Four UK churches are asking the government to offer sanctuary to more refugees from Syria. This comes ahead of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees pledging conference for pathways of admission for Syrian refugees, which takes place in Geneva on 30 March 2016.
The Baptist Union of Great Britain, Church of Scotland, Methodist Church and United Reformed Church have written a letter to the Home Secretary welcoming the government’s generosity, but requesting that it allows more Syrian refugees into the UK.
‘Resettlement is not only an effort preventing deaths, but it also has the effect of countering the business of smugglers. If persons in need of international protection are able to travel legally across the borders of Europe, there is no longer any need to resort to these illegal, expensive, unreliable and often dangerous networks.’, says the letter, drawing attention to the safe channels programme being used in Italy.
‘Our plea is to respect the equal dignity of every human being, reflect on the past generosity of the Syrian people who have welcomed refugees from Armenia, Palestine, Kuwait, Lebanon and Iraq over the past century. Syria never closed its borders to those who fled their homes seeking safety and refuge.’
For the full letter from the churches asking the government to settle more refugees see the Joint Public Issues website.
