 Britain faces international scrutiny over asylum, the bishop said |
The head of Liverpool's Anglican community has called for more "fair and humane" treatment for asylum seekers. Bishop James Jones was speaking about the treatment of those who cooperate with authorities in relation to ofences of human trafficking.
He said: "Asylum seekers when fleeing terror will, like any of us should we find ourselves drowning, reach for a liferaft even if manned by a pirate."
Bishop Jones was speaking in the House of Lords during the Asylum Bill debate.
He said the bill was sending out contradictory signals about the way the Government wanted to treat people, especially those from Iraq.
He said: "We went to war out of concern for the Iraqi people and now we are treating some of the asylum seekers from that country in an inhumane way." He added: "Some of those asylum seekers may well end up as future leaders in their home countries.
"Their experience in Britain is already undermining the reconstruction process in Iraq.
He described graffiti found on a tower block in Everton.
It read: "I came to this country to live, but now I just want to die."
Bishop James added: "Britain is under the spotlight in the international stage and we must get it right for long-term stability internationally."
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I came to this country to live, but now I just want to die 
