Throughout history, the ability to seek refuge has been essential to Jewish survival.
However, in the UK today, those seeking refuge can be indefinitely locked up in
immigration detention centres.
Imagine if you were locked up, without having a release date. Instead of counting the
days down, you would count them up, and up, and up….
The UK is one of the only countries in Europe to indefinitely detain people in
immigration detention centres. Every year, around 25,000 people are detained by the
Home Office without a time limit while their immigration and asylum status are being
considered across nine immigration detention centres. Described by a cross-party group
of MPs as “expensive, ineffective and unjust”, indefinite immigration detention is
rendered unnecessary by the fact that many of those detained are eventually released
back into the community.
René Cassin is a proud member of the Detention Forum and, as an essential step
towards a fairer system, has long campaigned for the introduction of a 28-day time limit
on immigration detention. In other areas of law, 28 days is the maximum time
considered acceptable to hold someone without charge. René Cassin also supports
alternatives to detention, which would make the immigration process more humane,
more effective, and less costly.
This Father’s Day (16th June) and Refugee Week (17th-23rd June), we encourage
individuals to show compassion for a father in immigration detention while hostility
towards asylum seekers and refugees continues. We will stand up again and show that
our communities of faith want Compassion Not Cruelty for people seeking sanctuary in
the UK.
How to Get Involved
Post a Father’s Day message to a Father in Detention and on your social media this Refugee
Week. Show that the UK wants to show #CompassionNotCruelty towards asylum seekers and
refugees.
Sending a message of compassion is one of the ‘Simple Acts’ suggested by Refugee Week
(17th – 23rd June). We know that receiving a compassionate message is a powerful tool for giving someone hope, inspiration and care in the difficult times they are facing. This is especially true for Fathers away from their children and families during Father’s Day.
Send a message of compassion, whether you use one of our templates (links below) or write
your own.
Download the full tool kit here using our suggested messaging.
