| |
|
Asylum seekers and refugees have become the new bogeymen of the popular press. Yet who would leave their home, country, family,
friends, belongings and job willingly?
Is wrenching yourself from all you've ever known, to make a dangerous journey
to a
cold, drizzly land where you don't know the language, really worth it just for the benefit system?
Asylum seekers come here because they have no choice.
Often, staying would mean political imprisonment, torture or death.
If they enter this country illegally, it is also because they have no choice - repressive regimes don't provide systems for
making lengthy legal applications to travel here.
They have suffered greatly. We who were lucky enough to be born somewhere safer should be welcoming them with open arms.
Anyone with any humanity can see that they need our help and nurture so that they can overcome their hideous experiences and
get
on with making the contribution to society that most of them want to make.
Yet often when they arrive here, they are treated shamefully! Detention, poor housing, no choice, poverty, no childrens' rights,
restrictions, uncertainty, no voice, discrimination . . . it's no picnic seeking asylum in civilised Britain today.
|
|
|
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
|
|
|
|
|
There is the issue of detention for all asylum seekers, especially the most vulnerable, such as children.
Please write to your MP, to children's charities and to the Home Office about this. (Example letter below.)
I have become extremely concerned about the detention of asylum seekers, especially the vulnerable
(such as children, pregnant women, torture victims and people with health problems) in institutions such as Harmondsworth.
Asylum seekers are often already vulnerable because of the horrors they experienced in their country of origin and during
their flight. I have been told of cases in Harmondsworth where children have witnessed violence by staff to inmates;
were sometimes hungry and had their education disrupted. Children would feel that they or their families are criminals
when they can receive no explanation for their detention. This can cause real distress and mental problems.
This is an outrageous way to treat children! It is intolerable.
Surely, if the children were British by birth, there would be a huge outcry if they suffered such horrors.
People who have committed no crime should not be deprived of their liberty.
This is doubly true when vulnerable people, such as children are concerned.
I have found that the detention of asylum-seeking children is not unusual. At all times, a number of children are being
abused like this. I am sure you will agree that this cannot be allowed to go on.
I would be very interested to hear your views on this, and also on whether you are working to end this horrific practice.
___________________________________
___________________________________
|
Want to find out more? Click on these links:
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum Volunteers supporting refugees & asylum seekers
Nottingham Asylum Seekers
Bail for Immigration Detainees Help for asylum
seekers needing bail, an eye-opener for the rest of us
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
