Mende Nazer
Encyclopedia
Mende Nazer is a British author and human rights activist. For eight years, she was a slave
in Sudan
and in London
.
of Sudan. At the age of twelve or thirteen (as is customary among her people, her birthdate is unknown), she was abducted and sold into slavery in Sudan
following a slaving raid on her village. Although her family fled the raiders into the mountains, she became separated from her family and was caught by one of the raiders. For six years, Nazer served an Arab family in Khartoum
, where she was forced into hard labour and was subjected to physical and sexual abuse.
denied her claim, two years after it was submitted. This provoked the rise of a movement in support of her, consisting of individuals and human rights
groups, including Anti-Slavery International
. By the time of the denial, she had already had her autobiography published in Germany, coauthored by a British professional journalist. The Home Office reversed its denial in November 2002, and granted her political asylum. The decision stated: "In view of the widespread publication of her book and the high profile given to her claims both in Sudan and elsewhere, I am satisfied that Ms. Nazer would face difficulties which would bring her within the scope of the 1951 convention were she to be returned to Sudan. For these reasons it has been decided to recognise her as a refugee and grant her Indefinite Leave to Remain in the United Kingdom". The government thus granted her claim because of the fact of her having publicised her story widely, rather than because of believing the story.
In 2005, the English language edition of her autobiography was published. In 2010, her life story was dramatised in the Channel Four programme I Am Slave
, starring Wunmi Mosaku
and in the stage play, 'Slave - A Question of Freedom', which was based entirely on her story.
printed a second-hand account of her experience as a slave in September 2000, al-Koronky sued the paper for libel. In July 2002, before the case went to trial, the paper retracted its story and agreed to pay damages. Nazer and the coauthor of her autobiography, which was published in 2005, have blamed this outcome on the Telegraph reporter's professional incompetence. In particular, the reporter never met with or even spoke to Mende prior to publication of the article. As part of the case settlement, the Telegraph retracted the entire story, without giving Nazer the opportunity to clarify the story's inaccuracies and point out the truths it contained.
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Abduction
Nazer is a Nuba from a village in the Nuba mountainsNuba Mountains
Nuba Mountains is an area located in South Kordofan, Sudan. The area is home to a group of indigenous ethnic groups known collectively as the Nuba peoples. In the 18th century, Nuba Mountains became home to the kingdom of Taqali that controlled the hills of the mountains until their defeat by...
of Sudan. At the age of twelve or thirteen (as is customary among her people, her birthdate is unknown), she was abducted and sold into slavery in Sudan
Slavery in Sudan
Slavery in Sudan began in ancient times, and has continued to the present day. During the Arab slave trade, many Black-Sudanese were purchased as slaves and brought for work in the Middle East....
following a slaving raid on her village. Although her family fled the raiders into the mountains, she became separated from her family and was caught by one of the raiders. For six years, Nazer served an Arab family in Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
, where she was forced into hard labour and was subjected to physical and sexual abuse.
Escape and asylum claim
Six years into her captivity, Nazer was sent to London to be a household servant to a Sudanese diplomat, Abdel al-Koronky, Sudan's acting chargé d'affaires, who resided in Willesden Green. After three months, with the help of a fellow Sudanese, she managed to escape. She claimed asylum.At first, the Home OfficeHome Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
denied her claim, two years after it was submitted. This provoked the rise of a movement in support of her, consisting of individuals and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
groups, including Anti-Slavery International
Anti-Slavery International
Anti-Slavery International is an international nongovernmental organization, charity and a lobby group, based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1839, it is the world's oldest international human rights organization, and the only charity in the United Kingdom to work exclusively against slavery and...
. By the time of the denial, she had already had her autobiography published in Germany, coauthored by a British professional journalist. The Home Office reversed its denial in November 2002, and granted her political asylum. The decision stated: "In view of the widespread publication of her book and the high profile given to her claims both in Sudan and elsewhere, I am satisfied that Ms. Nazer would face difficulties which would bring her within the scope of the 1951 convention were she to be returned to Sudan. For these reasons it has been decided to recognise her as a refugee and grant her Indefinite Leave to Remain in the United Kingdom". The government thus granted her claim because of the fact of her having publicised her story widely, rather than because of believing the story.
In 2005, the English language edition of her autobiography was published. In 2010, her life story was dramatised in the Channel Four programme I Am Slave
I Am Slave
I Am Slave is a 2010 television film produced for Channel 4 on the story of one woman's fight for freedom from modern-day slavery. It premiered on Channel 4 on 30 August 2010...
, starring Wunmi Mosaku
Wunmi Mosaku
Wunmi Mosaku is a British actress of Nigerian origin, best known for her role as Joy in the 2009 BBC Two miniseries Moses Jones.-Early Life:...
and in the stage play, 'Slave - A Question of Freedom', which was based entirely on her story.
Daily Telegraph libel lawsuit
After the Sunday TelegraphSunday Telegraph
The Sunday Telegraph is a British broadsheet newspaper, founded in February 1961. It is the sister paper of The Daily Telegraph, but is run separately with a different editorial staff, although there is some cross-usage of stories...
printed a second-hand account of her experience as a slave in September 2000, al-Koronky sued the paper for libel. In July 2002, before the case went to trial, the paper retracted its story and agreed to pay damages. Nazer and the coauthor of her autobiography, which was published in 2005, have blamed this outcome on the Telegraph reporter's professional incompetence. In particular, the reporter never met with or even spoke to Mende prior to publication of the article. As part of the case settlement, the Telegraph retracted the entire story, without giving Nazer the opportunity to clarify the story's inaccuracies and point out the truths it contained.