The new song to download today is about a friend of ours called Hicham Yezza. I met Hich back in 1996. He made an impression on me on that first day and every day I've met him since, which due to me moving away from Nottingham is not as often in recent years as I would have liked. In any case I got a call from a mutual friend a few days ago who told me Hich had been arrested and imprisoned firstly on entirely false terrorism charges (later dropped - see the links below for details) and then for apparently violating his immigration status, which absurd. Hich is has studied, worked and lived here legally for years. The whole thing would be absurd were it not so serious. Hich is as close to being a genius of anyone I ever met. But more than that he's a good man and a good mate. So this song is about Hich. Do all you can to put pressure on the authorities to release him and give him permanent leave to stay. Visit http://freehichamyezza.wordpress.com/ for details

For background visit:
http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,2283183,00.html
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=402280&c=2
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/05/399800.html
http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,2282932,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=8
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/05/399879.html
http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,2282408,00.html
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jpdN_vBv1vuUo6-WhHFGd1HytBXw
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/draconian-home-office-fasttracks-algerians-deportation-834031.html