The launch of the Independent Asylum Commission took place on 18th October 2006 at the House of Commons. The review was one of the recommendations from the Public Inquiry into Lunar House which reported in 2005. (For a full copy of the report please see www.southlondoncitizens.org.uk.)
The Commission, which is to be Co- Chaired by Sir John Waite and Ifath Nawaz, has embarked on an eighteenth month review of the UK asylum system operating through public hearings, research and a call for evidence.
The hearings will be open to the public and are currently planned for London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Cardiff and Glasgow. These will begin in January 2007.
The Commission will also be seeking original academic research and the Refugee Studies Centre in Oxford and the ICAR at City University have agreed to work with the Commission.
The Commission's approach will be informed by the principle that the asylum system should be fair, just and consistent with UK's human rights obligations. The review will examine key stages and aspects of the asylum process including:
Access to the asylum determination process
The operation of the asylum determination process
The operation of the asylum appeals process
Treatment of vulnerable groups in the asylum process
Detention of asylum seekers
Material support and accommodation for asylum seekers including those at the end of the asylum process
The removal of refused asylum seekers
After the launch, the Commission now commences its work with a view to reporting on its findings by 28 April 2008.
Revd Dr Cannon Nicholas Sagovsky
Katie Ghose
Dr Shammit Saggar
Lord David Ramsbotham GCB CBE
Dr Sylvia Casale
Earl of Sandwich
Zrinka Bralo
Jacqueline Parlevliet
For further information about the Commission contact Jonathan Cox, Co-ordinator, Independent Asylum Commission, COF, 112 Cavell Street, London E1 2JA, tel. 020 7375 1658, mobile 07919 484066.
Cohabitation: the Financial Consequences of Relationship Breakdown
The Law Commission is currently considering the introduction of a new law which will affect what happens to the property and finances of cohabiting couples on the termination of their relationships by separation or death.
The Law Commission's consultation paper was completed on the 4th May 2006 and the deadline for responses was the 30th September 2006. Further details of the consultation stage can be found at:
Since a Muslim nikah marriage is not regarded as a legally valid marriage in the eyes of English law, Muslim couples in the UK who have only been married in accordance with the nikah contract are categorised as cohabitees, not as husband and wife.
This means that the proposed new scheme which will govern the financial affairs of cohabitees whose relationship ends by separation or death will apply to Muslims who marry only in accordance with the nikah contract - unless they choose to opt out of the scheme at the time of their marriage.
The implementation of the proposed scheme may or may not permit the English civil courts to take into account the provisions of the Shari'a which apply when an Islamic marriage comes to an end as a result of separation, divorce or death.
For the AML response to the Law Commission's proposals click here
