Scottish Catholic Observer

Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow has been joined by many of Scotland’s most senior religious figures in urging the UK Government to end destitution in the asylum process, saying it has ‘no place’ in modern society.

The archbishop, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, has signed an open letter to Immigration Minister Mark Harper MP outlining concerns that asylum seekers who have had their claims refused but are too afraid to return to their home country are being forced to live a ‘hand-to-mouth existence,’ unable to work or receive benefits.

The letter urges the UK Government to end its deliberate policy of making asylum seekers destitute by stopping support when their claim is refused. The letter has also been signed by the moderator of the Church of Scotland, Right Reverend Albert Bogle, the leader of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Reverend David Chillingworth, the Senior Rabbi of Scotland, Moshe Rubin, and K Jagannathan, secretary of the Hindu Temple of Scotland. Other signatories include Robin Waterston, clerk to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Scotland, Peter Macdonald, leader of the Iona Community, and Steve Chinn, general secretary of the Humanist Society Scotland.

Human rights abuses

The letter says research has shown most failed asylum seekers come from countries with well documented human rights abuses, such as Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Iran and Somalia.

“Some flee torture because they upset the ruling regime,” it says. “Others face persecution and imprisonment because of their politics, religious beliefs or sexuality. Many of the women face sexual violence. Mothers flee with their children to protect them against genital mutilation. They all have one thing in common: a fear of what would happen if they return home.”

The letter adds: “They live a desperate hand-to-mouth existence, relying on charity. Left in such a vulnerable position, many of them are exploited, including being forced into prostitution. Unsurprisingly, many also face severe mental health difficulties.

“If failed asylum seekers cannot return home through no fault of their own we will provide support to ensure they are not destitute, including housing and an allowance for living expenses.”

Ongoing campaign

The letter follows Archbishop Tartaglia’s public declaration of support for the Stop Destitution campaign a week before Christmas. At a special event at the diocesan office on Clyde Street, he said that as the son of immigrant parents who came to Scotland fleeing the violence of the First World War, the issue is one which is close to his heart.

“Destitution is quite inhuman,” he said then. “I would appeal to all those in positions of civil authority to ease the burden of suffering of these people, to allow them the basic human requirements of shelter and sustenance and to engage with them so that they might make their contribution to the common good. I hope the government will rethink its approach. It is unacceptable that they use destitution as a deterrence policy.”

The archbishop also met with a refused asylum seeker from the Ivory Coast—Dje Bruno Masahi—who has been destitute for more than a year.

“I fled my country looking for protection because my life was in danger,” Mr Masahi said. “I did not get protection and now it is becoming increasingly difficult to survive. It’s not just me—asylum seekers across Scotland are suffering and something needs to be done about this situation.”

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Pic: Paul McSherry