2003-4

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Sunday Times (London)

March 28, 2004, Sunday

SECTION: Home news; Scotland News 14

LENGTH: 471 words

HEADLINE: It's PC Rebus as detective finds his conscience

BYLINE: Senay Boztas

BODY:

AS A HARD-drinking former member of the SAS, Inspector John Rebus could not be said to operate at the liberal end of the political spectrum.

All that is about to change though as though Ian Rankin's notoriously troubled creation enters the shadowy world of asylum seekers and gangmasters, where he acquires an unlikely social conscience.

In Fleshmarket Close, to be published in September, the Edinburgh-based detective is called to investigate the murder of a Kurdish refugee, reminiscent of the killing of Firsat Dag in Sighthill, Glasgow, in 2001.

The case forces him to confront the plight of refugees and the conditions in which they are held at a detention camp, based on the notorious Dungavel centre in Lanarkshire.

While previous Rankin stories tackled issues such as religious intolerance and unemployment, Rankin admits this is his most overtly political novel to date.

"The backgrounds to my Rebus novels have always had a social conscience, but at the moment there is this racial tension in Scotland, which is the whole reason for writing the book," he said.

"I'm not preaching, but the black economy of illegal workers and economic migrants and the situation in Dungavel represent a different side to life in Scotland and this becomes a fuse for the story.

"I was astonished to hear claims that the UK takes more immigrants than America and that Glasgow takes more than any other city in Britain.

"But although there is a political and social resistance to this immigration, at the same time, Scotland is suffering from depopulation and Jack McConnell is encouraging more people to work here."

Dungavel, opened in 2001, has ignited protests from MSPs and human rights campaigners for its detention of children, their lack of access to education, and alleged human rights abuses. Despite a campaign to close the centre, it is to be expanded to hold almost 200 people, with a new 44-bed unit to be built in a £ 3m development plan.

Rebus's "Dungavel" is based in West Lothian, but there is added tension because it is the main provider of employment in a small village.

The mystery begins when Stef, a Turkish Kurd, is found murdered in a rough Edinburgh estate called Knoxland.

Rebus's entrenched attitudes toward immigration are altered when he witnesses a suicide in the centre and investigates his own past. The book reveals that Rebus's grandfather was a Polish immigrant who came to Scotland seeking work in the early 20th century.

He also begins an unlikely romance with a human rights campaigner, Caro, who is demonstrating at the camp.

Robina Qureshi, director of the charity Positive Action in Housing and a prominent protester against Dungavel, said: "Rankin's novel is excellent news and can only raise the profile of Dungavel across the world."

LOAD-DATE: April 2, 2004

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The Guardian (London) - Final Edition

March 22, 2004

SECTION: Guardian Home Pages, Pg. 7

LENGTH: 703 words

HEADLINE: Grieving city resists BNP bid to exploit killing

BYLINE: Kirsty Scott

BODY:

A new bouquet appeared yesterday among the scores of tributes left on the Glasgow street where the murdered teenager Kriss Donald, 15, was abducted. The blooms were red and white; the ribbon royal blue. The message read: In our hearts. Southside British National party.

The floral token was the only visible sign that BNP members had been in Pollokshields at the weekend, their much-publicised visit eclipsed by condemnation of their involvement and a community's determination not to be categorised.

"They can come if they want," said Alam Aftab, whose shop overlooks the spot where Kriss was taken. "This is not a racialist problem. We are all upset, not only myself. All the community is shocked. This murder, we don't want this kind of thing to happen."

It is exactly a week since the popular teenager was bundled into a car by five Asian men as he walked near his home with a friend. Kriss's badly beaten body was found the following day.

Despite appeals from politicians, the police and Kriss's family to stay away, the BNP's leader, Nick Griffin, arrived in Glasgow on Saturday, ostensibly for a pre-arranged visit.

Yesterday, he said he had held private meetings with a number of people at their homes in Pollokshields on Saturday night but had not staged a public event in the community in case it became a focus for trouble. "There is nothing to be shown by going in and swaggering about the place," he said.

At a press conference outside the Strathclyde police headquarters in Glasgow city centre yesterday morning, he said the force bore responsibility for Kriss's death, accusing them of abandoning an investigation into "violent Pakistani youth gangs" in Glasgow's south side after it was deemed politically incorrect.

"We feel the police are responsible for the murder in Pollokshields. We are not blaming the Asian or Muslim communities, we are blaming the police and the thugs involved. We are not out to stir up racial tension," he said.

He later told the Guardian that "a lot of white people" in Pollokshields believed it was a racist murder.

Anti-racism campaigners said they had decided not to protest at the visit in case they diverted police resources from the murder investigation.

"The policy of the BNP is to exploit tragedies like this," said Robina Qureshi, of the charity Positive Action in Housing. "It is not just despicable, it is the most inhuman approach." She said the community had shown the BNP there was no role or place for it there.

"The people within this community have come together," she said. "That has been the strongest message from the last week. Everyone wants to come together to try to find out who did this."

A few feet from where the BNP's bouquet was left yesterday, a single red rose was pinned on to a message from an Asian family. "Sharing in your loss and hoping memo ries bring you comfort at this difficult time," it read. "I pray Allah gives strength to Kriss and family."

Superintendent Kenny Scott, deputy divisional commander for the southside area, said he had been proud of Pollokshields for the way it had refused to be split by the killing.

"The overwhelming feeling in the community is not about revenge and not about retribution," he said. "It is a collective grief."

The officer leading the investigation, Detective Superintendent Elliot McKenzie, said he was keeping an open mind about the motive but was more interested in "criminality" than in racially motivated crime.

Police are understood to be looking at gangs of white and Asian youths who cooperate with each other, although there is no suggestion that Kriss was involved with them.

DS McKenzie said they wanted to trace a white man and an Asian man seen running away from the silver C Class Mercedes which was used in the murder and found firebombed and abandoned in the west end of the city. CCTV footage from petrol stations across Glasgow is being studied in an attempt to track the movements of the car as it crossed the city.

The police refused to comment on reports that a 27-year-old man had fled to Pakistan after allegedly being named by a number of people as the prime suspect.

guardian.co.uk/farright

LOAD-DATE: March 22, 2004

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The Times (London)

March 22, 2004, Monday

SECTION: Home news; Scotland; 6

LENGTH: 497 words

HEADLINE: BNP leader visits scene of murder

BYLINE: Gillian Harris, Scotland Correspondent

BODY:

POLITICIANS, police and community leaders condemned a visit yesterday by the British National Party to the area where a white teenager was abducted by an Asian gang and murdered.

Nick Griffin, the party's leader, ignored pleas to stay away from Pollokshields in Glasgow's southside and laid a wreath at the spot where Kriss Donald, 15, was bundled into a silver Mercedes a week ago.

Mr Griffin, whose visit was criticised as a cynical attempt to exploit Kriss's death, said that he was not there to stir up racial tension in a multiethnic community which has been dogged by gang rivalry.

Kriss's badly beaten body was found on the Clyde footway near the Celtic Supporters' Club in London Road last Tuesday. Detectives are hunting the gang of Asians who seized Kriss near his home as well as two men -one white and one Asian -who were seen running away from a burning car which forensic tests showed was the vehicle used in the abduction.

