CITY SENDS HOME OFFICE PACKING
Locals unite to save neighbours after South Side immigration raid
ACOMMUNITY came together to free two men from detention yesterday after an attempted immigration raid sparked furious protests in Glasgow’s South Side.
The Home Office confirmed last night that the two Indian nationals were taken in on suspicion of immigration, but the two men were met with cheers as they were released from around nine hours of captivity yesterday evening.
Tania Candido, 63, has lived in the area for 32 years and is a neighbour of the men who were raided.
She said a Sikh family of an older man and his 20-year-old son lived in the flat, with another male flatmate. It is not known which of the three were held in the van. She described them as lovely people who she could not say a bad word about.
At around 9.55am yesterday morning, a man threw himself under the immigration enforcement van which prevented it from leaving. Locals then saw what was happening and started a blockade of the van which was holding the two men inside.
More people joined the protest as word spread through the city and numbers swelled which prompted a large police response.
Initially, a dozen or so officers surrounded the immigration enforcement van to stop protesters from entering. However, as numbers grew, cops brought in more reinforcements. Riot vans could be seen lining up Kenmure Street and police blocked it off to traffic.
Campaigners could be heard shouting chants including “these are our neighbours, let them go” and “refugees are welcome here”. Impromptu bursts of song were also heard including a rendition of John Lennon’s Power to the People.
The community responded by giving out food and refreshments to those standing in the crowd, turning a nearby bus stop into a food stall with bottles of water, crisps, sandwiches and fruit available to those who needed them. Makeshift placards made from cardboard boxes could also be seen among the crowds.
There were multiple flashpoint moments where tensions between protesters and police were raised with many campaigners claiming that police employed a heavy-handed approach to dealing with them.
Local residents hit out at the Home Office over its treatment of the two men.
It is understood the two men were released into the custody of human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar after sealing a written agreement.
He accompanied the two men, alongside Mohammad Asif of the Afghan Human Rights Foundation, to the safety of the Madrasa Taleem-ul-Islam mosque nearby, where it’s thought the two men are staying.
Sharandeep Singh, of Sikhs in Scotland, said he was “over the moon” to see the two men released from custody.
He said: “The people of Glasgow have sent the UK Government packing from the streets that we grew up in.
“These were two – as far as we know – law-abiding citizens, who were dragged out of their home and kept in a dark van for hours. “The look on their faces as they came out of the van was so full of emotion. I saw them as they were coming out of the van and they saw the hundreds of people who were not moving an inch until we saw them walk out.”
But tensions lingered after the release, with a small number of protesters remaining close to the mosque, fearing the men were to be re-arrested once crowds had dissipated.
Viktor, a man who sat behind the van to stop it from moving, said: “I went early this morning and thought the police would have cleared everyone and deported them to god knows where and god knows what fate.
“The feeling of seeing so many people coming together to stop them, risking arrest, is incredible. It is a wonderful feeling.” Alison Campbell-Glass, a local resident, was enraged by the raid. The 24-year-old said: “It’s an absolute outrage, during a pandemic. Especially during such an important day like Eid do they decide that now is the time to evict people from their homes and put them in unsafe conditions.
“It’s the fact they are trying to be so sneaky doing it right in the very beginning of the morning and not telling any residents or neighbours about it. But clearly this huge amount of people demonstrates that there is solidarity in this area.”
Another Pollokshields resident – who asked not to be named – said: “I live in the area and I’d heard there had been a raid on one of our neighbours, so I’ve come down like the rest of the community to stop them from taking these people away from their homes. I thought it was absolutely outrageous that they decided to do this on any day but especially on Eid. People are trying to celebrate with their families. It’s brilliant to see so many people of all backgrounds turn out and just say we’re a united community, we’re not going to let this happen.”
Police eventually stood down at around 5.30pm yesterday.
In the interest of public safety, Superintendent Mark Sutherland made a decision to release the men into the community. Police led protesters to Nithsdale Road where human rights lawyer Anwar spoke on behalf of the two men detained.
The action has provoked a widespread political condemnation. Newly elected MSPs who were
taking their seats in Holyrood yesterday called in to offer their support including Labour’s Paul Sweeney and leader Anas Sarwar who lives in the constituency. Sweeney said: “God help any immigration officer who tries to rip apart our communities.”
Alison Thewliss, who represents the area as MP for Glasgow Central, had been on the scene for most of the day. She said: “Many residents have congregated here in support of their neighbour. I’ve been trying to get answers from the Home Office today as yet to no avail. I’m very concerned about this practice of removing people from their homes in the midst of a pandemic.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also hit out at the Home Office yesterday. After the decision was made to release the men, she said: “Today’s events were entirely down to Home Office actions. Police Scotland were in an invidious position – they do not assist in the removal of asylum seekers but do have a duty to protect public safety. They act independently of ministers, but I support this decision. I disagree fundamentally with Home Office immigration policy but even putting that aside, this action was unacceptable.
To act in this way, in the heart of a Muslim community as they celebrated Eid and in an area experiencing a Covid outbreak was a health and safety risk.
“Both as MSP and as FM, I will be demanding assurances from the UK Government that they will never again create, through their actions, such a dangerous situation. No assurances were given – and frankly no empathy shown – when I managed to speak to a junior minister earlier.
“I am proud to represent a constituency and lead a country that welcomes and shows support to asylum seekers and refugees. The day when immigration policy is the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament can’t come soon enough.”
There is a huge amount of solidarity in this area