Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Rally for Zimbabwean asylum seekers: the march for justice
On Friday 11 July, a rally for the unjust treatment of asylum seekers from Zimbabwe, took place in the streets of Westminster.
The rally named ‘Free UK Zimbabweans from Limbo’ was organised by London Citizens. Crowds joined the Archbishop of York, Dr John Semantu, for a service at St. Margaret’s church before gathering for speeches by UK MPs, trade unionists and Zimbabwean community leaders.
Zimbabwean asylum seekers and their supporters then marched from Parliament Square to the Home Office to deliver a petition to the government demanding refugee status with two-year discretionary leave to remain and the right to work.
Despite the great political instability in Zimbabwe and many public condemnations by MPs, the government continues to reject refugee applications from Zimbabwean asylum seekers in the UK. Granting asylum seekers the right to work is the STAR national campaign for 2008-2009, ‘Let Them Work’.
The government’s decision affects up to 11,000 asylum seekers, many of who are opposition activists in Zimbabwe.
Neil Jameson, London Citizens lead organiser said, “Britain can best help Zimbabwe in its dark hour by enabling its future leaders to acquire the skills to rebuild the country when the opportunity comes. Instead, thousands of Zimbabwean exiles in the UK live in limbo – demotivated and de-skilled, and prevented by law even from working as volunteers.”
The rally follows the Independent Asylum Commission’s recommendation to allow refused asylum seekers, unable to return to their home country, the right to work, during its two year review of the British asylum system.
For more information please go to the London Citizens website
Posted by STAR team on 22/07/2008 at 08:43 AM