Yesterday Mr Griffin, accompanied by half a dozen bodyguards, blamed the police for Kriss's murder. Speaking outside Strathclyde police headquarters in Glasgow he said: "We feel the police are responsible for the murder in Pollokshields. We are not blaming the Asian or Muslim communities, we are blaming the police and the thugs involved. We are not out to stir up racial tension."

Mr Griffin claimed that the police had abandoned an investigation to "clamp down on the emergence of violent Pakistani youth gangs in Glasgow's southside" after it was deemed politically incorrect.

He said the cancellation of Operation Gadher contributed to Kriss's death.

"Turning a blind eye to low-level harassment and attacks has led to someone being murdered. If the police had stamped on it, then this would not have happened," Mr Griffin said.

During his brief visit Mr Griffin met ten local people. He said: "People in Pollokshields want to see me...If people do not feel that they have a political force speaking up for them then they are likely to feel tense, anger and possibly their resentment and fears could spill into violence."

Jack McConnell, Scotland First Minister, had urged right-wing extremists to stay away. "It's a despicable act," he said before yesterday's visit. "I don't think the people of Glasgow and Scotland are going to listen to the BNP."

Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action in Housing, a charity for ethnic minorities, described Mr Griffin's visit as a "crude attempt" to divide Pollokshields.

The Muslim Association of Britain said that Mr Griffin would be decisively rejected by the community.

Meanwhile police hunting Kriss's killers have seized CCTV footage from every petrol station in Glasgow as they try to track the movements of the burnt-out Mercedes in the west end of the city. Detective Superintendent Elliot McKenzie, who is leading the inquiry, said that the car would have needed fuel at some point, which was why the CCTV footage was being studied.

LOAD-DATE: March 22, 2004

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The Sunday Herald

March 21, 2004

SECTION: Pg. 13

LENGTH: 846 words

HEADLINE: BNP's visit to Pollokshields provokes fear, anger and solidarity

BYLINE: By Neil Mackayand Jenifer Johnston

BODY:

TO many people Nick Griffin, the leader of the British National Party, is nothing short of a demon coming to Scotland to exploit the killing of a white child. But in his eyes, and the eyes of his party, his bogeyman status is being used as a handy smokescreen to obscure ugly questions about race that Scotland's liberal classes just can't face up to.

The story about the death of Kriss Donald has quickly changed from that of a shocking crime into hysteria over Griffin's planned visit. He will come to Pollokshields today, but is keeping details secret.

A member of Griffin's security team, however, said that only Griffin and ''a dozen bodyguards" will arrive. Griffin has said there will be no rallies or speeches. Instead he will meet with the handful of Pollokshields BNP members, who, he says, have asked to meet him. It will be a low-key and non -confrontational affair, he promises.

Griffin had been planning a trip to Glasgow this weekend for some time, he says, to discuss the party's strategy in Scotland for the forthcoming European elections. But he soon realised that the murder of Kriss Donald was "of key importance''.

It became "essential", Griffin says, that he visit Pollokshields. He can certainly reap political benefit from the tragedy: in the north of England, the BNP were able to whip up votes and win council seats following black-on-white violence, and the party are sure they can do the same in Glasgow.

Almost every British police officer insists that white-on-black violence is proportionately higher than black-on-white attacks. Nevertheless, Griffin boasts that he can have an electoral presence in Glasgow within two years.

"Lots of people have a vested interest in diverting attention away from ethnic tensions, so I'm turned into a bogeyman. That ensures that, if tensions do spill over into communal violence the BNP can be conveniently blamed," he said. Anti-racist activists, however, say that it is the BNP presence that exacerbates racial tensions and then sparks violence.

Griffin's take on the state of the UK tallies with Enoch Powell's decades-old "rivers of blood" prophecy. He equates Britain with Northern Ireland in the late 1960s, with ethnic, religious and political differences ready to bubble over.

But it is white people whom Griffin sees as the second-class citizens in the UK, not black people or Asians. His views are condemned by all shades of mainstream political opinion.

Griffin also has the ability to confound those who detest him. While anti -racist campaigners and mainstream politicians say he will whip up hate, Griffin claims he is actually here to defuse tension.

He says his arrival in Pollokshields will act as a safety valve and allow local white people to "articulate their concerns and feel that someone is speaking for them, rather than having to turn to protest and violence". Many whites in the area have no time for Griffin, but others do support him.

One white woman said she wanted to "hear what the BNP have to say", adding: "I'd rather have Nick Griffin of the BNP looking after my interests than Mohammad Sarwar. White people are a minority here. Sarwar is supposed to be MP for the whole community, but he only helps one section."

She claimed there had been a catalogue of racially motivated incidents in the area. Such praise delights Griffin, but groups like the Anti-Nazi League will be hoping to catch sight of him in Pollokshields in order to protest against his visit.

Griffin and a number of Scottish BNP figures say support for the party is rising across the country. Far-right parties - effectively redundant at elections until recent council successes by the BNP - have always had much less support in Scotland than in the rest of the UK.

However, Griffin insists racism against white people and the "white flight" fear of disaffected, angry, alienated Muslim youth - what he terms "a punk-rock version of Islam" - are a boon to the party. Griffin is also quick to blame supposedly politically correct police for failing to tackle crime in the Asian community and for Donald's death.

Griffin claims the killing vindicates his party's decision to leaflet the area a few years ago, warning that ethnic tension would lead to violence. He said it is a case of "we told you so", adding: "The more we ignore this issue, the worse it will get."

Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action in Housing, the anti-racist organisation, has led the condemnation of the BNP. She also says that Asian community leaders are out of touch about the reality of growing up in Pollokshields.

"How would Mohammad Sarwar know why people are in a gang? Have they been in a gang? I really question people like that. The problem is that tension has grown while at the same time there has not been nearly enough anti-racist work going on.

"The community in Pollokshields is disparate. People don't really mix, you won't find white people popping round to their Asian friends' houses for dinner. There is a huge amount of underlying tension."

GRAPHIC: BNP leader Nick Griffin will be visiting Pollokshields today Photograph: Phil Noble

LOAD-DATE: March 22, 2004

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Evening Times (Glasgow)

March 20, 2004

SECTION: Pg. 8

LENGTH: 409 words

HEADLINE: You're not welcome here McConnell tells BNP boss

BYLINE: By David Leask Chief Reporter

BODY:

A BNP boss has been told to stay

out of Glasgow by First Minister Jack McConnell.

Mr McConnell said the planned visit of far-right leader Nick Griffin was a "despicable act".

Mr Griffin, widely condemned as a racist, said he would travel from his home in Wales to visit the Pollokshields area after Monday's murder of 15-year-old Kriss Donald.

Mr McConnell said: "I think the possible appearance of the British National Party leader in Glasgow this weekend shows not just what

a poisonous individual he is, but also what a

poisonous party they are.

"To seek to exploit the grief of the family, friends and the community in Glasgow where he lived is, I think,

a despicable act.

"He should change his mind and not come. And, if he does come, I hope he is treated with disdain by the people of Glasgow and shown the way home."

City Council leader Charles Gordon also

criticised the visit.

He said: "In the aftermath of this tragedy, sinister forces are seeking to exacerbate the pain of Kriss's murder.

"I am sure I speak for all decent Glaswegians when I say racists like Mr Griffin are not welcome in our city.

"During Griffin's last visit to Glasgow a number of his supporters were arrested on race related offences.

"I have raised this proposed visit with police at the highest level."

Community leaders from all sides in Pollokshields have already condemned Mr Griffin's planned visit.

