Afghans betrayed by UK Borders Bill
The plight of Afghans fleeing the Taliban has exposed the racist approach of the UK Government and the need for Scotland to have more powers over immigration and refugee support, the Scottish Greens have said.
In a debate on supporting the people of Afghanistan in the Scottish Parliament today, Scottish Greens human rights spokesperson Maggie Chapman will condemn the proposed UK Nationality and Borders Bill as a direct attack on refugee rights.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Maggie Chapman said: “The crisis in Afghanistan has led to thousands fleeing for their lives and it is our duty to help these people. It has been good to see Scottish councils open their arms to take in refugees, but there is only so much we can do when we are working under a racist UK Government which is directly attacking their rights.
“This is a government which already housing asylum seekers in prison-like conditions where COVID outbreaks and mental health crises are rife, but it is going to get worse. The proposed UK Nationality and Borders Bill is a direct attack on the rights of refugees and contravenes the 1951 Refugee Convention by making routes into the UK ‘illegal’, even when people are fleeing war, torture and persecution.
“It is more clear than ever that Scotland must be able to make independent human and humane policy decisions relating to refugees, and reject the cruelty of the institutionally racist Home Office.”