Over 100 attendees gathered together at SOAS yesterday evening to watch “In This World” the compelling docudrama from Michael Winterbottom following the desperate journey of Jamal and Enayatullah, two young Afghan refugees trying to reach the UK to demand political asylum. The emotional and cinematographic power of the film created the perfect backdrop for the debate in which a concerned audience and an exceptional panel explored issues related to the barrier the Western World presents to asylum seekers trying to achieve legal protection.
The comprehensive experience of Chris Nash, new Head of the Refugees and Migrant Rights Team at Amnesty International and the breadth of experience of Joana Oyediran, Sudan Programme Officer at the Open Society Initiative for East Africa were only matched by the compelling tale of personal experience by Tindyebwa Agaba, MA Law student at SOAS, former child soldier and refugee who fled to the UK in 2003. The discussion was skillfully facilitated by Sean Lowrie who managed to involve the audience and called for action on the Amnesty Refugees and Asylum campaign in support of a fair and effective asylum system.
Listen to Sebilio Lillo Uribe, leader of the SOAS Student Union, for a taste of the passion this multiethnic and engaged University can express on one of the most pressing issues of our times.
(Watch this space for the full Brightwide film of the debate – to be added later in the week. In the mean time, here’s the shortened version)
Great thanks to Optimum Releasing for their help clearing the screening rights.