Worcestershire groups demand end to 'dangerous' rhetoric over asylum seekers
The eight support groups say certain words and phrases can be dangerous to those seeking refuge.
Last updated 22nd May 2023
Refugee support groups across Worcestershire are calling for an end to 'dangerous and inflammatory' language used when talking about asylum seekers.
Eight county groups are now calling for support from local councils as they try to demand an end to the 'deeply concerning' rhetoric.
The first Syrian refugees arrived in the county in 2016, and the groups have been supporting them and also thanked Worcestershire County Council for its support.
But the letter, signed by eight local groups, said how they had become deeply concerned by the tone of the rhetoric being used, especially at a national level, by some politicians and some media who refer to ‘illegal asylum seekers’.
"We challenge the use of ‘Illegal’ in this context," the groups said.
"This is of course not the only terminology misused in this way, but is, we believe, the one that underpins most of the rest.
"We ask our county, city, borough, and district councils to speak out against the use of such dangerous and inflammatory language."
Ruth Forecast, from Worcestershire Welcomes Refugees, said: "We work very, very hard to support refugees and asylum seekers throughout the county and we are very disturbed by the language that's being used.
"Language is really important. It can work on a subliminal level. If you refer to illegal asylum seekers often enough, it gets into people's minds, it gets into all our minds that these people are illegal.
"That's actually not true, you can't be an illegal asylum seeker. If you feel that you're in danger or being persecuted in your own country, you have the right to go and seek safety in another country and ask for sanctuary."
The groups argue that under UK and international law, any person has the right to seek asylum and it is only when the application has been turned down and they refuse to leave should they be described as “illegal.”
The Home Office says people should not be making what it says are life-threatening, illegal journeys to the UK and should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach - despite that not being compulsory.
Among those journeys will be small boat crossing in the Channel, something that was said to be the reason behind Hereford's Three Counties Hotel being used to house asylum seekers.