Egyptians and the wider Muslim and Arab world have been shocked by the death of Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president, who collapsed in court after years in solitary confinement. Alaa Abdellal, an Egyptian resident in Sheffield, spoke to Sheffield Live! of his sorrow at the death of the man who came to power in 2012 after the Arab Spring but was ousted a year later in a military coup, led by General Abdel Fath el Sisi, the current president. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Dozens joined a solidarity protest outside Sheffield Town Hall to raise awareness of the Israeli occupation and killings of unarmed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The protest was organised by the Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
A short remembrance ceremony has been held at the Peace Gardens to remember the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is 73 years since the United States dropped atomic bombs on the two Japanese cities resulting in the killing of more than 100,000 people and many more injured. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
As Zimbabweans worldwide await the results of a tightly fought election, Sheffield Live spoke to Michael Mazorodze of the optimism among Sheffield’s Zimbabwean community. The contest is the first since independence without Robert Mugabe on the ballor paper. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Dozens of Palestine solidarity campaigners mounted a protest outside Sheffield Town Hall to condemn the killing of Palestinian demonstrators marching near the Gaza border with Israel. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
A former Liberian refugee, who came to Sheffield in 2004, has launched a charity organisation to support children in the UK and West Africa. The Akoi Massayan Bazzie – Give Hope Humanitarian Foundation (AMBG2H) aims to deliver humanitarian hope packages to support young people, families and communities affected by wars and natural disasters through public institutions such as medical centres, schools, orphanages, youth centres and prisons. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
The death of former Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has saddened many from Sheffield’s Zimbabwean community. The former leader of Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change died of cancer whilst receiving treatment in Pretoria. Sheffield-based Dr Nkululeko Sibanda, a former MDC member who has also been an advisor to Morgan Tsvangirai, spoke to Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh.
Iranians in Sheffield staged a demonstration outside Sheffield Town Hall at the weekend demanding freedom and democracy for Iran. According to campaigner Siama Zaad, the group called “Wanted Freedom for Iran” were protesting against the Iranian government’s persecution of democracy protestors who, they claim, have been subject to torture and imprisonment. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Vote counting has begun in the West African state of Liberia in the run-off presidential election between Vice-President Joseph Boakai and former international footballer George Opon Weah. Former chairman for the Liberian Association of Sheffield, Prince Taylor, told Sheffield Live! many Liberians in the diaspora are hopeful there will be a peaceful transition of power in the country. Turnout was low in the boxing day polls but the result is expected to lead to the first smooth transfer of power in 73 years. Mr Weah, 51, won the first round, but did not secure the required 50 per cent of the vote for an outright victory. Legal challenges delayed the vote to replace Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is Africa’s first elected female president. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Refugee support group the DEWA Project are partnering with mental health practitioners and solicitors to assist women asylum seekers who have suffered sexual or domestic violence. The Home Office Gender Asylum Plan has recognised that woman asylum seekers should be provided with access to trauma counselling and asylum rights information and should not have to relate their story in front of their children or to a male interviewers or interpreter. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!