UK should hang its head in shame over treatment of Asylum Seekers

     Gezer family lose High Court action even though, Judge Justice Moses, said the family had been subjected to, "undisputed social intimidation and violence"  and what they had to suffer "brings shame upon any country which holds itself out as a safe haven against persecution"

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Refugee homelessness charity criticises asylum high court decision

Posting from Positive Action in Housing

Positive Action in Housing has criticised a judge’s decision to reject an application for compensation for alleged violation of human rights.

Mehmet Gezer, a Turkish Kurd, had claimed his right to respect for his private and family life had been breached when he was moved to the city's Toryglen estate. Mr Gezer, 51, lost his High Court battle for damages under human rights laws.

Robina Qureshi, Director of Positive Action in Housing, said:

"We are bitterly disappointed. The failure of this case sends out another message to thousands of asylum seekers across the UK that racism against minorities and refugees won’t be taken seriously. For decades ethnic minorities have suffered racist attacks and vilification on the very estates that asylum seekers have been forcibly dispersed to. Ethnic minorities do everything possible to avoid those places; the tragedy is that asylum seekers cannot because they are forcibly dispersed there.

"Judge Moses talks of his sympathy for the family and the "shame of the UK" over the case, but what’s the use of that if he then fails to attribute responsibility for creating that record of shame to NASS, which is in effect the asylum seekers’ landlord and therefore like any landlord surely must take responsibility for the safety and protection of its tenants, the most vulnerable group in society. NASS didn’t directly subject the claimants to racist attacks but by doing virtually nothing about their situation and many others in the same situation they surely are culpable.

"This case signals the green light for NASS to continue to forcibly disperse more vulnerable refugees all over the UK without consideration of their safety or protection. In our view, the decision of NASS in September 2001 to disperse the family to Toryglen infringed the European Convention on Human Rights".

Notes to editors

1.     Positive Action in Housing is a Scottish wide minority-ethnic led charity whose mission is to work with communities and others to enable everyone to have an equal chance to live in good quality, affordable and safe homes, free from discrimination and the fear of racial harassment and violence. Our main aims are to: a) Assist minority ethnic and refugee communities to overcome homelessness, racial harassment and poor housing through a casework/advocacy service and b) Enable housing providers to eliminate racial discrimination and promote equal opportunities through the provision of written guidance, training/consultancy and networking.

2.     If you would like copies of Positive Action in Housing’s expert submission in this case please email home@paih.org and we will email it to you.

3.     For more information call Robina Qureshi 0777 332 1727.

Source for this page: Positive Action in Housing

Asylum seeker loses fight for damages over living in Glasgow Scotsman Online 17th April 2003
Shame of violence to asylum family    The Guardian Thursday April 17th 2003
Asylum seekers' damages bid fails   BBC News Online Wednesday 16th April 2003

Background:
Refugee sues over living in Glasgow
James Doherty , The Scotsman, Wednesday 4th December 2002

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