Dakers and Ludford support Brides Without Borders campaign

11.16.56pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 17th Oct 2005

Sarah Ludford MEP, Hossein Siavoshy, Andrew Dakers - Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Brentford & Isleworth - and Margaret Levy, Jessica Siavoshy's mother

Andrew Dakers, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Brentford & Isleworth and Baroness Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat MEP for London gave their support to the launch of 'Brides Without Borders' at the House of Commons last Monday, 10 October.

Dakers and Ludford have been active supporters of Brentford residents Jessica and Hossein

Siavoshy's battle with the Home Office to stay in the UK and both spoke at the press conference. This followed the afternoon launch of the new group.

'Brides Without Borders' has been established to:

• stop unlawful separations: hundreds of couples in the UK face indefinite separation in the name of maintaining effective immigration controls

• defend human rights: article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998 describes the right to a family life - yet the home office is denying countless couples this right

• re-establish the right to marry: since February 2005 UK citizens must ask permission from the Home Secretary before marrying a foreign national in the UK

Andrew Dakers, said at the launch:

"My experience of Jessica and Hossein's case is that of over zealous immigration and asylum policies giving no consideration to the merits of an individual case. They are clearly a couple who are in love and in a genuine partnership.

"The legal aid system has a lack of capacity and generates paperwork that many asylum seekers can not cope with. After a year of trying to get a transcript for their unsuccessful permission for judical review hearing at the High Courts Jessica and Hossein are still waiting for this to be produced. Until it comes through, it will be very difficult to plan any next steps in their case.

"They now wait in legal limbo whilst the Home Office threatens Jessica with the risks and dangers of life in Iran if Hossein was deported from the UK. Their suggestion that she should change her religion shows no respect for her human rights or recognition of Foreign Office advice that Iran is unsafe to visit, let alone live in."

To support Jessica and Hossein, and Brides Without Borders, visit

www.justice4hossein.com