Immigration Bill Protest
DATE: 07 October 2021
PLACE: Opposite Number 10, Downing Street
COMMITTEE: Immigration
The UK Home Secretary’s new immigration bill is simply an attack on the principles enriched in the Refugee Convention. Such a bill that criminalises refugees and asylum seekers is unacceptable in a country such as the UK that is proud to be the cradle of democracy.
Human Rights Solidarity was in front of the prime minister’s house on October 11 2022, to protest this inhumane bill and demand justice for immigrants and asylum seekers. The protest lasted around an hour and a small group of our volunteers raised their voices against the bill. We hope that our voices were heard, and that such an antidemocratic bill will not be proposed by any other official again.
Here are a volunteer’s words on their experience at the Immigration Bill Protest:
“As a group that mostly consists of young refugees and asylum seekers, it was very empowering to stand up for our own rights and our justice. I believe our efforts were deliberate and I hope our government will not repeat their same racist mistakes.”
And here is the speech HRS volunteer Asiye Betul made during the protest:
Dear Friends,
We’re gathered here today, because our government has made us come here once again – to ask for basic human rights. Because they will not put a stop to the madness that started with Brexit. The madness seems to be going towards de-ratifying the European Convention on Human rights.
Can you think of it: The British government is planning to withdraw from parts of a declaration that is accepted as the benchmark of human rights!! And that declaration is largely work of British intellectuals…
Can you see how much our country is driven away from its own values?
Can you see that while trying to claim control of our own borders, this government is creating artificial borders between us and human rights?
Dear Human Rights Advocates!
Throughout the summer Parliamentary committees worked on the so called Immigration Bill… The New Plan of Priti Patel…
All experts, all human rights lawyers and advocates told the government that this is not a New Plan; it is a Stupid Plan.
You cannot simply decide that all irregular entrants to the country are illegal or criminal…
I’m sure Ms. Patel would know that- When you’re running for your life, you don’t have time to think about paperwork – you just run.
Yet here are our politicians, here is Ms. Patel, trying to criminalise, to give penalties for those who do so.
Dear friends!
Did you know that our government considered building wave machines to deter migrant boats?
Isn’t this equivalent of saying “Drown in the sea instead of coming to my land?”
We are angry at the Greek authorities because of the pushbacks. Isn’t this an obvious form of pushback.
Hear us Priti Patel!
Nobody chooses to become an immigrant.
And your government has a share in pushing Syrians and Afghans to the edge of escaping their countries.
You contributed to the problem; you cannot escape from the solution!
We shout out loud:
Kill the bill!
Kill the bill!
You want a Global Britain? Be responsible about the rest of the Globe!
You want a flourishing economy? Utilize the human resources that will pour into our country!
You want a true democracy? Don’t be alarmed that people want to live in this country; be proud of it!
WE WILL NOT LET YOU GO ON WITH THIS STUPID PLAN
Kill the bill!
Kill the bill!
