Stance on immigration is prolonging pain of survivors seeking safe haven
“I have a mark on my head here where I was hit on the head at a protest,” said Ali, an asylum seeker from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He leans forward in his chair and bows his head to reveal a scar about two inches long, before continuing.
“I collapsed after being hit (by the police) and when I opened my eyes again I was in a cell. I was bleeding heavily. I couldn’t breathe very well,” the 39 year old said as he explained the circumstances that led to him leaving DRC for the UK.
“They used to treat us very badly sometimes (in prison). They made us clean toilets without using gloves. They would beat us if we didn’t work fast enough.
“They kept telling us, ‘you have no one you can complain to’. The police carried out most of the violence.”
As a youth in Kinshasa, he dreamed of a better future and became involved in politics with the Union for Democracy and Social Progress.
He was a good public speaker and would convince people to attend meetings and protest. Consequently, the authorities viewed him as a threat.
After being assaulted and knocked out by police at a protest, Ali spent around 11 months in detention in Kinshasa, without any trial, and suffered regular beatings.
He said conditions were dire and guards would often kill detainees, particularly people who did not have friends or family on the outside trying to help with their case.
His mother passed away while he was in detention and, fearing for his life, he left DRC with the help of an uncle.
Next month will mark 13 years since Ali arrived in Glasgow. So far, the Home Office has refused to accept his story and rejected his applications for asylum. The prolonged insecurity has left him suicidal at times.
“After so long I am still an asylum seeker and it’s been really painful living in limbo for such a long time.
“You don’t know what to do and we are not allowed to contribute very much to society. I nearly committed suicide because of the length of time I’ve been an asylum seeker. It’s been very difficult for me.”
He has submitted five applications for political asylum, the most recent last November when he travelled to Liverpool to put in a fresh claim, supported by a MLR report from Freedom from Torture verifying his suffering.
He said: “I live on my own and I don’t know how I would be without (FFT’S) help.
“They have helped me rebuild my life and have given me confidence. They give me hope and support and they are always there. I don’t think I’d still be alive if it wasn’t for them.
“I was 25 years old when I came here. I was young and struggling because of all the barriers. Now I am 39. I have made friends and we support each other.”
As a result of Freedom from Torture’s Healing Neighbourhood’s project, which helps torture survivors integrate, Ali now volunteers with a charity called Number 1 Befriending and cares for older people with dementia.