Glasgow Churches' Migrant Call

Wednesday June 17

Glasgow Churches Together has called for a national debate in Scotland on the Mediterranean migrant crisis.

In a statement released yesterday, the ecumenical group said: “We believe it is inevitable, one way or another, that the people of Scotland will want to become involved in this issue. We therefore call upon the Scottish Parliament without delay to initiate a nationwide debate, in order that the views of the Scottish public may be heard. It is thereby hoped that a consensus may be reached that will enable our involvement to promote the best interest and dignity of each human person.”

The message has been sent to the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and the Scottish Parliament.

European governments are currently negotiating over how to handle the influx of migrants from Africa and the Middle East. Over 100,000 boat people have arrived in Italy and Greece this year, and the two countries are demanding that some of them must be dispersed to other EU countries.

There is also a proposal to resettle 20,000 refugees from the fighting in Syria, currently living in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

The Scottish Refugee Council, currently celebrating its annual Refugee Festival, has said the UK is ‘at a crossroads’ on the issue and urged the UK Government to ‘choose humanity, and cooperate on an EU level to find immediate and long term solutions to the crisis’.

Refugee Council Chief Executive John Wilkes said: “We acknowledge positive statements from the Scottish Government and Scottish MPs at Westminster about Scotland willing to play its part in offering safety and welcome to those in peril.

“We welcome the leadership that the UK Government has shown on the reintroduction of a search and rescue operation in the Mediterranean to help save lives; and the support which its aid programme provides to refugees in the region.

“However, the Prime Minister needs to do much more to create safe and legal routes to allow refugees to enter the UK, and to prevent the need for many people to attempt the dangerous crossing in the first place. This includes making it easier for refugees to reunite with their relatives in the UK and increasing the number of people able to resettle in the UK.

“For those that have made it across the Mediterranean, the UK needs to stand in solidarity with Italy and Greece and participate in the relocation.”

Over 1800 people are known to have drowned in the Mediterranean this year attempting to make the crossing, including 800 in a single incident in April. The subsequent outcry led to the UK government reinstating the Royal Navy search and rescue operation which had been withdrawn last year.

This year’s General Assembly of the Church of Scotland agreed a motion calling on the UK government to: ‘provide unconditional humanitarian aid to refugees in the Mediterranean, including taking additional refugees from the region; to work with European partners to develop a long-term strategy to combat the criminal gangs who are smuggling people; and to actively build peace and safety throughout Africa and the Middle East.’

Many Glaswegian churches have been at the forefront of the issue in Scotland since refugees were dispersed to the city in the 1990s; providing advice and practical aid either through their own projects or supporting organisations such as Glasgow City Mission. Glasgow Churches Together represents seven Christian denominations.

Comments

JB - Friday, June 19th, 2015

“Co-indidence, but I've been approaching the Edinburgh Churches for Sanctuary group for over a month to ask if they are doing something similar and might like support in kind from elsewhere... seems it's too early though.
Suprising.”

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