What BBC's Asylum Day Should Have Said! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arlington Trotman
A very sad day for journalism, for truth and justice . . . . . . . . Zrinka Bralo

Ay Family: Scottish human rights lawyer picks up the Gauntlet
     Aamer Anwar, a Scottish human rights lawyer, after he was contacted by Beirwan, the eldest child, has lodged an aslyum application on behalf of the four children.

Last ditch plea for Dungavel family
      Today Monday 4th August 2003, the Ay children Beriwan (14), Newroz (13), Dilowan (12) and Medya (8) will be spending their 384th day in detention!   

384 days too many

The Ay Family Campaign have launched an international Appeal to the Home Secretary to release the Ay family from detention and let them remain in Britain!

Yurdurgal Ay and her children were snatched from their home in Gravesend on Wednesday July 17th 2002 and have been held in Dungavel Removal Centre in Scotland for most of the 377days they will have now spent in detention.     
 What you can do!

Deportation will not do-Asylum family must be allowed Lords hearing       Leader: Glasgow Herald
Start of moves to deport Dungavel family    Glasgow Herald Thursday 24th July 2003

Background material on Ay Family

Detention of children - Government should act now to impose strict limits      Glasgow Herald
Bishop's fury over detained asylum families    The Scotsman Thursday 17th July 2003

Boris Lidovski must stay!

Bishop John Mone calls for closure of Dungavel Removal/detention Centre

 Yurdurgal Ay Loses In Court Of Appeal - judges say "need for a strong immigration policy" outweighs the welfare of the children. 

    Today Tuesday July 15th 2003, the Ay children Beriwan 14, Newroz 3, Dilovan 12 and Medya 8 will be spending their 364th day in detention.

Support for the release of the Ay children grows stronger by the day.  Leader: Glasgow Herald

It is our duty to educate Ay children, says schools chief     Glasgow Herald 9th July 2003

Ay Family win injunction to stop David Blunkett deporting them till petition to Lords lodged

Scottish clergy lead call for Ay Family to be given Asylum

'It is a very bad place to live surrounded by barbed fences' -
      "We are being put through mental torture by being in here. Why won't the government listen to us? The younger children cannot cope any longer and need to get out. It is a very bad place for them to live surrounded by barbed fences and not getting out to play. They are already suffering from stress and depression. Being here is driving us all crazy. I know people who have got crazy here after a week."      

Support Groups
     " Women are nothing if not resilient and refugee and asylum-seeking women are more resilient than most. They are among the most marginalised groups in this country. And, although efforts have been made to make the UK’s asylum system less gender blind, much remains to be done," writes Janet Snell, for Communitycare.com

Right to refuge - A fair deal for refugees and asylum seekers    Introducing communitycare.co.uk

         Canadian Council for Refugees calls for suspension of removals to Colombia, in light of the widespread human rights abuses and ongoing war in that country

Home Office Press Releases: July 2003

Visa Fingerprint Trial for Visitors from Sri Lanka

Media - articles on asylum/refugee/economic migrants/ issues : July 2003

Minister's refusal angers asylum campaign        Belfast Telegraph Thursday 31st July 2003
Asylum seeker dispersal 'a waste of money' The Guardian Wednesday 30th July 2003
Asylum debate must be put in context      Leader: The Guardian Friday 25th July 2003
Asylum seekers 'were locked in during fire'     The Guardian Wednesday July 23rd 2003
‘Unacceptable’ that asylum children are held for a year at former Scots prison
Asylum questions: Are we being swamped?   BBC News Online Wednesday 16th July
Study of refugee agency's failings 'kept secret'     The Telegraph Wednesday 16th July 2003
Asylum service branded a shambles     The Times, Wednesday 16th July 2003
Asylum service criticised    The Guardian Wednesday July 16th 2003
Burundi peace under threat as army repulses rebel offensive   The Guardian July 14th 2003
Italy calls for EU-wide quotas to curb immigration      The Independent Monday 14th July 2003
Communities 'need honesty on asylum      BBC News Online Saturday 12th July 2003
School call for asylum seekers in Scotland    The Scotsman, Sunday 13th July 2003
Tennis chiefs fight to save rising star from deportation     The Times Saturday 12th July 2003
MPs warn against forced HIV tests for asylum seekers   The Guardian Thursday 10th July 2003
Government fears backlash over legal migration      The Independent Monday 7th June 2003
Child urges centre's closure           BBC News Online Friday 4th July 2003
Don't send Iraq refugees back, Britain is told            The Observer Sunday July 6th 2003
Officials criticise call to release family from detention      The Scotsman Saturday 5th July 2003
Tabloid rage helped asylum charity      The Guardian Friday July 4th 2003
Parents blamed as asylum plea fails         The Herald Tuesday 2nd june 2003
Benefits clampdown sparks asylum fears       BBC News Online Tuesday 1st June 2003
Gypsy leaders demand better deal in Europe      The Guardian Tuesday July 1st 2003