Robina Qureshi, of Positive Action in Housing, said: "The last thing Pollokshields needs is a visit from the racist, whose only concern is to exploit a tragedy and stir up racial hatred."

Kriss's distraught mother, Angela, 39, also appealed for calm. She said: "I would urge the public not to target

the Asian community because of his death."

Kriss's badly-beaten body was found behind a Celtic Supporters' Club in London Road on Tuesday morning. He was seen being bundled into a car by a group of Asians in Pollokshields on Monday afternoon.

Detectives say tests on a burned-out car have already given them "significant new leads" in the hunt for the killers.

Police believe the silver Mercedes found in Granby Lane, near Byres Road, may be the car that was used to snatch Kriss.

They are hunting two men - one white, one Asian - seen running from the car while it was in flames.

Police said the car had been stolen in Lanarkshire last month.

david.leask@

eveningtimes.co.uk

GRAPHIC: JACK McCONNELL;NICK GRIFFIN;KRISS DONALD: killed after being bundled into car

LOAD-DATE: March 22, 2004

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The Scotsman

March 20, 2004, Saturday

SECTION: Pg. 30

LENGTH: 517 words

HEADLINE: POLICE FEAR MURDER SUSPECT HAS FLED

BYLINE: Dan Mcdougallcrime Correspondent

BODY:

STRATHCLYDE Police are understood to have compiled a shortlist of key suspects for the kidnap and murder of the Glasgow teenager Kriss Donald.

The hunt for the15-year-old's killers took a new twist yesterday as it emerged that officers were hunting a known criminal in connection with the death of the schoolboy who was abducted and murdered on Monday by a gang of Asian youths.

The suspect, who is believed to have a history of torturing victims and whose name is known to The Scotsman, is believed to have fled to Birmingham in the last few days and police fear he may be plotting an escape route to Pakistan.

The boy was kidnapped near his home in the city's south side on Monday afternoon by a gang of Asian men. The teenager was bundled into a silver car, thought to be a Mercedes or a BMW. His badly beaten body was found early on Tuesday, leaving a community shocked.

Police believe a burned-out silver Mercedes which was found in Glasgow's West End may be the car that was used to snatch the youngster. A police source said: "We are waiting on the results of forensic evidence from the car as well as hunting two men. In particular we are seeking the whereabouts of a specific suspect who may have fled Scotland."

As the hunt for the youngster's killers intensified last night, fears continued to rise over a proposed visit to Glasgow by Nick Griffin, leader of the far-right British National Party, who intends to campaign in the Pollokshields area where the schoolboy lived.

The BNP insisted yesterday that Mr Griffin's visit to Scotland had been pre -planned. A Scots spokesman for the party confirmed the visit would include Glasgow and Pollokshields.

He said: "There has been an escalation in racially motivated incidents in the area recently. We want to go and appeal for calm and for peace and harmony.

"It is not just about the murder of Kriss, we want to speak to Asians and people indigenous to the area to promote better relations."

However, the First Minister, Jack McConnell, said the visit was malicious and designed to upset the community, adding: "I think that the possible appearance of the British National Party leader in Glasgow this weekend shows not just what a poisonous individual he is but also what a poisonous party they are.

"To seek to exploit the grief of the family, friends and the community in Glasgow where he lived is, I think, a despicable act. He should change his mind and not come, and if he does come I hope he's treated with disdain by the people of Glasgow and shown the way home."

Glasgow city councillors also said the BNP would not be welcome. Charlie Gordon, the leader of the city council, said: "In the aftermath of this tragedy, sinister forces are at work.

"I am sure that I speak for all decent Glaswegians when I say racists like Mr Griffin are not welcome in our city."

Trade unions and anti-racist groups in Scotland, including Positive Action in Housing and the STUC, also issued a joint statement accusing the BNP of whipping up divisions and encouraging racial hatred.

LOAD-DATE: March 20, 2004

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The Times (London)

March 20, 2004, Saturday

SECTION: Home news; Scotland; 10

LENGTH: 1165 words

HEADLINE: BNP moves in as murder heightens racial tensions

BYLINE: Shirley English

BODY:

THE sodden floral tributes, cards and football shirts attached to railings on a quiet residential street in Glasgow's southside are the only signs that anything out of the ordinary has happened here.

They mark the spot where, on Monday, Kriss Donald, 15, a white youth, was dragged off the street a few hundred metres from his home and abducted by five Asian men.

He was later found beaten to death.

Yesterday detectives investigating the murder awaited confirmation that a silver Mercedes found burnt out in the West End of the city was the car used by the killers. They are looking for two men -one white, one Asian -seen running away from the vehicle on Monday night.

It is their first significant lead in a case which has sent shockwaves through the community. The second lead is another car, also thought to have been used by the killers, which is in the hands of a forensic team.

Close to the spot where Kriss was abducted is a row of shops -a greengrocer, a halal butcher and a newsagent -at the heart of the multi-ethnic community that is Pollokshields. Asian and white, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Christian, young and old, queue together, buy their groceries and pass the time of day.

But beneath the veneer of normality this is a community living in trepidation.

Police have introduced mounted patrols and increased the number of officers on the beat to reassure locals in an area where more than half the population is Asian.

But the fear remains that although the murder of Kriss Donald has been mourned on all sides, and the victim's mother, Angela, has appealed for his death not to be taken out on her Asian neighbours, the BNP may find a welcome in some quarters here.

Pollokshields is not without its problems. Residents of the neat, 19th-century sandstone tenements complain of a growing gang culture among young Asians and whites, with frequent small-scale clashes, usually over territorial issues and sometimes fuelled by alcohol.

They talk of third-generation Asian Scots driving around at night in flash cars with music blaring, of Asian gangs with names such as the Shields Boys and the Shields Posse and of certain streets which are avoided by whites at night.

Similarly, young Asians keep away from the white streets surrounding the road from which Kriss was abducted, an area that is home to the YSS, or Young Shields Squad.

Some claim the gang problem has been played down by police for years, and that much of it goes unreported because of fear of reprisals. Much of the violence involves rival Asian groups, but there have been clashes with racial undercurrents which, at times of increased tension, can take on greater significance.

The last time gang violence erupted on the streets was in September, when a young Asian man on his way to evening prayers at the Mosque in Pollokshields was attacked with baseball bats by a white gang.

The gang had just been moved on by police after fighting with other Asian youths nearby. They moved to Kenmure Street, scene of Kriss's abduction, where they attacked the young Muslim.

The next day an Asian grocer's was burnt out, thought to be the result of an inter-Asian dispute, and 24 hours later two Asians were run down when a car driven by Asians mounted the pavement.

Police said that the final incident showed that talk of race conflict was misplaced and that the violence was really a problem of "youth disorder".

Nevertheless, a meeting was arranged between police and community leaders and police patrols were stepped up and things quietened down -until the murder of Kriss.

Mohammad Sarwar, MP for Glasgow Govan, acknowledged that there had been problems in Pollokshields but said they were caused by a few thugs known to police.

"There are only a few people, who I believe are thugs, causing disturbance and trouble in this area, and police are well aware of these people," he said. "We have to be very cautious that we don't allow the BNP and other right-wing groups to exploit this tragedy to harm the race relations we have enjoyed over the years in Glasgow."

