21st November 2005

Update: 13/01/06: appeal successful and he gets a 5 year stay.

Your front page story about the possible deportation of a local gay Algerian man is another example of the injustice of our asylum laws (18/11/05). If he is deported he will almost certainly face a jail sentence purely because of his sexuality(i). He is not alone.

Our government is regularly deporting lesbian and gay asylum seekers who have fled jail, rape and torture (ii) and expects gay people who are returned to deny their sexuality (iii). This is monstrous and defies international law and humanitarian norms of civilised behaviour.

Our unjust asylum laws need a complete overhaul. The Government seems to believe that keeping numbers down is more important than providing protection to those fleeing persecution. Last week we hear for example that they plan to renew deportations to Iraq (iv) while Oxfam reports our asylum system institutionalises poverty.

This week UK Green MEPs have helped launch a campaign to stop the UK deporting children (v). It is appalling that we imprison children in poor conditions in detention centres for up to 268 days - denying basic human rights of a family life, education and freedom just because of their immigration status. Planned laws will make the situation worse.

This cannot be right. The UK hosts less than three per cent of the world's refugees and immigrants and the Home Office shows they contribute 10% more in taxes than they receive in benefits and public services. Britain is one of the largest economies in the world and has a moral responsibility to ensure that asylum seekers are treated humanely and with respect.

Philip Booth, Press Officer, Stroud District Green Party.


Notes:

(i) See: http://www.ilga.info/Information/Legal_survey/africa/algeria.htm

(ii) Other countries with problems include Jamaica, Iran, Belarus, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Pakistan.

(iii) The decision to refuse refugee status is justified by arguing they will not suffer persecution if they return to their home country, move to a new area where no one knows them and never have sex unless it is ‘with discretion’.

(iv) Announcement 17th November: http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/news/2005/Nov05/relea1105_2.htm

 
Note: after 15 failed Iraqi asylum seekers were forcibly removed from Britain at the weekend Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP, has today warned of the dangers they would face in Iraq and called for action to stop deportations now. Jean, who has recently been named MEP 2005 for Justice and Human Rights, is horrified that the Home Office would send people back to a situation of danger and warned that those returned would face an uncertain and hazardous future.  Jean said: “There are reasons why asylum seekers are fleeing countries such as Iraq and these are being severely overlooked by the Government.  We do not know exactly what will happen to those returned or if they will be taken to their original homes. The Government tells us that those who have already returned have done so without any problems, but how can they be sure.  They do not have a system to track what happens to people when they have been returned forcibly or by choice.  Without such a system the Government’s assurances are worth nothing.”

A further 5000 Iraqi Kurds are being detained all over the UK including, Portsmouth, Solihull, Liverpool and Newcastle. They await the Government’s decision on whether they can remain in the UK or not. Jean continued; “Iraqi people are keen to return to their home country and rebuild their lives but they can not do this if their lives are in constant danger.  The second Gulf War may have officially ended but whilst the after affects of war continue the Government must take responsibility for its actions and support asylum seekers here in the UK.”

(v) "Stop Deporting Children" Protest: demonstration in London and Manchester on Saturday 19th November organised by ‘Stop Deporting Children’ and the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns (NCADC) to end the deportation of children to countries where their health, freedom, education and ultimately survival will be imperilled.

London’s Green MEP, Jean Lambert, who has been named MEP 2005 for Justice and Human Rights, spoke of the urgent need to ensure that children are given the childhood they deserve; “Everyone should be given basic Human Rights where ever they come from or what ever their age. It is particularly distressing to see children held in detention centres, often without their parents, in poor conditions. The time they spend as what can only be described as a prisoner, has severe detrimental effects on their physical and mental health."

The Government plans to:
· Make families homeless and destitute and force local authority workers to take children away from parents.
· Make people go back to their country of origin to appeal against refusal to grant leave to remaining this country.

The Government already:
· Say that children’s needs are not as important as their immigration status.
· Exclude the immigration authorities from any requirement to prioritise the needs of children.
· Detain and deport children and families without regard to the normal process of law or basic humanity.