End of an era as ‘voice of Glasgow’s voiceless’ retires
Activist jailed for farmer support
AWOMAN who spent nearly 20 years helping asylum seekers and refugees adapt to life in Glasgow has retired. Christine Murray has been hailed as the “voice of the voiceless” for her efforts as project manager of a community outreach scheme in St Rollox Church, Sighthill.
Since 2002, she has helped people from war-torn countries such as Kosovo and Bosnia learn English, put clothes on their backs, food in their stomachs, and money in their pockets.
The 66-year-old called time on her spell in the north of Glasgow yesterday, leaving behind a “stunning legacy” of shaping the lives of thousands of “New Scots”.
Mrs Murray said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my role over the years, it has remained fresh, interesting, challenging, fun and humbling.
“It has never been just a job for me though and it has been a privilege to be part of St Rollox which has impacted on the lives of thousands of people in some way over the years.”
Like other Church of Scotland buildings, the Fountainwell Road hub is temporarily closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.
But Mrs Murray, who is married to Frank, a retired Baptist minister, said it has always been an “active, lively and vibrant place” that reaches out to people from all walks of life.
“Over the last 20 years, Glasgow has become a cosmopolitan city – a microcosm of the world in one place – because of the number of people from conflict zones around the world seeking refuge,” the motherof-two added.
“At one point there were around 3,000 asylum seekers in the north Glasgow area.”
She added: “Glasgow’s reputation as the caring city is well earned but at first there was a bit of suspicion and unease as to why all these people were coming here.
“But as Glaswegians got to know their new neighbours and started to ask questions and got to hear their personal stories and the trauma they had endured, they began to understand what they had been through and wanted to help.”
Rev Jane Howitt, minister of St Rollox, said: “Over the years Christine has been a voice for the voiceless in the north of Glasgow.
“She has been a lifeline many who found themselves despair.” to in
AN Indian court has ordered a 22-year-old climate activist to spend three days in jail under court custody in a case that critics say highlights a growing crackdown on dissent under prime minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Police from the capital, New Delhi, arrested Disha Ravi on February 13 at her home in the southern city of Bengaluru for circulating a document on social media supporting protests by farmers that have rattled the government.
Officials said the document spread misinformation about the protests and “tarnished the image of India”, and said Ravi shared the document with Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, who tweeted it earlier this month.
Ravi has been in police custody for five days for questioning.
Earlier this week, police said the document indicated there was a “conspiracy” behind violence on January 26, India’s Republic Day, when the previously largely peaceful protests erupted into clashes with police. One protester was killed and hundreds of police and demonstrators were injured.
“The call was to wage economic, social, cultural and regional war against India,” Delhi police said.
Tens of thousands of farmers have camped outside New Delhi for months in protest against new agricultural laws that they say will devastate livelihoods. They have posed a major challenge to Modi’s Hindu nationalist government, which says the laws are needed to modernise Indian farming.
Critics have accused the government of using the demonstrations – and the violence on Republic Day – to escalate a clampdown on free speech.