Press Release -Council debate whether to support campaign and bus stop solidarity demonstration

Council debate whether to support campaign and bus stop solidarity demonstration
 

Tomorrow morning, Wednesday 17th, a group of refugees, migrants and allies will be holding a city centre bus stop solidarity protest with all people who have to report with the Home Office at Patchway.

Over 500 migrants in Bristol are required by the Home Office to sign in regularly. Until recently, people reported at Trinity Police Station. Since 1st October 2014, they have to travel to Patchway police centre, a 14 mile round trip from the centre.

Over half of the people signing are asylum seekers, having fled their country due to war or persecution. The group will be holding their protest near the bus stops by Primark, holding images of bombed out Broadmead to make the link between war and people seeking safety here in the UK.

Asylum applicants are already struggling with anxiety and depression - finding solicitors, gathering evidence, facing cultures of disbelief in the Home Office, not being allowed to work, being made destitute. Reporting at Patchway is making this situation even more unbearable. 

The protest is part of a Campaign to end signing at patchway and reduce signing frequency. The Dignity group, with the support of Bristol Refugee Rights and Bristol Defend Asylum Seekers have already collected over 800 signatures in support of their campaign goals. They will be asking more people to sign in support of dignity and freedom.

"It is all too common for people claiming asylum to have to wait years for their case to be resolved. The majority who are initially refused go on to win their leave to remain in the UK.  During this long wait, people have to keep signing every week. Each time they go, there is the chance they will be detained, taken to a detention centre and deported. Signing is a stressful experience for all, traumatic for some." said Claire, from East Bristol and Dignity member

On Tuesday evening, the council will be debating a motion tabled by Cllr Ron Stone, and will vote as to whether to lobby the Home Office to end signing at Patchway.

"I have a daughter aged 3 and she goes to school in Soundwell from 9am till 12. On my signing day, Tuesday, she misses school, because I have to be at Patchway between 10.30 and 11.30. From Easton it takes 1 hour30 minutes each way. It is not possible for me to take her to school in Soundwell, then go to Patchway and return in time to pick her up at 12. So she misses school. When I signed at Trinity Road she didn't miss school, because the journey was not so long." S, Bangladesh

The protest will take place by the bus stop from where the buses to Patchway leave to offer solidarity to those going to sign. However, not all can afford the bus. Only those in receipt of support from the Home Office are entitled to travel costs. Destitute asylum seekers either have to walk all the way or beg lifts or bus fares. Parents have to take children out of nursery, students are forced to miss college classes, disabled people find it even more difficult to travel to Patchway.

"I see no reason why people should be signing so often. Two to three days before signing you can't eat. After signing you are happy, then after 3 days you start to worry again. I feel so worried for those still signing weekly. Nothing guarantees you will sign and go back home. It is very sad. It dominates lives. We must end signing" M, West Africa and Dignity member

The Home Office have committed to a 3 month review of the decision to move signing to Patchway.

Speaking to the council

To sit next to Father Richard from St Nicholas church in the council chamber gave me a positive feeling and I felt peaceful when I spoke. My speech was not perfect, but I was happy to talk there because we are right and just looking for the human rights and to challenge the unjust laws. Thanks to the people and councillors who supported us to make this happen. x manesh

Really beautiful and positive night

I have to say Monday evening and all the night and the day after was really beautiful and full of positive felling and love. Thanks to people who brought food, drinks and instruments to play music this was lovely and even to people who just stayed for a few minutes.

Congratulations to all of them and also I must say all this happened because of what we have done in the past year at different places and events and little by little we have to go forward and challenge and force the central government to change the unjust law for Asylum seekers.

 x Manesh

The motion was passed, with 80% support. All non-Conservative councillors present at the meeting voted in favour.

Asylum seekers and supporters with Cllr Ron Stone and Cllr Fi Hance very pleased after the meeting! 

The vote to pass the motion was made around just before 7pm, around 24 hours after we first came to camp out on Monday, as you can imagine we were all very tired by this point, but really pleased to hear wonderful speeches from Fi Hance and Ron Stone and other councillors. George Ferguson Mayor of Bristol said that "We should not tolerate destitution in our city for any reason" and that He will speak with the leaders of the other core cities and encourage them to join him in writing a letter to the minister of state deploring the government policy that forces refused asylum seekers into destitution.

Speaking now in council meeting

"I want to work and pay my taxes."
"We slept outside last night"
"I want to be human like you".
Manesh

"By government decree they have no roof, no clothes, no food, no decent healthcare."
"The government voted against detention without trial for terrorists, but not for asylum seekers.
This motion cries out with suffering, that you can do something to help and deserves to be passed unanimously."
"Do the right thing for your brothers and sisters and for your city. Transform the life of the partly living into a life of hope, freedom and opportunity."

Father Richard McKay.

Walking into city hall in chains of destitution

Read quotes, hear a song and find out more about why we are sleeping out.

Hover mouse over the image to see icons, click on the icons to see more information.

Sleeping out on College Green

Many of us gathered this evening at College Green, some of us to camp out and some of us coming along to support for the evening. It's been raining on and off, but the morale is high and the fire and people are keeping us warm. 

