Scottish Catholic Observer

A rally is being held tonight at Glasgow’s Red Road flats (above) to protest against the imminent eviction of 50 refused refugees.

In spite of the condemnation and protest of the Scottish Parliament, Glasgow City Council, the Catholic Church and other religious bodies, and numerous trade union bodies, the planned eviction, enforced homelessness and destitution of failed asylum seekers in the city is going ahead.

Many of asylum seekers have received notices to quit their accommodation by today from Y People and the Sheriff’s Officers. Serco is due to take over the contract for housing asylum seekers in Scotland from Y People at the end of August. Further legal action may now take place to enact the evictions.

These evictions are taking place days after the Crown Office decided it was ‘not in the public interest’ to hold a fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of the Serykh family.

Serguei Serykh, 43, his wife Tatiana, and Mr Serykh’s stepson, Stepan, 19, died after falling 15 floors at the Red Road flats in Springburn in March 2010. Their application to remain in the UK had been refused and they had been told they had to leave their flat.

At the time of their death, Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow called for asylum seekers to be better treated, adding the loss of the family was a ‘terrible reminder’ of the anguish felt every day by asylum seekers in Britain.

Demonstrators will assemble tonight at Red Road flats at 33 Petershill Drive from 5.30pm for the 6-7pm rally. The rally has been called by called by Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees and is supported by Justice and Peace Scotland.