Police Superintendent Kenny Scott, deputy divisional commander, admitted tensions had been raised by the murder but dismissed suggestions that the area was riven by racial discord. "To paint a picture of a community in turmoil is completely contrary to the truth. The problems with youth disorder are no different to other parts of the city: drinking and territorialism," he said. "We don't have gang-related crime or a gang culture. There are groups of youths who go about the streets, but they are not criminal gangs in the classic sense. This is a community which has relatively low racial tensions. There is no lawlessness on the streets."

But his views are not shared by some locals. Campaigners claim that race problems are deep-rooted in Glasgow's southside and point to the murder in 1998 of Imran Khan, 15, by two white youths who attended the same school, in a neighbouring area to Pollokshields which has a large Asian community.

Bellahouston Academy, the secondary school where Kriss was a pupil, is said to have problems with young Asian and white gangs and with bullying. Kriss was playing truant when he was abducted.

Since his murder, Asian mothers report that their children have been called "Pakis", which did not happen before. Sons and daughters are being kept at home after school for fear of a backlash.

Pollokshields welcomed its first influx of Asians, mainly from Pakistan, in the 1940s. They came to work in the shipyards and later on the buses, following the Italians who had arrived in Glasgow decades earlier.

Robina Qureshi, director of Postive Action in Housing, an anti-racism group, was born and brought up in Pollokshields. She said: "There is already an 'us and them' attitude and I fear this is going to set the community back decades. It is rubbish to say it is a well-integrated community. The hostility between young whites and Asians has to be addressed."

Research by the West of Scotland Community Relations Council has revealed that around 70 per cent of Asians can only find work through family contacts. Drug abuse among young Asians is on the increase and racially motivated attacks recorded by police have risen.

However, a teenage girl, a friend of Kriss's family who added her bouquet to the shrine this week, said: "There are white and Asian gangs and they fight and you see their graffiti around. But the white gangs talk to Asians. They have friends who are Asians. It is just the Asian gangs they don't like. And after this I think there will be more anger towards them."

LOAD-DATE: March 20, 2004

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The Times (London)

March 20, 2004, Saturday

SECTION: Home news; 10

LENGTH: 913 words

HEADLINE: Teenager's killing revives Glasgow racial tensions

BYLINE: Shirley English

BODY:

THE sodden floral tributes, cards and football shirts attached to railings on a quiet residential street in the south side of Glasgow are the only signs that anything out of the ordinary has happened here.

They mark the spot where on Monday Kriss Donald, a 15-year-old white schoolboy, was dragged off the street a few hundred yards from his home and abducted in broad daylight by five Asian men.

He was later found beaten to death.

Yesterday detectives investigating the murder awaited confirmation that a silver Mercedes, found burnt out in the West End of the city, was the car used by the killers. They are hunting two men -one white, one Asian -seen running away from it on Monday night.

It is their first significant lead in a case which has sent shockwaves through the community. The second is another car, also thought to have been used by the killers, which is in the hands of a forensic science team.

Close to the spot where Kriss was abducted is a row of bustling shops -a green- grocer, a halal butcher and a newsagent -at the heart the multiethnic community that is Pollokshields. Asian and white, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Christian, young and old, queue together, buy their groceries and pass the time of day.

But beneath the veneer of normality this is a community in trepidation. Police have introduced mounted patrols and increased the number of officers on the beat to reassure local people in an area where more than half the population is of Asian origin.

Today the British National Party is expected to descend on Pollokshields in what is being viewed as a crude display of ambulance-chasing. Community leaders have unanimously condemned the visit as an attempt to inflame racial tension in an area where the different ethnic groups have coexisted, if sometimes uneasily, for years. But the fear remains that although the murder has been sincerely mourned on all sides, and the victim's mother Angela has appealed for his death not to be taken out on her Asian neighbours, the BNP may find a welcome in some quarters here.

They talk of third-generation Asian Scots driving around at night in flash cars with music blaring, of Asian gangs with names such as the Shields Boys and the Shields Posse and of "street territories" avoided by whites at night. Similarly, young Asians keep away from the "white" streets surrounding the road from which Kriss was abducted, an area that is home to the YSS, the Young Shields Squad.

Much of the violence involves rival Asian groups, but there have been clashes with racial undercurrents which, at times of increased tension, can take on greater significance.

The last time violence erupted on the streets was in September when a young Asian man on his way to evening prayers at the mosque in Pollokshields was attacked with baseball bats by a white gang.

The next day an Asian grocer's was burnt out, thought to be the result of an inter-Asian dispute, and 24 hours later two Asians were run down when a car driven by Asians mounted the pavement.

Police said the final incident showed that talk of race conflict was misplaced and that the violence was really a problem of "youth disorder".

Nevertheless, a meeting was arranged between police and community leaders and police patrols were stepped up and things quietened down, until the murder of Kriss.

Mohammad Sarwar, MP for Glasgow Govan, acknowledged that there have been problems in Pollokshields but said they were caused by a few thugs known to police.

He said: "We have to be very cautious that we don't allow the BNP and other right-wing groups to exploit this tragedy to harm the race relations we have enjoyed over the years in Glasgow."

Superintendent Kenny Scott, a police deputy divisional commander, admits tensions have been raised by the murder but says: "To paint a picture of a community in turmoil is completely contrary to the truth. The problems with youth disorder are no different to other parts of the city: drinking and territorialism.

"We don't have gang-related crime or a gang culture. There are groups of youths who go about the streets, but they are not criminal gangs in the classic sense.

This is a community which has relatively low racial tensions. There is no lawlessness on the streets."

But his views are not shared by some locals. Campaigners claim that race problems are deep-rooted and point to the murder in 1998 of Imran Khan, 15, by two white youths who went to the same school.

Since Kriss's murder Asian mothers report that their children have been called "Pakis", which did not happen before. Sons and daughters are being kept at home after school for fear of a backlash.

Robina Qureshi, director of Postive Action in Housing, an anti-racism group, was born and brought up in Pollokshields. She says: "There is already an 'us and them' attitude and I fear this is going to set the community back decades."

However, a teenage girl, a friend of Kriss's family, said: "There are white and Asian gangs and they fight and you see their graffiti around. But the white gangs talk to Asians. They have friends who are Asians. It is just the Asian gangs they don't like. And after this I think there will be more anger towards them."

LOAD-DATE: March 20, 2004

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Daily Record

March 19, 2004, Friday

SECTION: FIRST Edition; NEWS; Pg. 5

LENGTH: 350 words

HEADLINE: RACIST CHIEF'S BID TO STIR UP TROUBLE

BODY:

RIGHT-WING hate groups have been condemned for cynical efforts to make political capital from Kriss's murder.

The British National Party and the National Front are both sending senior members north of the border in a bid to stir up racial hatred in Scotland.

BNP leader Nick Griffin is to speak to residents in Pollokshields at the weekend.

Meanwhile, members of the NF are trying to provoke race hatred prior to the by-election for the Queen's Cross seat on Glasgow City Council.

Last night, Robina Qureshi, director of anti-racism group Positive Action in Housing, slammed the BNPand asked police to ban Griffin's visit.

This could be done under law if it was believed such a visit was an incitement to racial hatred.

She said: 'This is not 'a visit'. It is a crude attempt by overt racists to divide Pollokshields on colour lines at a time when we need calm and to let the police do their job.

'All sides of the community condemn this murder and are deeply shocked.

'The last thing Pollokshields needs is a visit from the racist BNP whose only concern is to exploit a tragedy and stir up racial hatred.

