Exactly a year since the triple suicide of the Sehryk family from the Red Road high rises in Glasgow, there has still been no investigation into the circumstances of their deaths, and to what extent, if any, the UK Borders Agency was culpable.

A year later, Positive Action in Housing has written again to the Lord Advocate to request a fatal accident inquiry. We believe there should be a full investigation into the Sehryk suicides and UK asylum policy for the part it played in pushing this vulnerable family to the brink. We believe that an investigation is needed to expose the most barbaric aspects of UK asylum policy, for example the constant threat of deportation and destitution throughout the asylum process.

Asylum policy in the UK remains a torture test for would be refugees. Their most basic human rights and dignity are violated. They are forbidden to work and forced to rely on benefits; they are singled out when using the “Azure card” or vouchers in shops; they are unable to save up for basics like school uniforms. Throughout their asylum claim they face the threat of destitution, detention or deportation. They can languish in such a system for many years without reprieve. Their mental health is often severely affected as a result – something that rarely happened before they arrived in this country.

Many people seeking asylum escaped and survived torture, multiple rape or seeing their loved ones killed, and endured the pain of separation from their young children. The mental torture is the realisation that they risked their lives and left behind their family home and country, only to find themselves vilified for coming to the UK in the first place.

We urge everyone who supports this campaign to please keep up the pressure (download our letter to the Lord Advocate here as a PDF ) and send messages of support to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Our work is under threat because of funding problems. To make a donation online to Positive Action in Housing Ltd please go to http://www.justgiving.com/paih/Donate . To become a member please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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