Iran Rock Band Seeks Asylum in Britain
THE TELEGRAPH: Members of Take it Easy Hospital, Iran's leading underground rock band, have applied for political asylum in Britain after one of the group was arrested following the disputed presidential election.

Take it Easy Hospital's Ash Koosha (Lt) and Negar (Nellie) Haghaghi. Photo: The Telegraph
Four members of the Indie band were interviewed by the Home Office on Monday after submitting applications to remain in the UK.

"If I go back to Iran I will be arrested automatically because the authorities known [sic] what I have been doing," Ash Koosha, the lead singer told The Daily Telegraph. "Since the election things have got a lot worse. There is no hope in Iran for doing what I do.

"If we have any concerts or play our music in Iran, then we will get arrested."

As a woman, vocalist Negar Haghaghi would not be allowed to perform in public in Iran. Two other members, Pooya Koosha and Kabeh Ayati, have also applied for sanctuary in the UK.

A fifth member of the band was arrested in July when mass demonstrations filled the streets of the large cities. Protesters were attacked and detained while attempting to overturn the result of the election, which President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won by a large majority. The band member has not been heard from since. >>> Damien McElroy and Benjamin Allen | Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Guantanamo Row May Halt Queen’s Visit to Bermuda
Photo: The Sunday Times
THE SUNDAY TIMES: THE Foreign Office is threatening to cancel a state visit by the Queen to Bermuda after a row with the island over its “unacceptable” decision to give sanctuary to four former inmates of Guantanamo Bay.

The boycott is being considered after Bermuda infuriated David Miliband, the foreign secretary, by allowing the four men, all Chinese Muslim Uighurs, to stay on what is an overseas British territory.

The move followed a secret deal struck between Washington and the Bermudans. It was carried out without consulting Britain or the island’s governor.

Miliband protested to Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, about the pact. He told her the move was “invalid” because it breached Bermuda’s constitution, under which the UK has control over the island’s foreign and security policy.

The Uighurs are Muslim separatists from Xinjiang province. They had fled to Afghanistan in 2001 to escape Chinese oppression and were detained after they went to Pakistan.

Their arrival in Bermuda last month sparked an angry response from Sir Richard Gozney, the island’s governor. He summoned Ewart Brown, the Bermudan prime minister, for a dressing down. >>> David Leppard | Sunday, July 19, 2009