'We call on the police to stop Nick Griffin coming to Pollokshields this weekend.There is no place for him.'

The Moslem Association of Britain also slammed the BNP.

Their Scottish spokesman, Osama Saeed, said: 'This is a time for grief in the community, and it is sickening that the BNP should try to exploit the situation.

'I have no doubt whatsoever that the community will unite to reject this gutter politics.'

And he added: 'Pollokshields does have problems, as does any community with the kind of social conditions that prevail here. The BNP, however, do not have any solutions and they will be rejected again this weekend.'

Tony Parker, whose son, Ross, was killed by three Asian men in Peterborough, Northamptonshire, in 2001, had this message for people in Pollokshields: 'Don't do anything silly.'

He said:'The BNP and NF will try to use this for political gain. They tried to do the same with Ross, which is totally wrong.'

GRAPHIC: HATE PLAN: Nick Griffin

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Daily Record

March 19, 2004, Friday

SECTION: NORTH Edition; NEWS; Pg. 5

LENGTH: 348 words

HEADLINE: RACIST CHIEF'S BID TO STIR UP TROUBLE

BODY:

RIGHT-WING hate groups have been condemned for cynical efforts to make political capital from Kriss's murder.

The British National Party and the National Front are sending senior members north of the Border in a bid to stir up racial hatred in Scotland.

BNP leader Nick Griffin is to speak to residents in Pollokshields at the weekend.

Meanwhile, members of the NF are trying to provoke race hatred before the by-election for the Queen's Cross seat on Glasgow City Council.

Last night, Robina Qureshi, director of anti-racism group Positive Action in Housing, slammed the BNPand asked police to ban Griffin's visit.

This could be done under law if it was believed such a visit was an incitement to racial hatred.

She said: 'This is not 'a visit'. It is a crude attempt by overt racists to divide Pollokshields on colour lines at a time when we need calm and to let the police do their job.

'All sides of the community condemn this murder and are deeply shocked.

'The last thing Pollokshields needs is a visit from the racist BNP whose only concern is to exploit a tragedy and stir up racial hatred.

'We call on the police to stop Nick Griffin coming to Pollokshields this weekend.There is no place for him.'

The Moslem Association of Britain also slammed the BNP.

Their Scottish spokesman, Osama Saeed, said: 'This is a time for grief in the community, and it is sickening that the BNP should try to exploit the situation.

'I have no doubt whatsoever that the community will unite to reject this gutter politics.'

Tony Parker, whose son, Ross, was killed by three Asian men in Peterborough, Northamptonshire, in 2001, had this message for people in Pollokshields: 'Don't do anything silly.'

He said:'The BNP and NF will try to use this for political gain. They tried to do the same with Ross, which is totally wrong.'

GRAPHIC: HATE PLAN: Nick Griffin

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The Herald (Glasgow)

March 19, 2004

SECTION: Pg. 4

LENGTH: 916 words

HEADLINE: Mother's plea for race restraint ;Community urged not to target Asians after murder

BYLINE: Keith Sinclair

BODY:

THE mother of a murdered schoolboy yesterday urged white people not to target Asians because of his death.

Angela Donald, whose 15-year-old son Kriss was abducted by five men of Asian appearance in Glasgow and later found dead, appealed for restraint in the community to avert any retaliatory racial violence.

She said it did not matter to his family what colour the men were, and insisted he had died because of gang warfare.

Last night, detectives revealed that forensic tests carried out on one of two cars they recovered had given them significant new leads in the hunt for Kriss's killers.

The teenager was abducted in the ethnically-mixed Pollokshields area of Glasgow on Monday. His battered body was found outside a Celtic supporters' club in London Road, in the east end of the city, on Tuesday morning.

Detectives, who said earlier yesterday they were following a positive line of inquiry, have neither confirmed nor ruled out a racial element to the killing.

In an emotional plea for help in finding Kriss's killers, Ms Donald, 40, said her eldest son had been killed by a group of five men who must be punished for the horror they had inflicted on the family.

She said: "Five men, full of hate, and it doesn't matter to my family and extended family what colour these men are, murdered my eldest son."

She added: "Kriss is gone because of gangs, not just in Pollokshields, but every area of our communities. However, I would urge the public not to target the Asian community because of his death.''

Strathclyde Police said on Tuesday that Kriss had been bundled into a silver car, thought to be a Mercedes or BMW, by his killers

The vehicle which has given detectives new leads, a silver-Mercedes saloon car reported stolen in Lanarkshire last month, was found burned out in Granby Lane, off Great George Street in the west end of Glasgow.

Detective Superintendent Elliot McKenzie, who is leading the investigation, said last night that officers had traced a number of witnesses who heard an explosion and saw the car on fire at about 8.15pm on Monday.

He added: ''Two males, one believed to be white and one of Asian appearance, were seen running from the car."

Mr McKenzie appealed to anyone who saw the men or anyone who may have seen the car in the Hillhead or Greater Glasgow area around that time on Monday to contact the incident room on 0141 532 4750.

The police said earlier they were delighted with the reaction from the public and said the response from the Asian community in particular had been huge.

Mr McKenzie also disclosed that police had spoken to the girlfriend of James Wallace, who was with Kriss when the gang struck, but managed to escape. There has been speculation that the gang tried to bundle both Kriss and Mr Wallace into their car because of a feud over the girl.

But Mr McKenzie said it was not believed that the girl - who is said to be of foreign extraction, but not Asian - was in any way linked to the murder.

Nick Griffin, chairman of the British National Party, confirmed yesterday he was planning to visit Pollokshields this weekend.

He said: "We were coming up as part of the campaign for the European elections, but obviously it's taken on a different colour now with the murder of Kriss Donald."

He claimed there had been "ongoing low-level racial harassment of whites by juvenile Asian Islamic gangsters" in Pollokshields for some time.

He added: "There's no danger of Kriss Donald becoming a white Stephen Lawrence. The police ignore it when whites are being targeted but when it's an Asian or black victim the reaction is very different."

He added: "We made a deliberate decision two years ago to stay out of the place because we were accused of stirring up trouble. But us not being there hasn't helped and this might be an opportune time to go back."

However, Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action in Housing, an anti-racist charity, said: "It is a crude attempt by overt racists to divide Pollokshields on colour lines at a time when we need calm."

Family appeal

The full statement issued on behalf of Angela Donald, Kriss's mother. "I would ask the nation for help in tracing those responsible for the murder of my son Kriss.

"Five men, full of hate, and it doesn't matter to my family and extended family what colour these men are, murdered my eldest son.

"They have killed Kriss and taken him from his loved ones and his sister Samantha, aged 17, brother Laurie, aged 10, and 4 year-old twin sisters Amber and Tayler are distraught and finding it very hard to come to terms with the loss of their dear brother.

''Kriss is gone because of gangs, not just in Pollokshields, but every area of our communities.

"However, I would urge the public not to target the Asian community because of his death

"Kriss's life and short time in our world will be for nothing if those responsible are not caught and punished for the horror they have brought to my family.

"They know who they are and I would ask anyone who can help the police solve his murder to come forward."

Kriss's sister Samantha added: "My beautiful wee baby brother has been taken away from me but I know in my heart he is watching down on us and I pray to God that the men responsible are caught and punished.

"Laurie, Amber and Tayler have lost their big brother who they love and look up to. He is such a big part of all our lives and we will never forget him."