The "chains of destitution" - we will walk into the city hall carrying these.

At 11pm on Monday 14th January

Peace 

Keeping warm with fire and blankets

Asylum Seekers Sleep Out to Dream of Ending Forced Destitution

Press Release

Asylum Seekers Sleep Out to Dream of Ending Forced Destitution

On Monday 14^th 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 15^th 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.

"I didn't choose this life, the home office choose for me this life."

There is a deliberate policy to make asylum seekers homeless, stuck with in limbo, with their lives at a standstill, asylum seekers waiting for fresh evidence, who are unable to be sent back are stuck, destitute, not allowed to work, not eligible for benefits.

Charities fill the gap in Bristol, helping where they can with meals and food handouts, but they cannot relieve the mental anguish that this situation causes, constantly worrying about where their food and housing will come from, unable to feel safe and feeling like their life is worthless.

Do you agree it's not ok that this country has a policy to make asylum seekers destitute?
Then join us this Monday 14th evening from 7pm for the Sleep Out in the Chains of Destitution in support of those who have no choice but to sleep out or come on Tuesday 15th from midday to support Bristol City Council as they vote on whether to make a statement against this policy and aim to do all they can to help.

Related articles

• Asylum Seekers Sleep Out to Dream of Ending Forced Destitution
• Sleep Out in the 'Chains of Forced Destitution'
• Stop Destitution: Human Rights Day 2012 Monday 10th December

Sleep Out in the 'Chains of Destitution'

Sleep Out in the 'Chains of Destitution'

College Green

7pm, Monday 14^th January 2013

We are a group of destitute asylum seekers. We came to UK to find safety as our lives were in danger in our home country. Our asylum applications have been refused wrongly because the Home Office chooses not to believe us. They ask for more and more evidence. Our families put themselves in danger getting this and they still refuse us. They say many countries are safe, like Iraq and Afghanistan, but we know from our families and the news here that our lives would be at risk if we are sent back. We want to live in safety, free from danger.

We are also not allowed to work. We do not receive any government support. These unjust laws leave us chained up with no shelter or food. This is destitution.

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

We are young. We are here. We have many skills. We want to contribute to this society, paying taxes and helping to generate money for the economy. We need to be able to work so we can pay for accommodation and our food. If you won't let us work, then at least we need to receive benefits so we can survive.

We want people of Bristol to stand up with us and say that this is wrong and that it should change. We also want Bristol Council to do the same. On Tuesday 15th January the Council will debate whether or not to take action to challenge government policy on forced destitution of asylum seekers.

We are going to sleep out on College Green to bring attention to this debate.

We are going to sleep inside the chains of destitution to show Bristol our reality. 

We invite friends and supporters, young and old, students, working and unemployed people, people with and without homes to sleep out with us in solidarity and help us raise awareness of the problem and the urgent need for a solution.

Everyone deserves a chance to live. Why should we have destitution in a City of Sanctuary?

We will stay on College Green from 7pm until 2pm, Tuesday 15th when many of us will go in to take part in the council debate. 

For those who can't sleep over, please come and visit us for the evening or join us between 12pm – 2pm on Tuesday.

Please bring: tent, songs, sleeping bags, blankets, candles, food to share, torches, music, stories, hot drinks, poems, banner materials

 

Organised by Dignity for Asylum Seekers

Supported by Bristol Refugee Rights, Bristol Defend Asylum Seekers, Bristol Hospitality Network

Solidarity

"I came here today to show solidarity with people in the aslyum system. I think we need to highlight how sudden (quick) detention can happen. It is important to say that no one should be illegal. Money and goods can flow freely around the world but for some reason humans can't.

The asylum system adds to a racist society because it creates a divide between people from different places. And lots of migration is caused by British foreign policy.

I think it is important to destroy the isolation and for people who are in there to know they are not alone. We need to shown community and break down barriers. That is why I am here, as someone from Bristol."

by Dennis

Eight detentions is eight too many

-->

Today I was in the police station to sign for UKBA as I do every week. I left the police station and returned to the drop-in centre for asylum seekers to do my duty as a chef. Later one of my friend told me that eight people been detained and she said that two of them are asylum seekers but has no details about the others.

I really feeling sad. Because still Bristol is City of Sanctuary but is not safe for the asylum seeker. We are feeling unsafe, nervous and stressed when we go to sign at police station. In my opinion, UKBA does not listen to us and so we need to work hard for human rights of asylum seeker, we need asylum seekers to get organised, we need existing organisations to support us and we need everyone to learn more about asylum seekers, ask me questions.

We want to have our dignity back, which UKBA and Home Office want to scrap. They don't want to listen. They want to carry on with the process of detaining asylum seekers.

This is the beginning of a path towards a dictatorial government, because if they scrap human rights for asylum seekers today, tomorrow they will do for another kind of person living in Bristol.

We have a lot of experience of this issue in our countries, how they changed to become dictatorships.

I hope not happen in this country because society is beautiful together and united.

by Esam Amin

Eight people detained today.

