Remember when Julian Assange refused to leave the Ecuadorian Embassy? It turns out, that isn’t the first time that something like this has happened in the UK, as this new six part series explores.
In 1986, Viraj Mendis sought refuge in a church in Manchester after facing deportation to Sri Lanka, claiming that he would face a death sentence if he returned during the middle of a civil war. Viraj ended up staying there for two years, claiming a ‘right of sanctuary,’ with clothes and meals brought to him by supporters. It also created quite the headache for the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Presenter Father Azariah France-Williams unpacks the story in this new BBC Radio Manchester series, highlighting how a three decade old story still feels relevant in the current political environment.
