SAJID Javid’s commemorative Brexit coin enters circulation today. Some Twitter users have said they’ll give any they receive to the Scottish Refugee Council. Here its chief executive, Sabir Zazai, explains why that matters.
THE coin promises “peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations”, values most of us can easily subscribe to. However, the context in which it is unveiled is one that is contrary to the very values engraved on the coin.
I came to the UK seeking peace, prosperity and friendship, and have been lucky enough to find it, yet we are now seeing refugee rights being voted against and eroded away. We can’t have peace, prosperity and friendship in words only. We need action.
Last week MPs voted against ensuring that giving child refugees the right to be reunited with their family members in the UK was part of the EU Withdrawal Bill.
READ MORE: Cruel Tory attitude to most vulnerable kids is typically shameful
Instead of offering children peace, prosperity and friendship, they are kicking vulnerable children in the teeth. We supported over 380 new people last year who had been made destitute by the UK’s asylum system.
And the UK is the only country that detains people indefinitely, in the largest detention estate in Europe. Hostile family reunion rules are tearing families apart and, so far, this only looks set to get worse.
The Government says “peace, prosperity and friendship”, but their actions suggest otherwise.
We are proud to stand with people seeking protection and to offer peace, prosperity and friendship to all who need it, not through meaningless words but through action and hard work. We are grateful that so many people feel the same, as this #FiftyPeesForRefugees campaign shows.
It is a reminder that we are a proud welcoming nation with a longstanding tradition of giving safety and protection to those fleeing conflict and human rights violations and we are at our best when we live those values in practice.
If you would like to donate your 50p (or more) to Scottish Refugee Council you can do so here: www.bit.ly/50pDonate
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel