Press
Release
Asylum
Seekers Sleep Out to Dream of Ending Forced Destitution
On
Monday 14th January 40 destitute asylum seekers from the
group Dignity for Asylum Seekers will sleep within a 'Chain of
Destitution' on College Green to publically condemn the governments
policy of forced destitution [1] and to encourage Bristol Council to
do the same.
Esam
Amin, a refused Kurdish asylum seeker from Iraq and volunteer chef at Bristol
Refugee Rights Welcome Centre said “My asylum application has
been refused wrongly because the Home Office chooses not to believe
me. They asked for more evidence and my mum put herself in danger
getting this and they still refuse me and then leave me destitute”.
Destitute asylum seekers and supporters [2] will set up tents within a giant chain to
highlight how asylum seekers who have had their asylum applications
wrongfully refused [3] are made destitute by unjust laws.
Patrick
from East Africa and volunteer at St Nicholas Church said
“We
are young. We are here. We have many skills. We want to contribute to
this society, pay taxes and help to generate money for the economy.
Refused asylum seekers are not allowed to work but nor do we receive
any government support. These unjust laws leave us with no shelter or
food. It is inhumane and degrading. We are made to feel inferior and
have lost our confidence. The government needs to change this policy.
We need to be treated as humans. We want dignity”
The
group will stay on College Green until 2pm on Tuesday 15th
January, facing sub-zero temperatures. They will then go in to the
City Hall to encourage councillors to agree to publically deplore
this government policy, join the Still Human Still Here campaign and
encourage Bristol MP's to organise a debate in the House of
Parliament.
“The
government has rejected my case and they try to reject me from
society. This situation brings up mental problems and I forget my
background due to the hard pressure I am under. Its a kind of
amnesia. I feel I am not able to connect with people and I have lots
of thoughts in my mind of doing harm to myself. But I also dream of
asylum seekers getting basic human rights.” said
Manesh, a refused asylum seeker from Iran and a regular writer on the
Asylum Seekers in Bristol blog.
The
group will be there from 7.30pm on Monday until 2pm on Tuesday. They
will take the tents down at 1pm and at 2pm walk within the Chains in
to the Council House.
Claire Hall from Bristol said “My
friends and I are going to support this sleep out. It is going to be a
long cold night but this is nothing compared to what destitute asylum
seekers experience. We want be part of this amazing movement of people
who are doing something positive to bring an end to forced destitution.”
[1] See report by Refugee Action for more information about the forced destitution on Asylum Seekers: http://www.refugee-action.org.uk/campaigns/destitution/NewDestitutionReport.aspx
[2] This event is supported by Bristol Defend Asylum Seekers, Bristol Hospitality Network and Bristol Refugee Rights.
[3] People are refused for many reasons; lack of English and stress when interviewed on arrival in UK; not understanding the legal process; cuts to legal aid make it difficult to get a solicitor; standards of evidence required by Home Office which are near impossible to reach; a culture of wilfully disbelieving people.
[2] This event is supported by Bristol Defend Asylum Seekers, Bristol Hospitality Network and Bristol Refugee Rights.
[3] People are refused for many reasons; lack of English and stress when interviewed on arrival in UK; not understanding the legal process; cuts to legal aid make it difficult to get a solicitor; standards of evidence required by Home Office which are near impossible to reach; a culture of wilfully disbelieving people.
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