Protesters surround and block immigration van from leaving after Glasgow raid
Pollokshields #Pollokshields
Glasgow residents are involved in a tense standoff with immigration officials after surrounding their van in a residential street to prevent the detention of individuals during Eid al-Fitr.
Staff from UK Immigration Enforcement are believed to have swooped on a property in Pollokshields, on the southside of Glasgow, early on Thursday morning and detained a number of people.
A crowd of about 200 protesters surrounded their vehicle, preventing it from driving away, and chanting “these are our neighbours, let them go”.
A heavy Police Scotland presence is also reported at the scene.
Protesters questioned why the widely condemned practice of dawn raids appears to be recurring in Glasgow, the only dispersal city for asylum seekers in Scotland. They also highlighted the jarring impact of carrying out such an action during Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim festival marking the end of Ramadan, in one of the most multicultural areas of the city and within the first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s constituency.
In what appears to be a further escalation of the UK’s hostile environment policy, this is the second dawn raid to happen in Glasgow within a month.
While the SNP government has argued strongly for Scotland to have control over its own immigration policy, not least because of the country’s unique depopulation pressures, it currently remains reserved to Westminster.
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Pinar Aksu, of Maryhill Integration Network, told the Guardian: “For this to happen on Eid, which is meant to be a time of peaceful celebration, is horrifying. It is no coincidence that its is taking place when a new immigration bill is being prepared.”
Aksu added: “We also need answers from Police Scotland about their involvement. We have already written to the home secretary asking urgently to clarify whether the decisions to carry out immigration enforcement raids, including dawn raids, represents a change in the policy by the UK government.”
Sources told the Guardian that the immigration status of the individuals detained was as yet unclear.
The protests took place as new MSPs were sworn in to what has been described as Holyrood’s most diverse parliament, taking their oaths is BSL, Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Doric, Scots, Gaelic, Welsh and Orcadian, and after an election which saw refugees granted voting rights for the first time in Scotland.
A number of politicians expressed their solidarity with the local residents on social media.
After her own swearing-in, Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “As constituency MSP, I am deeply concerned by this action by the Home Office, especially today in the heart of a community celebrating Eid. My office is making urgent inquiries and stands ready to offer any necessary assistance to those detained.”
Patrick Harvie, Scottish Greens co-leader and MSP for Glasgow, wrote: “It’s horrific that people are forced to take such action to defend their most vulnerable neighbours from the brutality of the UK Home Office. We need an asylum system worthy of the name, and asylum support provided to a standard our communities can be proud of.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 9.55 am this morning, Thursday, 13 May, 2021, police were called to an address in Kenmure Street, Pollokshields, following a protest by a large group of people.
“The call was made by UK Immigration Enforcement (UKIE) after a group of protesters gathered at the address where UKIE staff were in attendance. Police Scotland does not assist in the removal of asylum seekers. Officers are at the scene to police the protest and to ensure public safety.”
Wafa Shaheen, of the Scottish Refugee Council, told the Guardian: “We’re shaken and angry to see this Home Office enforcement today. To force people from their homes on the first day of Eid, with neighbours and families trying to honour the religious celebration in peace, shows – at best – a serious lack of cultural sensitivity and awareness on the Home Office’s part. We do not need community tensions raised and it should not be difficult to recognise and avoid this.
“Regardless of the immigration status of those targeted today, this heavy-handed approach from the Home Office is unnecessary and avoidable. It is frightening, intimidating and disproportionate. The hundreds of people on the streets this morning in solidarity with those affected shows people in Scotland are sick of these raids and have had enough.”
Earlier today the Guardian reported that EU citizens were being sent to immigration removal centres and held in airport detention rooms as the UK government’s “hostile environment” policy falls on them after Brexit.