GRAPHIC: GROWING TRIBUTE: Mohammed Sarwar, the Govan MP, adds his own tribute to the dozens already lining Kenmure Street. Picture: Colin Mearns

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Irish News

March 19, 2004

SECTION: Pg. 13

LENGTH: 476 words

HEADLINE: Charity calls for ban on BNP leader visit;

BODY:

BRITISH National Party leader Nick Griffin said yesterday that he would visit Glasgow's Pollokshields area this weekend, where a 15-year-old boy was abducted and murdered in an alleged racist attack.

Kriss Donald was kidnapped by an Asian gang on Monday and his badly beaten body was found a day later behind a Celtic supporters' club in the city's east end. The announcement by the BNP leader sparked fury from politicians and community groups who accused the party of trying to exploit racial tensions in the area following the killing.

Mr Griffin claimed: "There has been ongoing low-level racial harassment of whites by juvenile Asian Islamic gangsters in the Pollokshields area for some time but the police have ignored it.

"There's no danger of Kriss Donald becoming a white Stephen Lawrence.

"The police ignore it when whites are being targeted but when it's an Asian or black victim the reaction is very different."

Mr Griffin accepted that the Asian community as a whole was horrified by the killing of Kriss Donald and blamed a small minority of Asians for causing trouble in the area.

"The likes of (Glasgow Govan MP) Mohammad Sarwar and his ilk were all saying community relations were perfect in Pollokshields but we get racial harassment reports every week from whites and even Sikhs in that area, " he said.

"The community must stay calm. We're not saying for a moment that this is all down to the Asian community. This is a small minority of Islamicly-politicised Asians causing all the trouble."

But a Glasgow-based charity for ethnic minorities called on the police to ban Mr Griffin from Glasgow.

Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action in Housing, said: "This is not a visit. It is a crude attempt by overt racists to divide Pollokshields on colour lines at a time when we need calm and to let the police do their job.

"All sides of the community condemn this murder and are deeply shocked.

"The last thing Pollokshields needs is a visit from the racist BNP whose only concern is to exploit a tragedy and stir up racial hatred."

Meanwhile, Kriss Donald's mother said yesterday that his murderers had been "full of hate" and spoke of the horror his death had inflicted on their family.

She said her son had been a victim of gang culture and appealed for calm in the ethnically-mixed community where the murder took place.

The Donald family's plea came as police revealed they had recovered two vehicles that might be connected to the kidnapping of the teenager.

Ms Donald also appealed for restraint in the community to avert a bloodbath of tit-for-tat racial violence.

"Kriss is gone because of gangs, not just in Pollokshields, but every area of our communities, " she said.

"However, I would urge the public not to target the Asian community because of his death."

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The Sun

March 19, 2004

SECTION: OUTRAGE AS THE BNP HEAD FOR GLASGOW

LENGTH: 290 words

HEADLINE: KEEP THEM OUT

BYLINE: Gerry Duffy

BODY:

Outrage as BNP move in after Asian gang killing

BRITISH National Party bosses sparked fury last night by announcing they are coming to Scotland in the wake of the Kriss Donald murder.

Leader Nick Griffin will this weekend visit Pollokshields, Glasgow - where the 15-year-old was abducted by Asian men.

He said: "We were coming to cam- paign for the European elections but it's taken on a different colour now with the murder of Kriss Donald. The police ignore it when whites are being targeted."

Sickened community leaders demanded Griffin be BANNED or ARRESTED if he sets foot in the area.

Human rights lawyer Aamar Anwar hit out: "The whole community in Pollokshields, black and white, has made it clear that the BNP are not welcome.

"I would expect the police to play their role and arrest Mr Griffin.

"Any attempt to enter that community is inflammatory and the only basis of a visit is to simply incite racial hatred.

"The message from people is keep out of Pollokshields, keep out of Glasgow and keep the hell out of Scotland altogether."

Kriss is believed to have been bundled into a car by a group of Asian men on Monday.

His body was found dumped the next day. The horrific killing has shocked the community - and it is feared the presence of the BNP this weekend will heighten tensions.

Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action in Housing, last night slammed the visit.

She said: "The last thing Pollokshields needs is a visit from the racist BNP whose only concern is to exploit a tragedy and stir up racial hatred."

The Muslim Association of Britain added: "It is sickening that the BNP should try to use the situation for its own sordid ends."

The Sun Says - Page Eight

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Morning Star

March 17, 2004

SECTION: Pg. 4

LENGTH: 367 words

HEADLINE: Campaigners fear for refugees' lives;

Hunger strikers refuse medical treatment

BYLINE: Morning Star reporter

BODY:

CAMPAIGNERS voiced serious concern yesterday over the health of three Kurdish asylumseekers who stitched their lips together and went on hunger strike more than three weeks ago.

Fariborz Gravindi, Mokhtar Haydary and Faroq Haidari from Iran started a hunger strike in their Glasgow bedsit after the government turned down their asylum applications.

Supporters said that they feared for the lives of the three men, who have been surviving on just small amounts of water since February 19.

The men have been slipping in and out of consciousness over the past week, but are continuing to refuse medical treatment.

They said that they would rather die in Scotland than travel back to Iran, where they face torture and death.

The uncle of one of the hunger strikers was executed by the regime in Iran.

Supporter and neighbour of the men Simon Assaf said:

"Their spirits were up at the weekend, but they seem dejected and very down now.

"They feel that all their options have dried up and we are very worried about them.

"I think it is a sad day for Scotland that Scottish people don't have the right to decide what happens to people in their country.

"I'm in despair at how cold and heartless the government is being over this."

Positive Action in Housing spokeswoman Margaret Woods said: "They are very weak and frail. They were encouraged by all the support they have received, but they are very down at the situation they now find themselves in."

High-profile figures - including politicians, church leaders and human rights activists - have all been increasing pressure on Home Secretary David Blunkett to look again at their case.

The Bishop of Motherwell Joseph Devine has also visited the men, giving them his backing in their bid to stay in Britain.

SNP leader John Swinney visited the hunger strikers last week and demanded that Mr Blunkett rethink his decision to reject their asylum application.

A Home Office spokeswoman said yesterday that there was no change in Mr Blunkett's stance on the issue.

She added: "We don't comment on individual asylumseeker's cases. However, it is regrettable that someone would take this kind of action."

GRAPHIC: ON THE BRINK: Refugees Fariborz Gravindi (front) and Faroq Haidari, who are on hunger strike against the refusal of their asylum claim.

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The Scotsman

March 17, 2004, Wednesday

SECTION: Pg. 8

LENGTH: 428 words

HEADLINE: FRESH OUTCRY OVER PLANS TO EXPAND DUNGAVEL CENTRE

BYLINE: James Doherty

BODY:

THE Home Office has confirmed plans to extend the controversial Dungavel detention centre, attracting renewed criticism from politicians and campaigners who insist that the complex should be closed.

Capacity at the former Lanarkshire prison will rise by 25 per cent with the addition of a 43-bed unit for single adult males.

The move is part of government plans to increase the number of detention spaces to create a "more efficient asylum system".

However, the proposal, which were first revealed by The Scotsman in December, has been attacked by opponents.

Shona Robison, the SNP's justice spokeswoman, said: "Dungavel is a stain on the good name of Scotland. The imprisonment of asylum seekers, and particularly of their children, is completely alien to our culture yet it is being forced on Scotland by London.

