Still don't get it?

Frequently Asked Questions

 
Want to read the letter again?  How can this be legal? 
 People have to do something!  If not, anybody living in a so-called
 "democracy" could be next!

They are “Americans” -  The U.S. isn’t as bad as other countries, why should we help?

America is not a safe country for Aisha & Bankole because the U.S. government still uses programs like the FBI’s COINTELPRO to persecute African-American political people by putting them in jail, beating them, using psychological warfare and killing them, just like they do to other people in the world.  Only in the US the situation runs rampant, because there is no international oversight.   

We are sure that you also are aware of current problems with the Geneva Convention and Human Rights violations regarding the U.S.  It's all over the news.  In American  prisons, people are beaten and killed just for having U.N. documents in their cells.  This would be considered  a gross human rights violation in any other country.  Aisha & Bankole have a well-founded fear like all political exiles.  Their human rights and those under International Law have been blatantly violated. They have been denied the basic services that even other refugee claimants receive such as legal aid and medical care, whilst the Canadian government gave legal aid to other people fleeing from democratic countries such as Trinidad.  People have an obligation to help because they are not able to access even the most basic services to which everyone has a human right.  Additionally, Aisha and Bankole travel on a U.S. passport but consider African people from America part of an oppressed national minority who are not really treated as “Americans”.

Forced travel is indeed a form of torture and a human rights violation.  That's what they are facing.

What did they do?

The Soulful Expression is what they did!!!!  In 1999 a lawyer in Toronto told (Aisha) that if she  continued pushing with The Soulful Expression (which was at the time a certified, registered company with the province of Ontario) that she would be blacklisted and "it will be played out in your refugee claim"  and it was!   The message of African-Americans having a dignified cultural expression simply wasn't wanted in Canada.

For those arrogant, racist people, who won't let go -you should be asking - what has the American government done to African people?! Not what have the people who fight injustice have done!  Aisha and Bankole have committed no crimes and have no arrests.  

When & why did they come to the U.K. (England) of all places? 

The Schengen declaration limits visits to the whole of Europe to 3 months with the exception of the U.K., Ireland and Switzerland.   This is a situation that was different for people of the 60's and 70's coming to Europe when you could move freely from one country to another without so many time restrictions.  Today, all of Europe is considered 1 country!  Therefore to be anywhere in Europe legally you must move around and leave the Schengan area, which means travel to those countries not part of Schengen.   They have no country or state to call home. They are in a situation of forced travel.  Refugees in that situation have to move around.  They are not always able to choose where they want to live, flee or settle.

Are they seeking asylum in Europe?  Did they seek asylum in Sweden? 

No they are not seeking asylum in Europe.  They are instead asking for help from lawyers to get  their case before the appropriate International body.  The only country that they sought asylum in is Canada.  It is our goal to help Aisha & Bankole find a safe country and as well as compensation by making a case with an International body, rather than simply filing another asylum case.

They will never win their case.  What are you trying to accomplish with this campaign? 

Their case against Canada and the U.S. can be won.  Canada’s actions, and the letter they issued, does not conform to international law standards.  Aisha & Bankole deserve compensation and to have a country.  People have to do something!  If not anybody living in a so-called democracy could be next!

Are you campaigning for them to return to the U.S.?

No.   It's not safe!

What is COINTELPRO?

COINTELPRO is the FBI’s counterintelligence program which targets activists by using  tactics such as false arrest, murder, torture and psychological warfare, and other human rights violations.  For decades, these tactics were used against Aisha & Bankole and others in the U.S. and also internationally.  With the passage of anti-terrorism and other legislation, these tactics are now perfectly legal in America.  There has been no international oversight to ensure that similar programs are not being used.  There has been no accountability on the part of the U.S. government for the many people killed, exiled, imprisoned, and whose lives were ruined.  More information is also available at the LInks page.   Click to read a bit about COINTELPRO.

There is also a link that has information about present-day counterintelligence against African people like them.  Many people still remain behind bars today as political prisoners. 

What proof do you have of all of this?

The U.S. Government itself admits all of this.  Visit the website to read the documents.  They submitted 4,000 pages of evidence to the IRB in Canada.  At present there are almost 1,000 other asylum cases being processed in Canada alone!

Are there any African-Americans who have political asylum?

No.  There have been many who tried, but because of undue influence of the US state people have so far been unable to be granted asylum, although some have been settled through non-political actions with laissez-faire arrangements often being made by governments, sometimes even in the form of verbal agreements.   This is not possible for people fleeing today.  They have learned from the past.  

As for today's exiles, even people from democracies such as German, Trinidad and Jamaica have been given asylum in Canada and recognized.  Canada has never recognized any refugee claimant from the United States in the history of the Geneva Convention.  To the best of our knowledge neither has any other country. 

What would happen if they just tested the law and went back to the U.S.?  Canada can’t legally tell them they can’t return.

The letter from Canada is legally binding regarding their status in Canada and contains a warning for them not to return to the U.S.  European countries keep a database  of all asylum seekers, so does the U.S. and Canada.  A person who makes an asylum claim against the U.S. cannot just return.  At the U.S. border they would be handed over to the INS (U.S. Immigration Police).  Since Aisha and Bankole have been warned that they cannot return without permission it would be silly for them to go return and expect that nothing bad would happen.  Canada must be made to explain this letter before the appropriate International body.  There are already thousands of people in prison who did absolutely nothing!

African-Americans don’t really have a culture – what do you mean by AUTHENTIC African-American music?  Anyone can play Jazz, Blues and Soul.  Why is it important to support the music?

Aisha, has been persecuted, censored and banned because of her political opinions and the threat of being able to influence people with her music.    She is a so-called “blacklisted” musician and artist.

African-Americans have a rich tradition.  Blues, Soul & Jazz are AFRICAN-AMERICAN art forms, even though other people play them.  What Aisha presents is proof that this music comes straight from her people’s experience.  Aisha considers herself a Cultural worker and not an entertainer.  Aisha’s music is pure Soul from her people, and her authentic experience.  It is not “pop music” and cannot be equated with the imitation of her culture that’s played on most radio stations today.  She has her own label as many did in the beginning including Betty Carter and Dizzy Gillespie.  In the past she employed musicians from the African Diaspora to record her music helping them to get a decent wage and have their talents recognized.  When you support Aisha’s independent label you are supporting true artistry and culture, instead of a billion dollar industry that rips off artists and destroys cultures around the world.  The corporations and governments will go to any length to suppress the culture.  Even to the extent of making people stateless and telling them that it'll be "played out in your refugee claim" like they did in Aisha's case!

YOU CAN HELP!

Ø      Book a speaking or Music Engagement

Ø    Purchase a book from ExiledOne!!  Bankole brings 25 years speaking and activist experience.  He also hosted his own radio program in Sweden.  Purchase and read the  ExiledOne books for a fresh perspective on today's exiled ones!!!

Ø      Aisha’s Workshop “A Culture in Context – The African Roots of African American Music”
Listen and learn as Aisha explodes the myths of “North American Culture” and discusses popular misconceptions about Jazz, Blues, Soul and Hip Hop as she defines these genres from the perspective of an artist in exile.  The workshop includes vocal and instrumental demonstrations as well as a performance.

Ø      Purchase a CD on The Soulful Expression –Independent Music label

Ø      End the blacklist and the censorship!  Book Aisha for an enchanting musical experience!

Ø      Support African-American political prisoners