Latest News from Positive Action in Housing

Two Asian teenagers have been injured in a race attack by a gang in Glasgow, police have confirmed.

The 17-year-olds were approached by a group of about nine youths in the Trongate at about 2230 BST on Saturday.

It is understood they suffered stab wounds. They were both taken to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

The suspects are described as white and aged between 16 and 18. Strathclyde Police said the incident was being treated as racially motivated.

It is believed one of the injured youths was released from hospital after treatment for a head wound.

The other, who was detained overnight, is in a stable condition and is being treated for a back injury.

Det Sgt Sandy Johnston, from Stewart Street police station, said: “I would urge anyone who may have been in the area at the time and who may have seen the suspects, or indeed to anyone who may have information to contact us.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7009228.stm

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International & migrant workers information event
Falkirk Town Hall, Tuesday 2 October 2007

On Tuesday 2 October 2007, Falkirk will be the venue of the largest yet information event for migrant workers and international residents in Scotland.

The event, which runs from 10am until 8pm, will provide a civic welcome to new migrants in the area, and provide a wide range of information and advice on rights, opportunities, and sources of advice and assistance.

The Town Hall will house an array of information stands and displays from local and national organisations, Falkirk Council, housing providers, advice agencies, health services, education and training bodies, trade unions, employers, police and fire services and more.

The hall will be arranged into information zones, covering:
housing rights and options
health and wellbeing
community and personal safety
work and money
education and training
help and advice

Shuttle bus services will bring workers from workplaces including Denny, Grangemouth and Bo’ness, and a team of professional interpreters and volunteers will be on hand throughout the day.

The event is joint initiative of Positive Action in Housing’s New Migrant Action Project and the International Cultural Forum, a Falkirk based migrant community organisation, with Community Planning Partnership support through Falkirk Council’s Community Development Team.

For more details of the event, or to book an information stand, please contact the New Migrants Action Project on 0141 353 2220 or email migrantaction@paih.org.

Full details can be found by Downloading more info or download the Flier

UNITY has called a VIGIL in memory of Iraqi asylum seeker Solyman Rashed who was killed in Iraq, less than two weeks after being returned.

The Vigil will start at 5.30 on Thursday 20th September at GEORGE SQUARE.

** Press release from Scottish Detainee Visitors**

Scottish Detainee Visitors is very sad to report the death of a former detainee of Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre.

Refused asylum seeker Solyman Rashed, 28, was killed by a car bomb in Kirkuk on Monday 3rd September 2007, after being returned to Iraq two weeks earlier. This tragic death highlights once again the dangers of forcing asylum seekers to return to Iraq.

Solyman came to Britain to escape persecution under Saddam Hussein’s regime after his father had been killed by the Kurdish secret police towards the end of the 1990s. Fearing for his safety he fled Kirkuk and sought asylum in Britain in 2001.

Solyman was detained in 2006 and spent almost ten months in Dungavel before being repeatedly moved to a number of Immigration Centres across Britain.
During his time in Dungavel many of our visitors met and spoke with him.
Everyone who spent time with him has very fond memories of him and remembers his attempts to stay positive and strong despite the difficulties that he was facing. One of our visitors remembers that “he always tried to make us laugh and was a real support to other detainees, however I saw his physical and mental health deteriorate over time and he talked about having nightmares of dying if he returned to Iraq.”

After being moved from Dungavel he spent a further 5 months in detention and with no hope of being released, we are told that Solyman agreed to return voluntarily to Iraq because he was so desperate to be free. The idea of indefinite detention forced him to ‘choose’ to return to a country ravaged by war.

Solyman travelled to Baghdad on the 15th August 2007, and travelled on to Kirkuk, his home town. He lived for only 2 weeks in freedom, before his life was ended by a road-side bomb.

We are deeply saddened and shocked by the news of his death and see it as a huge waste of human life.

Solyman’s friends and supporters call on the Home Office to follow UNHCR advice to halt forced removals to Iraq until the security situation has improved. Forced removals to northern Iraq are due to recommence next week, after a gap of over 6 months.

A vigil to mark Solyman’s death is to take place at the George Square, Glasgow, this Thursday (September 20th) between 5.30 and 6.30pm. It is an open vigil and the organisers encourage anyone to attend.

Scottish Detainee Visitors is a registered charity that provides practical and emotional support to immigration detainees in Scotland.
If you are interested in the organisation please visit our website http://www.sdv.org.uk

A FEW weeks before Christmas, officials carried out a dawn raid on the Glasgow home of Ugandan woman Mary Semirimu and her three-year-old twins.

Having dashed to a neighbour’s flat as the Home Office squad arrived, Mary and the children, Michelle and Michael, escaped being taken to Dungavel.

As her neighbours fought to keep her and her family safe the officers sealed their house with a steel door - to stop them retrieving any of their clothes or toys.

Mary, 32 appealed the rejection of her asylum status - but found herself homeless despite having two young children.

For three months the family were forced to sleep on the couches of friends and neighbours.

Neighbours in Kingsway clubbed together to buy Christmas presents and groceries for Mary and the children while Positive Action In Housing gave them £350.

In February, she and the children were allowed to move into another flat in the Kingsway area while awaiting news.

Just a few weeks ago Mary, who first arrived in Glasgow three years ago, learned she had won her appeal. This means she and the twins will now be able to stay on in Scotland indefinitely.

It’s thought as many as 25% of Scotland’s failed asylum seekers win their cases on appeal. Yet due to Home Office policy their housing and benefit rights are removed after the first decision is issued.

by Wendy Miller

A CHARITY which helps the most desperate asylum seekers has made an urgent appeal for more volunteers.

Over a 12-month period Positive Action In Housing spent almost £10,000, funding emergency accommodation for failed asylum seekers with nowhere else to turn.

Most of the money goes on hostel rooms although there are several Glasgow hostels who refuse to accept the families.

In Glasgow an increasing number of families and individuals are being told they have no legal entitlement to food, shelter or a roof over their heads.

Hundreds of failed asylum seekers end up on the streets with all benefits and state protection withdrawn. Some only survive thanks to the generosity of Glasgow residents.

More volunteers who can offer a room in their home - even for a week at a time - are desperately needed by the charity - as are cash donations which help pay for essentials like food and toiletries.

The charity’s head of policy David Reilly said today: “It’s impossible to put a figure on how much extra money or people we need. We could never have too many donations or too many volunteers.

“The Glasgow people who have supported us are an inspiration. But at the moment we rely on a core group of about 10 to 15 people who are prepared to share their homes.”

David points out that many people in Glasgow do not realise the difficulties faced by people whose asylum claims are rejected.

Ordered to return home by the UK Government, many are sent back to volatile communities in Pakistan or Iraq where they fear torture or murder.

It’s thought many people are also in the dark about the Home Office’s policy of stripping failed asylum seekers of benefits and housing rights.

David said: “The Government makes people destitute to force them to give up and return to their country of origin.”

Positive Action In Housing stepped into help the 228 people forced into destitution between March 2006 and March 2007.

The charity desperately needs more supporters to make regular donations. Visit www.paih.org or call Positive Action In Housing on 0141 353 2220.

Publication date 14/09/07
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1688432.0.plea_to_help_failed_asylum_seekers_in_city.php