"Public opinion is resolutely set against the intolerant, anti-refugee agenda of David Blunkett the Home Secretary , but the powerlessness of the Executive over immigration has left us at the mercy of the Home Office.

"This expansion plan is nothing short of a slap in the face."

She added: "It is now clear that Jack McConnell cannot stand up for Scottish values. The sooner we take control of immigration for ourselves, the sooner we will be able to end the appalling treatment of asylum seekers."

Dungavel currently has the capacity to house about 150 detainees, including some families. The new unit is due to be completed in August.

Mr Blunkett said: "Increasing the amount of space in the detention estate is an important part of our strategy to remove those people who have no right to be here.

"This new unit at Dungavel, together with plans for increases at other sites and a new centre near Heathrow, will help to expand our overall detention capacity."

Robina Qureshi, the director of the campaigning charity, Positive Action in Housing, branded the GBP 3 million development a disgrace and urged the First Minister to stop the unit from being built.

Sally Daghlian, the chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council, added: "Asylum seekers are not criminals, they are people claiming protection from persecution under international law.

"If children were not detained and other detainees were only held for brief periods, then the government might not feel the need to build a new extension at Dungavel."

Scottish Socialist MSP Rosie Kane branded the decision a disgrace. She said: "People should never be locked up, especially those who have committed no crime."

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Sunday Times (London)

March 14, 2004, Sunday

SECTION: Home news; Scotland News 10

LENGTH: 297 words

HEADLINE: Glasgow houses the most refugees

BYLINE: Jason Allardyce

BODY:

GLASGOW houses more asylum seekers than any other local authority in Britain, writes Jason Allardyce.

New Home Office figures have revealed that the city provides rent-free accommodation for 5,565 refugees -more than Wales, Northern Ireland and the east and southwest of England combined.

As well as providing more housing, Glasgow is also home to more than twice as many asylum seekers per head of population than London, a total up 17% since 2001, according to Home Office figures. The local council has lobbied the Home Office for even more to be located in the city because it has a ready supply of social housing, now managed by a housing association.

Last week, however, the pressure group Positive Action in Housing revealed that complaints of racial harassment had risen by 75% in the past year. Police figures reveal that racially motivated attacks within the city rose by almost 50% to 255 in 2002.

Bill Aitken, a Glasgow Tory MSP, said it was crucial that other parts of Britain accept a greater share of refugees to avoid further trouble.

He denied that Glaswegians were more racist than other UK citizens, warning that a greater number of asylum seekers simply meant more targets for a minority of racists in the city.

"There is a problem here, and other parts of Britain have to help out," said Aitken. "Parts of the indigenous community think asylum seekers are getting priority in housing, and they see delays in the National Health Service, which they think asylum seekers are causing. That undoubtedly inspires a degree of resentment."

A spokesman for the Scottish Refugee Council said that racial attacks in Glasgow were now "a huge problem" but rejected suggestions that the size of the asylum seeker population was to blame.

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Western Daily Press

March 11, 2004

EDITION: default

SECTION: News; Other; Others; Pg. 7

LENGTH: 535 words

HEADLINE: KURDISH HUNGER STRIKERS WEAKEN

BODY:

The Government last night came under increasing pressure to grant asylum to three Kurdish men who have been on hunger strike for three weeks. Fariborz Gravindi, 30, Mokhtar Haydary, 31, and Faroq Haidari, 32, said they were prepared to starve to death rather than return home to Iran where they face certain execution.

They stitched their mouths shut in a Glasgow bedsit on February 19 in protest at plans to send them back home.

The three men, who all fled Iran fearing for their lives, said they would make the ultimate sacrifice unless the Government granted them asylum.

As the men slipped in and out of consciousness, political pressure was mounting on Home Secretary David Blunkett to look again at the Kurds' case.

Yesterday politicians, church leaders and human rights activists visited Fariborz, Mokhtar and Faroq to throw their weight behind their campaign.

The men say they will be persecuted because they were opponents of the Iranian regime - labelled part of an "axis of evil" by the United States - and will face certain torture and death if they return home.

A Home Office spokesman said the asylum seekers' protest was "deeply regrettable" but they were still expected to leave the UK.

The men are refusing to accept even a saline drip, although they are drinking small amounts of water.

In the bedsit, the three men lie side-by-side on thin mattresses on the floor surrounded by cards from wellwishers and supporters.

Only Faroq is well enough to speak.

He mumbles briefly to questions and constantly dabs his sewn-up lips with a tissue.

He said all three men were deteriorating rapidly but were determined to continue their fight.

"Sick, tired, unwell. We are getting worse each day," Faroq said.

"There is no way we can go back to Iran. People just do not understand why but we cannot." Fariborz stirs constantly and mutters to himself. He is the weakest of the three.

Mokhtar lies on his back asleep, covered by a thin duvet.

Asked if he and his friends were prepared to die, Faroq said: "It is not up to us. It is up to those people who are responsible for this." Margaret Woods, from campaign group Positive Action in Housing, said all three were in a "very fragile" condition.

"They are much in the same state and are very fragile and tired, particularly two of them," she said.

"These people are entitled to asylum under the Geneva Convention.

"They were fighting the regime from the inside - a regime labelled by Bush and Blair as an 'Axis of Evil'." She said lawyers were submitting further asylum applications on behalf of the three men in the hope they would be allowed to stay in the UK.

Brain damage risk The asylum seekers could be permanently brain damaged as a result of their hunger strike - even if they end their protest soon, a nutritionist said.

Marinos Elia said the three risk serious long-term health problems by continuing their protest.

Professor Elia, a specialist in clinical nutrition at the University of Southampton, said: "The lack of vitamins and minerals for such a long period can lead to brain damage. After three weeks, there will be physical and psychological side-effects."

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Evening Times (Glasgow)

March 10, 2004

SECTION: Pg. 6

LENGTH: 497 words

HEADLINE: Kurds who sewed lips 'close to death';Plea to Jack McConnell to step in and save men on hunger strike

BYLINE: By Martin Murray

BODY:

THREE Kurdish asylum seekers who stitched their mouths closed are close to death, their friends said today.

The three men have been starving themselves for 20 days in a bid to avoid deportation from Britain to Iran.

Fariborz Gravindi, 30, Mokhtar Haydary, 31, and Faroq Haidari, 32, stitched their mouths closed in a Glasgow bedsit on February 19 in protest at plans to send them back to Iran.

The men have said they are prepared to die unless the Government grants them asylum in this country.

Joseph Devine, Roman Catholic Bishop of Motherwell, said he was "quite appalled" by the sight of the men with their mouths sewn up.

And he said their plight strengthened arguments for Scotland to have its own asylum policy.

He said: "It's not a devolved power, it's not within Jack McConnell's hands - it lies with the Home Office at Westminster. But I think there is a very credible argument to be made."

The men claim they will face torture and death at the hands of Iranian security forces if they return home.

Now they are seriously ill and are barely able to move. They are lying covered in blankets on the floor of a Glasgow city council property in Cathkin Road, Battlefield.

One of their friends, who did not want to be named, said today: "They are weak and very fragile. They are only taking a little water and we fear they are getting close to death.

"They have also been threatened with eviction by the council, which we cannot believe.''

A council spokesman said: "The advice we have been given is that we would be acting illegally if we don't evict these men. However, no date has been set for an eviction to be enforced."

The men have been deprived of any social security payments due to the asylum policies of the Government.

