Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Still human, still here
There is another charity in Glasgow who provide a service whereby people reporting to the UK Border Agency, who fear they may be detained and deported, can leave their flat keys at their office before the appointment. If they do not return to collect their keys within 2 hours, an emergency contact is notified so that they can inform their solicitor, collect important documents from their flat, ascertain what the Border Agency is planning to do and see if there remain any legal avenues to prove that they would face danger if returned to their home country.
Last Friday night Paul received a phone call from this group. They told him that our good friend “M” had not returned after his reporting appointment at the Home Office. Paul had attempted to phone “M” but there was no answer. Eventually we got a response to a text, so we knew at least that he still had access to his mobile. Around an hour later he phoned. He had not been detained but had been given the devastating news that his asylum claim has been denied. He had submitted further evidence from Iran but the Home Office had decided it was not enough. In his distress he had forgotten to collect his keys. He knew what the decision meant; that in addition to having had no financial support since August, they would now lose their flat as well. They were evicted a few days later. Thankfully a local politician has been able to arrange a temporary place for them to stay through a personal contact. But M and his wife A are now in limbo. It’s unlikely (but not impossible) that the Border Agency will attempt to deport them due to their personal circumstances and the current situation in Iran. But they have no further evidence to present and their asylum claim is at an end. They are not entitled to any support or housing, and not even to homeless support, nor are they allowed to work. In the eyes of the UK government, they don’t really exist.
We visited them on Sunday evening. “A” wept as she told me that as well as everything that they have had to endure here, her niece in Iran had recently and very suddenly died. “M” and “A” are both very grateful for all the help they have received from ourselves and others but having to be reliant on such help is difficult for them. They don’t want to be a burden on anyone. What hurts the most is that they have not been believed. They are both very honest people. They have done everything by the book since they were dumped in the UK by the trafficker they paid to get them to Canada. When they fled Iran, they did not have time to compile evidence of the danger they had so narrowly managed to escape and yet the Home Office seems to expect them to have something akin to a sworn affidavit signed by the Ayatollah himself confirming their story. They carry the scars; not outwardly on their bodies but deep within them in their minds. Fleeing led to one miscarriage. They have suffered at least one more since they came.
Please pray for M & A. I can’t imagine how they are feeling. I don’t know why God is allowing this to happen to them. Please pray for a miracle of provision for them physically, emotionally and spiritually and for their case to somehow be reopened and re-examined. Pray for an end to a system that leaves thousands destitute, their lives on hold through no fault of their own.
Last Friday night Paul received a phone call from this group. They told him that our good friend “M” had not returned after his reporting appointment at the Home Office. Paul had attempted to phone “M” but there was no answer. Eventually we got a response to a text, so we knew at least that he still had access to his mobile. Around an hour later he phoned. He had not been detained but had been given the devastating news that his asylum claim has been denied. He had submitted further evidence from Iran but the Home Office had decided it was not enough. In his distress he had forgotten to collect his keys. He knew what the decision meant; that in addition to having had no financial support since August, they would now lose their flat as well. They were evicted a few days later. Thankfully a local politician has been able to arrange a temporary place for them to stay through a personal contact. But M and his wife A are now in limbo. It’s unlikely (but not impossible) that the Border Agency will attempt to deport them due to their personal circumstances and the current situation in Iran. But they have no further evidence to present and their asylum claim is at an end. They are not entitled to any support or housing, and not even to homeless support, nor are they allowed to work. In the eyes of the UK government, they don’t really exist.
We visited them on Sunday evening. “A” wept as she told me that as well as everything that they have had to endure here, her niece in Iran had recently and very suddenly died. “M” and “A” are both very grateful for all the help they have received from ourselves and others but having to be reliant on such help is difficult for them. They don’t want to be a burden on anyone. What hurts the most is that they have not been believed. They are both very honest people. They have done everything by the book since they were dumped in the UK by the trafficker they paid to get them to Canada. When they fled Iran, they did not have time to compile evidence of the danger they had so narrowly managed to escape and yet the Home Office seems to expect them to have something akin to a sworn affidavit signed by the Ayatollah himself confirming their story. They carry the scars; not outwardly on their bodies but deep within them in their minds. Fleeing led to one miscarriage. They have suffered at least one more since they came.
Please pray for M & A. I can’t imagine how they are feeling. I don’t know why God is allowing this to happen to them. Please pray for a miracle of provision for them physically, emotionally and spiritually and for their case to somehow be reopened and re-examined. Pray for an end to a system that leaves thousands destitute, their lives on hold through no fault of their own.
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