Asylum proposals criticised by bishop

BY LUKE COPPER
AN ENGLISH bishop has urged the Government to uphold the human rights of asylum seekers in the face of "relentless" criticism of the asylum system.
Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue of Lancaster made his comments days before the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury appeared to break ranks with other faith leaders by calling for tougher measures against asylum seekers.
Dr Rowan Williams said it would be "perfectly reasonable" for those hoping to stay in Britain to be kept in secure accommodation while their cases were being considered, provided the application system was speeded up.
John Joseet, secretary of the Catholic bishops' office for refugee policy, said he agreed with Dr Williams's comments. He said the Church would have no difficulty with accepting secure accommodation — rather than detention centres — for all refugees.
He said: "We do have problems with our asylum system. It is slow, bureaucratic. It can be too draconian. It can also be too soft on occasion."
In his statement, Bishop O'Donoghue criticised the "draconian security measures for all asylum seekers" advocated by sections of the media and the Conservative leader lain Duncan Smith. He also said he was "alarmed" that the Government was considering withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights in an effort to stem the flow of refugees to Britain.
The bishop, chairman of the bishop's office for refugee policy, said the basis of the asylum system should be the human dignity of immigrants.
"How a country responds to those who turn to it for sanctuary says much about its history, its values and its people," the bishop said in a statement released last Friday.
"In this regard, Britain's long and proud tradition of providing sanctuary to those fleeing persecution must always be defended and celebrated.
"In recent times the Government has been sending out mixed signals about its attitude to asylum seekers. While the Home Secretary says it's time to 'stand up and be counted' in defence of asylum seekers, the Prime Minister holds out the prospect of withdrawing from an obligation to asylum seekers under the European Convention on Human Rights. The Leader of the Opposition has been advocating draconian security measures for all asylum seekers.
, "It is alarming that Britain as a country with a good record of accepting asylum seekers is becoming increasingly hard line, fuelled by relentless attacks on asylum seekers by sections of the media.
"Not only are asylum seekers dismissed as abusers of the asylum system and welfare scroungers, they are now also regularly viewed as would-be terrorists."
Bishop O'Donoghue said Home Secretary David Blunkett was right to argue that most asylum seekers had no links to terrorism and the minority who have should be deported. But the bishop said government ministers needed to view asylum as a human rights issue. He said: "Asylum seekers are a symptom of a tragically disordered world, victims of unjust social, economic and political structures. Asylum seekers are often people fleeing torture, persecution, starvation and abuses of human rights. They need protection and recognition of their human dignity. This must be the priority of our asylum system."
Bishop 0' Donoghue's comments were echoed by the president of the Methodist Church. The Revd Ian White accused politicians and journalists of cultivating prejudice. against asylum seekers.