Monthly Archives: December 2015

UK Granted Asylum person Parmjeet Singh’s safe return from Portugal

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Dear Colleague
Please immediately send the letter below to your MP in support of Parmjeet Singh’s safe return to the UK via email or use https://www.writetothem.com

 

It takes no more than 5 minutes to write to your MP. (use sample letter below)

Please confirm via return email the MP you have contacted (his or her name and constituency).
Our initial aim is to reach 50 different MPs today and at least 75 before Christmas Day (by close of play tomorrow) and over 150 different MPs by 4 January 2016.
Dear Your MPs name
Arrest of Paramjeet Singh in Portugal on 18 December 2015
I am writing to you regarding my concerns for the above named person who has been residing in the UK for the past 20 years and granted asylum by the Home Office. Paramjeet Singh has indefinite leave to remain in the UK and his children aged 4 to 12 are British citizens.
His constituency MP John Spellar has been assisting the family since his arrest and has shared the following information with officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and kept the family updated through community contacts.
Paramjeet arrived in Portugal on the 18th December 2015 with his wife and children for a family holiday and was arrested by Interpol from the hotel where they were staying. He was presented to court the following day and became aware of a request from the Indian authorities to extradite him to India.
Indian media sources claim Paramjeet Singh is wanted for questioning by police in relation to the 2009 death of Rulda Singh, head of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, a wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The RSS is a far-right Indian nationalist group complicit in communal killings and associated with fascism.
The case was already investigated in an 11 month joint investigation with Indian and British police in 2010 and the evidence was unsatisfactory for Paramjeet Singh to be charged.
The British Government has granted Paramjeet Singh asylum as the authorities were convinced his life would be in danger if returned to India. His elder brother was tortured in jail and was subsequently killed in a case which remains unsolved.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has thus far not done enough for Paramjeet Singh and his family by ensuring Paramjeet Singh is returned to the UK.  The British authorities appear to have been slow in sharing relevant information with the Portugese Government, such as why they have given protection to Paramjeet Singh and if extradited he may never see his family and especially his children again.
It is disappointing that the initial court decision in Portugal has been to give the Indian authorities until 4 January 2016 to present evidence for Paramjeet Singh’s extradiction when the British authorities already have all the information needed to secure his release and return to the UK.
I would be grateful if you could raise concerns with the Foreign Secretary and the Portugese Embassy and send me a copy of your letter and any responses. We urge you to request Portugal to return Paramjeet Singh immediately to the UK where he has been resident and if India has any case for it be presented to the British courts.  The Sikh community believes there is a risk of this happening to others and is extremely anxious.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
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