Globally, refugees are rarely given an easy time. And national government is stepping up its ongoing campaign against the unfortunate. So for those who think the destitute and homeless should be supported, or that borders themselves should be fought, now may be a good time to take action.
Globally, refugees are rarely given an easy time. And national government is stepping up its ongoing campaign against the unfortunate. So for those who think the destitute and homeless should be supported, or that borders themselves should be fought, now may be a good time to take action.
At the end of November, 15 refugees were dressed in army-issue uniform, handcuffed and forcibly taken back to Iraqi Kurdistan on a military flight. While the Home Office insisted they will be safe, a week later Iraq's own Prime Minister /p>
An active, intelligent 21-year-old, Karwan also refuses to return to return to a society where there is little freedom to enjoy yourself and express your opinions. As our government preaches 'liberal' values worldwide, it might be argued, why do they happily pack people off to lands where freedom and descent are crushed?
Another recent asylum policy change has been condemned as "inhuman and administratively disastrous" by Barnardos. Section nine of the Asylum and Immigration Act 2004 – though not yet affecting Notts - is on trial in Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and parts of London. When an asylum claim is rejected, refugees are notified that they must leave the country. If they do not do so, says section nine, their benefit will be stopped, leaving them homeless and destitute. Children can then be taken away from families without the means to look after them.
The policy has been universally derided by those involved as brutal and useless. The Barnardos report said: "None of the local authorities felt that the implementation of section nine would decrease applications or significantly increase the numbers of families leaving the UK." Social workers in the affected areas have refused to abide by the law, which, they say contravenes the rights of children.
Action against section nine has already begun, but of course it will take a great deal to put politicians off the headline-grabbing measures.
As Karwan explains, life as refugee in the UK is often traumatic even without these added threats. "They don't know anyone here and often can't speak the language," he said. "It can be hard just to do basic day to day things. And then they're scared of what's going to happen to them."
Some have now begun taking a packed suitcase to their weekly registration with police, after friends have been arrested on the spot for deportation. Refugees who have been refused asylum are often subjected to dawn raids, including this example from the Evening Post. Such occurrences are common, an established part of immigration policy.
Nottingham Refugee Campaign Group is preparing to organise the protest that is necessary to fight the political onslaught against the needy. It is also organising to support refugees by providing a supporting presence outside the police station as they register at the police station. In this way the group hopes to alert others if of any impromptu incarceration. It also explains injustice against asylum seekers at events like One World Week.
The nature of their lives means that some refugees are amongst the most traumatised in our society. Many are still strong and able to fight for themselves. But all have to put up with attitudes like this. And, even more dangerously, they up are up against a government hell-bent on putting their lives at risk with the actions documented above.
The NRCF invites you to campaign with refugees against their unjust, brutal and dangerous treatment from our own government. They meet at the Square Centre, 389 Alfred Street North on December 14 at 7.30pm. Keep an eye on Notts Indymedia for future activities
News updates on refugees in the UK are available from www.ncadc.org.uk and www.asylumpolicy.info
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