This morning eight people have been detained by UKBA at trinity police station. We are protesting there from 5:30pm today to stand together and challenge this.
DIGNITY FOR AYSLUM SEEKERS. 

"I'll sew up my eyes and mouth": Ibrahim in Bristol Post

Recent coverage about the petition and Ibrahim's situation in the Bristol Post. We are presenting the petition statement to the council at 5:30pm today, please come to college green and join us. (More info)

"I'll sew up my eyes and mouth": asylum seeker | This is Bristol: 


A FAILED asylum seeker has spent the past three weeks sleeping rough on College Green in protest – and threatened to sew his eyes and mouth shut to get his point across.


Ibrahim Moulkaf, 43, had to flee Algeria in 2009 after writing a book criticising the government and violent behaviour of Islamic fundamentalists and promoting peace.


The publication of Democracy in the Arab and Islamic World in France led to hard line Islamic militants starting a hate campaign against him.


They preached in Mosques about him, he received death threats, beatings in the street and his home was raided. He fled to England and applied for asylum but has continually been denied residence preventing him from gaining access to work, education or benefits.


He says he decided to apply to voluntarily return to Algeria, despite the risks, but permission was refused because a travel document could not be obtained for him.

Mr Moulkaf said he had now decided to voluntarily sleep rough on College Green to protest at his position.


"I sleep on the grass unless it is raining and then I shelter either under the council building or in a shop entrance," Mr Moulkaf told the Post.


"I had been staying in a house but I have come out here in protest because my appeals for asylum have been continually denied. It is hard and I am very tired.

"It is important because this is not just about me it is about the many other, more than 100 asylum seekers, sleeping on the streets in Bristol."

Paulette North, of the Respect Party, has started a petition and is submitting a motion at Bristol City Council's cabinet meeting tomorrow entitled: "We urge Bristol City Council to follow the example of Glasgow City Council."..... Read rest of the article 

Ibrahim sleeping out

A FAILED asylum seeker has spent the past three weeks sleeping rough on College Green in protest – and threatened to sew his eyes and mouth shut to get his point across.
Ibrahim Moulkaf, 43, had to flee Algeria in 2009 after writing a book criticising the government and violent behaviour of Islamic fundamentalists and promoting peace.

1. ​
   Ibrahim Moulkaf, backed by supporters, on College Green

The publication of Democracy in the Arab and Islamic World in France led to hard line Islamic militants starting a hate campaign against him.
They preached in Mosques about him, he received death threats, beatings in the street and his home was raided. He fled to England and applied for asylum but has continually been denied residence preventing him from gaining access to work, education or benefits.
He says he decided to apply to voluntarily return to Algeria, despite the risks, but permission was refused because a travel document could not be obtained for him.
Mr Moulkaf said he had now decided to voluntarily sleep rough on College Green to protest at his position.
"I sleep on the grass unless it is raining and then I shelter either under the council building or in a shop entrance," Mr Moulkaf told the Post.
"I had been staying in a house but I have come out here in protest because my appeals for asylum have been continually denied. It is hard and I am very tired.
"It is important because this is not just about me it is about the many other, more than 100 asylum seekers, sleeping on the streets in Bristol."
Paulette North, of the Respect Party, has started a petition and is submitting a motion at Bristol City Council's cabinet meeting tomorrow entitled: "We urge Bristol City Council to follow the example of Glasgow City Council."
Last month Glasgow City Council criticised the UK Border Agency for the amount of failed asylum seekers sleeping on the street and demanded that the Government relax restrictions on what local authorities can provide.
Ms North, who is the Respect party Bristol mayor candidate, said: "We are making a noise and asking for the council to intervene. We need to give failed asylum seekers hope.
"We are the fifth richest country in the world but this is still going on. We are reaching breaking point because there is such a feeling of injustice, despair and hopelessness.
"I hope this protest will be like a snowball that will grow and grow because this is one of the most vulnerable groups of people.
"He has even threatened to sew his mouth and eyes shut to make a point."

DIGINITY FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS

March on the 30th of June 
manesh

We are rebuilding our futures

I really liked the dynamic of the march. I felt that we refugees have a future in Bristol, despite the difficulties and alienation and having to rebuild a new life. It's not so bad in the end as those who get a second chance can change things in their life and in society.

We don't need your pity, but your solidarity. 

Refugee = Refuture

Daahir

Report on March

On Saturday 30th June we went on a March for Dignity for Asylum Seekers and there was more people than we expected. We marched through the city centre telling people, enlightening them about asylum seekers and what we are going through. Everybody marched with peace and happiness. We stopped at the Trinity Police Station and spoke about the different things we are suffering from.

Anon

Explain to people our situation

  “It was great for me because I think for first time the people of Bristol know the problems asylum seekers face.

We need solutions for our problems, that is why we came on the streets. I think we did good job, passing our message to people. We want people to be the bridge between us and the home office, telling them to stop being tough on asylum seekers and not to turn down our cases.

Asylum seekers can't feel safe when we have to sign at the police station every week, we feel stressed because of risk of deportation and it is not safe to send us back. We came because we are looking for place of safety and peace.”

Esam