Quakers concerned by Home Secretary’s inflammatory rhetoric and failures in the asylum system
Quakers are writing to the Home Secretary to express concern that the 'hostile environment' of dangerously over-crowded immigration centres and demonisation of migrants in parliament is fanning the flames of hate.
The arrival of small boats on the south coast is a result of the lack of safe routes for asylum seekers, not a threat, they will tell Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
The Home Secretary's comments about cross-Channel migration in Parliament on 31 October were made against a backdrop of dreadful conditions at Manston asylum processing centre, including cases of diphtheria and MRSA.
Quakers are opposed to immigration detention as institutionally violent and discriminatory, outside judicial oversight and not time limited, and regret the recent reopening of immigration detention centres.
Immigration facilities have seen 165 incidents related to far-right and anti-refugee activists so far this year, including the firebombing of a Dover immigration centre on Sunday, now being investigated by counter-terrorism police.
In the letter, Oliver Robertson, head of witness and worship at Quakers in Britain, writes: “Quakers believe every human being is unique, precious, a child of God. The way we treat others, and the language we use to describe them, matters.
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There are alternatives, born of love, and justice
- Sheila Mosley
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“Even when we disagree, we should not descend into disrespect and untruth, encouraging people to blame and dehumanise fellow humans. The lessons of history show us that fanning the flames of hate is a dangerous tactic."
Quakers support humane alternatives to detention and peaceful, safer routes of migration including the introduction of humanitarian visas and improved rules for family reunion.
Sheila Mosley of the Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network said the government's 'draconian policies' had failed to address immigration issues.
She said: “There are alternatives of course, born of love, and justice, and compassion that would address the endless backlog of decisions that need to be made, negate the need for 'contingency' accommodation, and more importantly that would set this country in a direction that would benefit us all."
More than 100 Quaker meetings across the UK are Sanctuary Meetings, committed to building a culture of welcome and alliances with groups opposing racism, and working to change laws on detention, deportations and removals.