence - other than being born in a country which seeks to deny freedom of speech, then coming with his family to the UK where they believed their rights would be upheld. An immigration centre is no place for a child and the Green Party is calling on the Home Office to immediately end its policy of incarcerating innocent young people, as well as to allow Child M and his family to remain in the UK."
Caroline Lucas MEP

What Can You Do?

Sign the petition - download a copy here

We need to collect thousands of signatures. Make sure you’ve signed it! Take a copy and collect signatures yourself – they can be returned to the Campaign address below.

Sign the online petition here

Get involved in the campaign

Come to our next campaign group meeting. We meet every Tuesday at 7pm, Gorton Mount Primary School Annexe, Mount Road, Gorton, Manchester M18 7GR. Come along! Crèche available.

Write to the Home Secretary

This is one of the best ways you can help the campaign. In it you need to:
- include Home Office reference numbers: G1158044, G1158044/2 and G1158044/7
- ask for the whole family to be given leave to remain
- say why Child “M” and his family would be in danger if they are sent back to Iran
- express concern at how Child “M” and his family have been treated
- send it to the Home Secretary, Home Office, 2 Marsham Street London, SW1P 4DF. Please send a copy of your letter to the campaign.

Make a donation to the campaign

These can be sent to the address below. Please make cheques payable to ‘Child M Must Stay Campaign.

Child “M” Must Stay Campaign, c/o Gorton Mount Primary School, Mount Road, Gorton, Manchester, M18 7GR, Tel: 0161 224 5526