Failed asylum seeker 'set himself on fire' in Nelson (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Failed asylum seeker 'set himself on fire' in Nelson

7:20pm Wednesday 24th September 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share

AN ASYLUM seeker set himself on fire because the Home Office refused him permission to stay in Nelson, an inquest heard.

Barham Ahmed, 28, of Rook Street, who suffered from depression, was found severely burnt by a passing motorist as he staggered across Carr Road shortly after 5am on February 18.

He died just over an hour later from his injuries at Blackburn Hospital.

Police found a empty petrol can and burnt clothes by a fire-damaged bench in Victoria Park, the inquest heard.

Dr Walid Salman, who carried out the post mortem examination, concluded that Mr Ahmed had not consumed any alcohol or drugs and had died due to severe burns.

Coroner Richard Taylor ruled that Mr Ahmed had taken his own life at the inquest at Burnley Magistrates Court.

The inquest was told that Barham and his brothers had come to the UK from Iraq to seek asylum in November 2002.

Mr Ahmed had told his GP, Dr Francis Ashworth, of Reedyford Health Centre, that he wanted to end his life on many occasions.

The doctor, who wrote to the Prime Minister and the Home Office asking for help, said: “There wasn’t a lot I could do. I felt his mental health problems were in excess of what I could help him with, but I did enlist the health of the social services.

“He struggled to sleep and was having nightmares and flashbacks.

“The last time I saw him he dissolved into tears and said he was going to kill himself - I was convinced by him.”

Mr Ahmed’s brother, Mustafa said the Home Office had refused Barham’s application to stay in this country but his solicitor believed he had a strong case to stay here.

He said: “He felt depressed. He couldn’t do anything and he got more and more upset. We tried to keep him strong.”

Mr Taylor said: “It is a stark reminder to anyone who deals with legal applications of asylum of anything else that the people who make applications are the people who suffer the most.

“Dr Ashworth did everything he could and felt he could not push it any further.

“Barham was clearly very depressed.”

• Print
• Email
• Share