“Applying for ‘asylum’ is not a crime, but criminalising people for even trying to get to a safe place is a crime against humanity”, says Inderjit Bhogal, former President of the British Methodist Conference and Founder of the City of Sanctuary network and movement.
In his latest blog on the Church of Sanctuary website, he argues that the UK Nationality and Borders Bill, and the current plan to stop people arriving in the UK on small boats seeking sanctuary, contravenes the 1951 UN Refugee Convention to which the UK remains a signatory, and also the EU Convention on Human Rights.
“The Home Secretary’s language of ‘crisis’ and ‘invasion’ misrepresents the reality and is unhelpful in the context, and only helps to legitimise hatred and hate speech. The firebombing of an immigration centre in Kent, and violent protests outside hotels accommodating asylum seekers illustrates this”, he comments.
Inderjit also announced that on 12 March 2023, the Brighton and Hove Methodist Circuit was recognised as the first Circuit of Sanctuary in the UK: “This is truly inspirational work, and a great model and inspiration for other Churches and faith centres to achieve Sanctuary Awards in the future.”
Read the whole of Inderjit’s blog on the Church of Sanctuary website.
