Churches act on Angolan preacher deportation threat

-21/01/05

Scottish Church leaders h


Churches act on Angolan preacher deportation threat

-21/01/05

Scottish Church leaders have appealed strongly to British home secretary, Charles Clarke, on behalf of an African preacher and his family who are seeking asylum in Scotland.

The Revd Makielukele Nzelengi Daly and his family were released from Dungavel Detention Centre on Wednesday after local churches raised £4000 bail money. The church leaders want an urgent meeting with the British government.

Pastor Daly fled Angola four years ago. He has been working at Glasgowís Pentecostal Church of the Redemption. Lawyers have launched a judicial review of their case.

Scottish Churches Racial Justice Officer Dr Nelu Balaj has strongly supported Pastor Daly. He said today ëI have talked to numerous people involved in the campaign to help Pastor Daly. I am convinced that he and his family are enormous assets to the local community and the churches in Glasgow.í

The letter to the Home Office was signed by Dr Alison Elliot, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland; The Most Revd Bruce Cameron, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church; The Revd Jim Jones, the Chair of the Scotland Synod of the Methodist Church; The Revd John O Fulton, General Secretary of the United Free Church of Scotland; The Revd John Arthur, Moderator of the Scottish Synod of the United Reformed Church; The Revd Bill Slack, General Director of the Baptist Union of Scotland

The letter declares: ìPastor Daly is a highly respected church leader and is providing an extremely valuable service within the African community in Glasgow. His children were valued in the schools that they attended and their removal would deal a severe blow to their education. The whole family is making an important contribution to the Christian churches and the wider community in Glasgow.”

It continues: ìAs representatives of some of Scotlandís major Christian Churches, we are distressed at the treatment the family has received in recent weeks despite calls for compassion from so many in the local community and the Churches across the country.î

The church leaders are urging the home secretary to use his powers allow Mr Daly and his family (Isaac, Isabel, Joshua, Linda and Rachel) to remain in the United Kingdom.

Courts throughout the UK have been pressurised by the government to tighten bail conditions for detainees as part of their populist desire to be seen to act tough on immigration.

But those working with refugees and asylum seekers say this is hitting the vulnerable and stoking prejudice. Churches throughout Britain and Ireland have campaigned strongly in support of asylum seekers, and for reform of the UKís system of detention and expulsion.

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), through its Commission on Racial Justice, supports Bail for Immigration Detainees and a Bail Circle among local Christians and campaigners. CTBI is an official ecumenical body of the national denominations.

Christian leaders have also been alarmed at the hatred against asylum seekers whipped up by the tabloid press in the UK. The Press Complaints Commission is trying to get the tabloids to act more responsibly and fairly in their reporting.

Last year CTBI published ëAsylum Voicesí, an account of the first-hand experiences of people seeking refuge in Britain, but the media largely ignored it.


Churches act on Angolan preacher deportation threat

-21/01/05

Scottish Church leaders have appealed strongly to British home secretary, Charles Clarke, on behalf of an African preacher and his family who are seeking asylum in Scotland.

The Revd Makielukele Nzelengi Daly and his family were released from Dungavel Detention Centre on Wednesday after local churches raised £4000 bail money. The church leaders want an urgent meeting with the British government.

Pastor Daly fled Angola four years ago. He has been working at Glasgowís Pentecostal Church of the Redemption. Lawyers have launched a judicial review of their case.

Scottish Churches Racial Justice Officer Dr Nelu Balaj has strongly supported Pastor Daly. He said today ëI have talked to numerous people involved in the campaign to help Pastor Daly. I am convinced that he and his family are enormous assets to the local community and the churches in Glasgow.í

The letter to the Home Office was signed by Dr Alison Elliot, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland; The Most Revd Bruce Cameron, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church; The Revd Jim Jones, the Chair of the Scotland Synod of the Methodist Church; The Revd John O Fulton, General Secretary of the United Free Church of Scotland; The Revd John Arthur, Moderator of the Scottish Synod of the United Reformed Church; The Revd Bill Slack, General Director of the Baptist Union of Scotland

The letter declares: ìPastor Daly is a highly respected church leader and is providing an extremely valuable service within the African community in Glasgow. His children were valued in the schools that they attended and their removal would deal a severe blow to their education. The whole family is making an important contribution to the Christian churches and the wider community in Glasgow.”

It continues: ìAs representatives of some of Scotlandís major Christian Churches, we are distressed at the treatment the family has received in recent weeks despite calls for compassion from so many in the local community and the Churches across the country.î

The church leaders are urging the home secretary to use his powers allow Mr Daly and his family (Isaac, Isabel, Joshua, Linda and Rachel) to remain in the United Kingdom.

Courts throughout the UK have been pressurised by the government to tighten bail conditions for detainees as part of their populist desire to be seen to act tough on immigration.

But those working with refugees and asylum seekers say this is hitting the vulnerable and stoking prejudice. Churches throughout Britain and Ireland have campaigned strongly in support of asylum seekers, and for reform of the UKís system of detention and expulsion.

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), through its Commission on Racial Justice, supports Bail for Immigration Detainees and a Bail Circle among local Christians and campaigners. CTBI is an official ecumenical body of the national denominations.

Christian leaders have also been alarmed at the hatred against asylum seekers whipped up by the tabloid press in the UK. The Press Complaints Commission is trying to get the tabloids to act more responsibly and fairly in their reporting.

Last year CTBI published ëAsylum Voicesí, an account of the first-hand experiences of people seeking refuge in Britain, but the media largely ignored it.