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.
Today
The Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill supports a hostile reality for
refugees and people seeking asylum fleeing prosecution, criminalising them for seeking
safety in the UK rather than providing meaningful support to them.
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 is being
considered across nine immigration detention centres. Described by a cross-party group
of MPs as “expensive, ineffective and unjust” (2015), indefinite immigration detention is
rendered unnecessary by the fact that more than 50% 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 (15th June) and Refugee Week (16th-22nd June), we encourage
individuals to show compassion for fathers 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 this Fathers Day:
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.
‘Get creative’ is one of the ‘Simple Acts’ suggested by Refugee Week (16th-22nd June).
We know that receiving a creative and 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.
Get involved, whether you use one of our templates (links below) or write your own.
Tips for Social Media:
Here are some messages you can use and/or adapt to suit the message of compassion
to fathers in detention.
Messaging about Compassion for Fathers in Detention
- This Father’s Day, [name of organisation] is showing Compassion Not Cruelty
to fathers in detention in the UK. - As people of faith, welcoming the stranger is at the heart of our communities,
and we want to show this welcome to people seeking sanctuary in the UK. - Sharing a message of compassion is a powerful way to show solidarity with
fathers in detention this Father’s Day. - [Add in messaging about your organisation’s values that highlight the
message of compassion]
On social media platforms, you can use the orange heart emoji 🧡 and visuals,
Including posts and videos, you can use this folder.
Download the toolkit and see suggested messaging here.
