ONE of The National’s team of journalists has been shortlisted for a prestigious award from the Scottish Refugee Council.
Greg Russell is on the shortlist for the Investigation section of the Refugee Festival Scotland Media Awards 2019 for his series of stories about Isabella Katjiparatijivi, a young asylum seeker from Namibia, who had been wrongfully detained at Dungavel.
The 29-year-old was detained after turning up for a regular appointment with the Home Office, despite a petition being lodged with the Court of Session to halt such a move.
Katjiparatijivi, a lesbian, had sought asylum in Scotland claiming that she faced persecution in Namibia because of her sexuality.
The UK Home Office at first claimed that elements of The National story were incorrect, saying: “We have not made any new removal directions or orders since Ms Katjiparatijivi submitted a Judicial Review to the Court of Session … There are no orders to remove Ms Katjiparatijivi on today’s date, the 19th of January.”
However, Russell had seen the removal directions and details of the flight on which Katjiparatijivi was due to be deported, proof that the Home Office had lied.
Two days after his first story appeared, the “non-existent” removal order was withdrawn and the following day the asylum seeker was released from Dungavel.
Her lawyer, Usman Aslam, was scathing about the Home Office: “It is one thing saying, ‘we have this position’ or ‘we have that position’. In the world of litigation that is what happens. It is another thing when you are looking at someone or speaking to someone and blatantly lying … They are saying there’s no removal directions – the document shows removal directions.”
Russell said: “This was shocking series of events which traumatised Isabella and brought into focus all too starkly the hostile environment that pervades the UK’s migration system.
“I’m very flattered to make the shortlist for this award and to play even a small part in highlighting such injustices.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel