Time to Fight Back

By Javad Aslani

February 19, 2001

Jack Straw and his European counterparts are busy rallying support for their draconian anti-asylum policies. Amidst a barrage of poisonous propaganda and a constant war of words against the most vulnerable people in our communities, public opinion is being prepared to pave the way for yet another piece of legislation to further curtail the right to asylum.

Sound bites like “illegal,” “bogus,” “economic migrants,” “human smugglers” and “cheats” are unashamedly used in a coordinated manner by government officials to create an anti-asylum seekers’ environment and instigate hatred and anxiety amongst the population at large.

Of course, the UK general election is looming. The Labour party must not been seen as being “soft” on asylum. The Labour government has not only successfully beaten off the Tories’ advances in this battleground but is becoming the champion of the European war against asylum seekers.

We, refugees and asylum seekers, have had no illusion about the European governments’ attitudes towards asylum seekers. The French, German, Dutch, British, Danish, Swedish, Belgian … governments have for some time put aside any pretence of respecting the right to asylum.

European governments are bent on destroying the right to asylum. They have organised themselves and have strengthened their cooperation. If successful, no asylum seeker will be able to put foot on the shores of fortress Europe, unless opposed by a mass movement organised by refugees and asylum seekers, progressive individuals and institutions, trade unions and labour activists. European governments aim to put the last nail in the asylum rights’ coffin. It is time to fight back!