A DAMNING condemnation of the treatment of asylum seekers by the Government and parts of the media has been made by leaders of all West Yorkshire's Christian churches.
In a joint statement issued today, they say the "lack of material support for asylum seekers, and Home Office policy which forbids them from engaging in paid employment, which almost all would be willing to undertake, causes unacceptable levels of d
estitution".
The statement adds: "The charitable projects set up by churches, or within which many Christians are volunteers, testify that asylum seekers are among the most deprived members of our society. Not only do they invariably find themselves living in the poorest quality housing, they are also deprived of the right to work.
WHAT DO YOU THINK TO ASYLUM SEEKERS AND THE WAY THEY ARE TREATED? EMAIL US BY CLICKING HERE. WE'LL PUBLISH THE LOT."We call upon the UK Government to allow the human right of employment to those who seek asylum."
The statement is signed by leaders of the Yorkshire Baptist Association and the Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian, and United Reformed churches, the Salvation Army, Religious Society of Friends, West Yorkshire African Caribbean Council of Churches and West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council.
Signatories include the Bishops of Ripon and Leeds, Bradford, and Wakefield.
The statement also says: "In the past, Britain had a proud tradition of welcoming the stranger, especially those who had a well-founded fear of persecution.
"As a result of a barrage of negative sentiments from some politicians and some quarters of the media, there is now a stigma attached to being a victim of persecution. Often an unhelpful connection is made with issues relating to wider migration. Persecuted asylum seekers, only 0.025 per cent of entries into the UK, are a special case.
"We call upon members of our churches to use Lent to grow in awareness of the special needs of those seeking asylum."
The church leaders say the legal process in dealing with asylum seekers leads to injustices.
"Traumatic experiences, fear of recrimination and lack of trust in authority make it difficult for newly arrived individuals to tell their story at the initial interview which provides the basis for their asylum claim. Limited legal representation makes it difficult for the whole truth to emerge and a culture of disbelief means many genuine claims are dismissed.
"Home Office statistics for April-June 2007 show that 76 per cent of asylum claims were refused. Legal services for asylum seekers wishing to appeal are even more limited.
"We call upon the UK Government to improve the legal representation available to those whose lives depend on a just asylum system."
And the statement adds: "We urge our churches to explore further ways in which assistance can be given to asylum seekers in local communities."
The full article contains 472 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.
