Badge - Afia will stay!
Object
Badge
Production date
1984
Object number
2024.45
Physical Description
Circular badge with the printed image of Afia Begum and her small child, and a text reading 'Afia will stay!'.
Object history
This badge was owned and worn by Hackney activist Ian Rathbone, who had been involved in local anti-deportation campaigns.
When Afia Begum was granted an entry certificate to join her husband in Britain in January 1982, most of her family were already in England. Her father had lived there 26 years, and her mother was shortly to join him. She also had many uncles and relatives in the country.
Shortly after, her husband was killed when a fire swept through the slum tenement in Brick lane where he lived on 15 March 1982. Following this, Afia was told that her permit was now invalidated by the tragedy, and both she and her baby daughter Asma faced deportation to Bangladesh.
The widow and child went into hiding for over a year with the help of a group of Asian women known as the Sari Squad. However at 6am on the 3 May 1984 the police removed Afia and the baby from where they were staying, and deported her on 8 May before a debate in the European Parliament about the case could take place.
When Afia Begum was granted an entry certificate to join her husband in Britain in January 1982, most of her family were already in England. Her father had lived there 26 years, and her mother was shortly to join him. She also had many uncles and relatives in the country.
Shortly after, her husband was killed when a fire swept through the slum tenement in Brick lane where he lived on 15 March 1982. Following this, Afia was told that her permit was now invalidated by the tragedy, and both she and her baby daughter Asma faced deportation to Bangladesh.
The widow and child went into hiding for over a year with the help of a group of Asian women known as the Sari Squad. However at 6am on the 3 May 1984 the police removed Afia and the baby from where they were staying, and deported her on 8 May before a debate in the European Parliament about the case could take place.
Associated Place
Bangladesh (Place)
Tower Hamlets (Place)
Tower Hamlets (Place)
Material
Metal
Plastics
Dimension
Diameter (Front): 32mm
On display?
No
Inscription
Afia WILL STAY!
WAR
WAR