James Doherty , The Scotsman, Wednesday 4th December 2002
http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=1347702002

The Home Office could face a multi-million-pound compensation bill after an asylum-seeker launched a landmark court case, claiming a decision to force him to stay in Glasgow breached his human rights.

Mehmet Gezer, a Turkish-Kurd, says the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) failed to protect him and his family from "sustained and serious" racist abuse after they were sent to high-rise accommodation in the Toryglen area.

Mr Gezer, 51, who fled detention and torture in his native land, said his wife, Altun, 44, and two of his four children were verbally and physically abused by racist youths just days after arriving in the city on 6 September last year.

Glasgow has well-documented problems with asylum seekers. In August 2001, Firsat Dag, 25, a Turkish-Kurd, was stabbed to death in Sighthill. Last Friday, Masood Gomroki, 32, an Iranian, was stabbed by a gang in what police are treating as a racially motivated incident.

Stephanie Harrison, Mr Gezer’s counsel, told the High Court in London that the family were sworn at, spat on, threatened with dogs and had their home attacked by three white males who threatened to stab Mr Gezer’s son, Ibrahim, Stephanie Harrison, 13.

During the final attack on 27 October, 2001, the youths allegedly kicked in the front door and smashed windows before a neighbouring asylum-seeker heard their screams and alerted police by pressing a panic button which had been installed by authorities after previous attacks.

The family were moved by Strathclyde Police to emergency accommodation. Officers later confirmed that the attack was racially motivated.

Mr Gezer, who has been treated by the Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture, moved his two youngest children back to London, where his oldest sons, Hasan, 25 and Huseyin, 23, had won refugee status. However, the court heard that in November 2001, NASS ordered the family back to the flat in Glasgow, insisting it was a reasonable request while it investigated the incident.

Mr Gezer, supported by the Refugee Council, told the Home Office that his children were terrified of returning and pleaded with NASS to allow his family to remain in London, where there is an established Turkish-Kurd community - or disperse them anywhere else but Glasgow.

However, on 22 November NASS told the family it was satisfied that it was safe for them to return to the flat in Toryglen. When the Gezers refused, their financial support, including housing benefit, was withdrawn. Although granted subsistence level vouchers, it is claimed the family did not receive their first food voucher until 30 December because of a "clerical error".

Ms Harrison claimed that NASS should have been aware that there was a "real risk" that the family would be subjected to "harm" on the Glasgow estate, which Strathclyde Police have identified as being second only to Sighthill in terms of serious racially motivated attacks.

She further claimed that the family had suffered "inhuman and degrading treatment" at the hands of NASS.

The hearing, before Mr Justice Goldring, continues tomorrow. It is expected to hear evidence that the Gezers’ youngest children, Esme, 16, and Ibrahim, suffered psychological trauma which required treatment.

If the claim is successful, the Home Office could be liable for damages approaching £60,000.

At any one time in Glasgow, about 7,000 asylum-seekers are relocated. Peter Barry, the manager of the Scottish Refugee Council, said the case could lead to further claims.

He said: "If successful, this case would set some kind of precedent, and would alert people to a place where they can express their grievance, because there are a large number of asylum-seekers and refugees who feel very aggrieved about being victims of violent and racist attacks. Many do feel vulnerable and exposed in Glasgow."

*Refugee sues over living in Glasgow
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