In Liverpool, campaigners slept out in the streets in solidarity with asylum seekers. On Friday 7th November at 12 noon, people started a 24 hour vigil in solidarity with those asylum seekers left homeless and destitute by the current government policy. [pics | call]

Participants in the action report in the Liverpool feature:"Well, we spent out twenty four hours out. There were twenty six of us at three this morning (including about 8 asylum seekers), and it was freezing. By five, some people had to go, too cold and fed up about abuse by passing drunks spitting on us and threatening us. It was an eye-opening experience when people assumed that we were all asylum seekers and told us to 'go back to where we came from'. It made us realise how terrifying, and cold, and miserable it would be for those asylum seekers with no choice but to be on the streets, and it's not even really winter yet."

Meanwhile in Scotland, Glasgow City Council prepares to evict 200 refugees from their accommodation. A demonstration has been announced for Monday, 10th of November, 5pm in front of the Court Chambers. [ImcScotland feature] Scotland's inhumane treatment of asylum seekers was just recently highlighted, when over 1000 protesters made their way to the remote and isolated Dungavel Detention Centre to express their opposition of the imprisonment of refugee children.

Destitute women asylum seekers joined up with the Global Women Strike Campaign in an antiwar protest in London, simultaneously highlighting the ongoing breeches of human rights by Section 55. (see past feature and audio reports about the introduction of Section 55). For more information, read Amnesty International's Afghanistan report - 'No one listens to us and no one treats us as human beings': Justice denied to women.

In Cambridge campaigners join up with refugees from Oakington Detention Centre and support groups to cope with the old repressive measures and proposed new cuts of human rights.
The Cambridge feature states:Concerned individuals in Cambridge have therefore set up the Cambridge Bail Circle. The Bail Circle aims to attract individuals from the area and link them up with Oakington detainees identified by lawyers as having arguable cases. The individuals are asked to meet the detainee, attend court with them for a "bail hearing", and stand as "surety" for the them. The asylum seeker is then at least freed from detention whilst they await the review, although conditions are imposed.

In Manchester a refugee died in September after setting fire to himself in desperation of having his benefits cut. On Thursday 27th August Israfil Shiri, a destitute young Iranian man poured petrol over his body and set fire to himself in the offices of Refugee Action in Manchester.
Working in a section of the military in Iran, he fled the country when he and his family were persecuted because of refusing to follow orders that involved harming other innocent people. He suffered from a complicated medical condition and since his application for asylum was rejected over a year ago, he had been refused any medical treatment, had been made homeless from his Salford council flat and had received no benefits or support.
"If they cut off all my benefits, prevent me from working and make me homeless, I too will commit suicide". said another refugee when discussing on how the tragedy could have been prevented.


For up to date information on asylum and refugee issues, see:
Asylum Rights
Asylum Support
Asylum Policy


For information on campaigning against deportations, get in touch with the National Coalition for Anti-Deportation Campaigns and read the No One Is Illegal manifesto.