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Day: 16 October 2015

Invitation to Julian Assange causes controversy at Cambridge Union

Written by Jennifer Sterne on . Posted in News.

Cambridge Union recently announced plans to hold a referendum on whether or not to host WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at a debate next month. Following this announcement, Helen Dallas resigned from her role as Women’s Officer for Michaelmas 2015.

Julian Assange has been granted political asylum and has been living at the Embassy of Ecuador in London since 2013, after allegations of sexual offences in Sweden.

A statement released by the Union says that “her position at the union became incredibly difficult following this decision.”

Three other officers have resigned in the last month, though the union has insisted that these were “totally unrelated” to the Assange affair.

The union has said that it is “beholden to its members (students and alumni)” and is therefore calling this online vote on the 22nd October for the entire membership to decide whether he should attend.

Assange is scheduled to appear via Weblink on November the 11th if the vote produces a yes vote.

The union has also called for a full union debate in the 21st October, which they have promised will be “conducted with sensitivity and decorum with respect for both sides.”

Oliver Mosley, President of the Cambridge Union, said in a statement: “In our 200-year history the Union has gone through many periods of social change.

“Considering the unique nature of Mr Assange’s position, in that the UK Supreme Court has approved his extradtion to Sweden to face charges of lesser degree rape but he has refused to come to trial or indeed be questioned; the decision has been taken to consult the entire membership of the Union around the world on the platforming of him as a speaker during Michaelmas term.”

He added “The union is a neutral forum that has in the past given a platform to all speakers that operate within the confines of regular society, without endorsing or condemning their views.”

A Cambridge Union spokesman, commenting upon the resignation of Ms Dallas said: “We were incredibly sad to lose our Women’s Officer. We were wrong to not have included her earlier in the discussion; but as the union is run by a group of 13 voting members, due thought was never given that we should have added a 14th for the purpose of this debate.

He continued by promising that “changes are being made to address this mistake, both in the short and long term.”

Twins die as court rules for life support to be withdrawn

Written by Marcus Johns on . Posted in News.

Two 14-month-old boys have died after a court ordered their life support to be switched off against the wishes of the parents. The court case Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust vs A and others took place on the 2nd of October 2015. The boys died around five days later in the presence of their parents and an Imam.

The boys, referred to as A and H in court proceedings, were both suffering from an unidentified degenerative disease of the brain. Treating doctors at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital gave evidence in court as to the “futile and unjustifiable” battle to support the twins.

The parents however said that such an act was against their Islamic faith and provided a document from the Islamic Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League in order to support their case.

The father, representing himself and his wife, said in court: “I have respect for the law of the United Kingdom, but, please, do not forget that withdrawal of life support goes against our beliefs.”

Judging, Mr Justice Holman, acknowledged this in his ruling and repeated claims he had made in a similar, earlier, case that: “I have the utmost respect for the father’s faith and belief, and for the faith of Islam which he practises and professes. But I regard it as irrelevant to the decision which I have to take and I do not take it into account at all.”

The parents also believed that their children smiled in their presence and flinched away when tickled.

Tragically, doctors stated that these movements were not indicative of pleasure and were in fact random movements.

The family, an Iraqi family who were living in Iraq, have a healthy four-year-old son. They had had a baby daughter who died at the age of eight months to an undiagnosed medical condition. Despite not being fully diagnosed, it manifested symptoms very similar to those that eventually led to the deaths of A and H.

The twin boys were born in Iraq in August 2014 before moving to the United Kingdom in December of that year. At the age of three to four months the boys’ situations began to deteriorate. They were admitted to hospital in mid-January 2015 at the age of five months and did not subsequently leave hospital care.

In April 2015, A required CPR for six minutes and was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit at the hospital, where he remained on life support since. H was transferred shortly afterwards so that he could stay with his twin brother. In May, H also suffered a respiratory arrest and since then required mechanical ventilation too.

The judge also remarked on concerns raised by the father as to whether or not the nursing staff had been attentive and caring, urging the judge to dismiss the nursing report. The judge did disregard the report but made clear that he made no judgement or criticism towards the dedication or expertise of the nurses.

Doctors submitted evidence as to the suffering of the boys and potential future suffering if the boys were to continue on life support; they believed that the boys would be in near-constant pain and suffering without the ability to show signs of this. These signs are key in alerting medical staff as to the suffering of the boys and doctors believe that the decline in ability to express this would not have been necessarily linked with a deterioration to feel those sensations.

In order that the father did not suffer unduly, the judge announced the outcome of the case before his judgement, adding that: “I felt it would be unkind to the father, who attends alone and unsupported, save by the independent interpreter, to have to sit through a long judgement in a state of great anxiety and uncertainty as to outcome.”

The father also argued that his God may one day grant medical science sufficient progress as to cure the boys and pleaded that they be kept alive so that this may be possible. Doctors though gave evidence that left the judge “beyond any doubt that there is in truth no prospect of a cure for either of these boys ever.”

The outcome of the case was that it was lawful that the twins would have their mechanical ventilation withdrawn; that they would not be resuscitated in the event of cardiac arrest; that they would no longer undergo blood sampling or receive antibiotics unless it is the case that such treatment would ensure their comfort and diminish distress; and that it is lawful and in each child’s best interests to have been provided with palliative care only.”

Approving the transcript of the case, the judge added that he had been informed that life support was withdrawn from both boys at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital around five days after the ruling was made. This was done in the presence of the boys’ parents and an Imam and both boys died.

The judge concluded by adding: “May they rest in peace.”

Preview: Action Palestine Event

Written by Georgie Hines on . Posted in News.

The student-led society, Action Palestine, protest against the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and any British complicity. On their website they say they are “working through creative action to raise awareness, educate the public, inspire the world and above all effectively create a real impact.” This Monday will see them host their first event of the year, the Palestinian Cultural Evening

One of the more active charitable societies at the university, this event is one of several being held throughout the year. Past events to raise awareness have included film screenings, talks and workshops all aimed to educate about any misconceptions around the conflict and to promote equality and peace.

Monday’s cultural evening promises to be a celebration of Palestinian lifestyle and culture, starting with traditional sit down meal interspersed with performances from the Yemeni Entertainment Group, Tripudiate, Manchester’s own Countz, and 47SOUL, a group formed from artists spanning many regions of Palestine.

Also performing at the event is Ameena Atiq, whose work as a spoken artist lead to her presence at the Liverpool Arab Arts Festival 2015. Her work touches on many subjects important in modern Arabian society, such as dual nationality and women’s rights. Speaking about her work in an interview earlier this year with The Skinny, she said “if we knew more about our own history, we’d understand more about the issues we are facing today.”

As a non-profit society, all proceeds from the evening will go to Interpal; a British charity working predominately on the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan. Over the past 20 years the charity has restored communities, provided education and supplied emergency medical attention to those caught in the ongoing conflict.

The event is to be held on Monday the 19th of October from 6 – 10pm at The University of Manchester Students’ Union. It is open to the whole university, but due to high demand for places only ticket holders will be allowed at the event.