Released today “I need air” is a short documentary following Omar’s story by Omar, Yasmine Jessy Amar & Bail for Immigration Detainees.
*Please note that this film contains references to human rights abuses, self-harm & suicide, which some viewers may find distressing*
Despite agreeing to voluntarily return to his country of origin, at the end of his prison sentence Omar was detained in prison indefinitely under immigration powers.
He was locked in his cell for 22-23 hours a day for over a year, during which time his mental and physical health deteriorated rapidly.
In the opening of the film, Omar vividly describes his experience as a Tsunami leaving behind a trail of destruction and the film takes us on that journey as he describes his experiences in detention and the impact it continues to have on him.
About the film Baroness Shami Chakrabarti said:
“Indefinite immigration detention without bail is an ongoing scandal unworthy of twenty-first century Britain. I challenge any candidate for high office to watch this film and defend this barbarity and beg all citizens to look at what is being perpetrated in our name.”