Twice since the hunger strike began, they have needed urgent medical attention in

hospital.

Last week, Gravindi and Haydary were taken to the city's Victoria Infirmary after losing consciousness but discharged themselves hours later.

Margaret Woods, from Positive Action in Housing, said: "We have very serious concerns for their health. They are very weak but they remain determined."

Yesterday, Scottish Socialist MSP Carolyn Leckie delivered a letter from the men to First Minister Jack McConnell asking for a meeting.

They wrote: "We would like to see you. We would like to speak to you as a human being and as First Minister.

"We would like to tell you why we're doing this and putting our lives at risk."

The letter, which Haydary was too ill to sign, added: "Please at least come and see us. That's all we are asking."

Today the SSP was moving an amendment to parliamentary business to include a statement from Mr McConnell.

Ms Leckie said: "Time is of the essence. Next week may be too late."

An Executive spokesman said: "This is a matter for the Home Office. The First Minister has no jurisdiction in the area."

martin.murray@

eveningtimes.co.uk

GRAPHIC: NEAR DEATH: friends say that Faroq Haidari and his fellow protesters are close to dying as they continue their hunger strike

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DAILY MAIL (London)

March 9, 2004

SECTION: ED_SC2_04; Pg. 11

LENGTH: 497 words

HEADLINE: Rise of the new Nazis

BYLINE: PAULINE MCLAUGHLIN

BODY:

FAR-RIGHT extremists are targeting Scotland as the number of racist attacks has reached unprecedented levels.

A report has found that violence against refugees rose by 75 per cent in the past year.

The statistics come as the British National Party opens its fourth office in Scotland, claiming membership has risen by more than a third in the past 12 months.

The sinister November 9th Society has also been targeting communities in an effort to stir up unrest.

The rise in Rightwing activity comes just a week after the First Minister launched an initiative aimed at encouraging immigrants to come to Scotland.

Jack McConnell said he hoped to attract as many as 8,000 people over the next five years to tackle the nation's population decline.

Yesterday's report, by the charity Positive Action in Housing (PAIH), found that 174 refugees living in Glasgow had been victims of racial attacks, a rise of 75 per cent on the previous year.

Almost four in ten, 36 per cent, said they were targeted regularly and one in four said they were subjected to physical attacks.

Robina Qureshi, director of PAIH, said many refugees had fled Scotland to escape the abuse. She said: 'Around one third of refugees, once they achieve exceptional or indefinite leave to remain, are moving south to avoid the problems of harassment.

'This is bad news at a time when the First Minister is trying to encourage more immigration to Scotland.

' To want to settle, work and contribute to Scotland, immigrants must be made welcome as neighbours, not just as workers.' The BNP claims to have about 1,000 members in Scotland, a rise of 38 per cent on last year. It has offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow and opened a fourth in West Lothian on Saturday.

The party's Scottish secretary Kenny Smith claims the rise in support is a result of disgust over the Government's asylum system.

He said: 'After the success we had in England, we are now seen as a viable option and not as a wasted vote.

'We are concentrating on using this new branch to run in local and European elections and gain a foothold in Scottish politics.

'There is not the same sort of asylum seeker problem up here as there is in England but we do have other policies.' Meanwhile, police are monitoring the activities of the November 9th Society (N9S), also known as the British Nazi Party, after it set up a cell in Paisley.

The shadowy group has been leafleting shopping centres and high streets and claims to have 150 members.

Yesterday deputy justice minister Hugh Henry vowed to do what he could to drive the party away.

The Paisley South MSP said: 'The views of this group are racist and contemptible. Most decent people will be repelled by them.

'However, some impressionable individuals could be influenced by them, which we must try to avoid.

'I have asked Strathclyde Police to monitor any reported neo-Nazi activities.' p.mclaughlin@dailymail.co.uk

END

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The Scotsman

March 9, 2004, Tuesday

SECTION: Pg. 8

LENGTH: 690 words

HEADLINE: REFUGEES THE TARGET OF INCREASED RACIAL ATTACKS

BYLINE: James Doherty

BODY:

RACIST attacks in Scotland have risen by 75 per cent, with the majority of incidents occurring in Glasgow, according to research.

Statistics collated by Positive Action in Housing (PAIH), the charity which supports ethnic minorities, revealed that many asylum seekers and refugees are subjected to a growing tide of violent physical and verbal abuse.

More than a quarter (28 per cent) of ethnic minority families living in Glasgow said they had suffered racial harassment in the last year.

The survey also found that almost four in ten (36 per cent) of victims said they were targeted regularly.

However, campaigners insisted yesterday that the statistics are just the tip of the iceberg and that the true number of incidents could be much higher.

Robina Qureshi, the director of PAIH, said that refugees had often fled torture and persecution simply to find that they became the target of racist youths in some of Glasgow's most deprived areas.

She said: "Around one third of refugees, once they achieve exceptional or indefinite leave to remain, are moving south to avoid the problems of harassment.

"This is bad news for Scotland at a time when the First Minister is trying to encourage more immigration to Scotland.

"To want to settle and work and contribute to Scotland, immigrants must be made welcome as neighbours, not just as workers.

"Refugees and asylum seekers have grown to accept racially motivated attacks as part and parcel of life as a refugee in Britain.

"Scotland has now established a track record when it comes to harassment of minorities."

Official statistics seem to confirm the basis of the research carried out by PAIH.

Since Glasgow became home to more than 7,000 asylum seekers under the Home Office dispersal programme, Strathclyde Police have recorded huge increases in racist incidents.

In the year 2000 to 2001 there were 1,241 incidents. This rose by 48 per cent to 1,832 in 2001-2. In 2002-3, the number rose by 8 per cent to 1,980 incidents.

In 2002-3 there were two racist murders and five attempted murders, compared with one murder and one attempted murder the previous year.

It is believed that many of the crimes are carried out by youths on the deprived housing estates such as Sighthill, Castlemilk and Pollokshaws, where many of the asylum seekers and refugees are housed.

PAIH campaigns for affordable and safe accommodation for ethnic minorities. The charity surveyed hundreds of families living in Glasgow.

A total of 174 said they had been the victim of racist attacks since April last year, a rise of 75 per cent from the previous year.

More than one in five (21 per cent) of the families who suffered racial harassment were of Pakistani origin.

One in four (25 per cent) said they were subjected to physical assaults. Seven households even said they suffered physical racist attacks on a daily basis.

Almost half (49 per cent) said they had been verbally abused and 13 per cent said property had been damaged.

Sally Daghlian, the chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council, said the rise was "disappointing" and warned the true figure could be much higher. She added: "These incidents are extremely distressing. Unfortunately, we believe that many more people are having to contend with abuse and sometimes violence on a daily basis.

"A lot of good work has been done to ensure that there is more understanding of why refugees are here and a lot of local people in Glasgow have been extremely welcoming.

"There does, however, seem to be a minority of people intent on making life hell for refugees and asylum seekers."

Mark Brown, the secretary of the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees, described the rise as worrying.

He added: "Glasgow has an ongoing problem with intimidation of asylum seekers.

"In some areas the situation has deteriorated but in others, like Sighthill, it has improved from a very low base.

"We need an increased working population in Scotland and yet we still have this torrent of abuse against asylum seekers. That has to be stopped."

LOAD-DATE: March 9, 2004

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The Herald (Glasgow)

March 8, 2004

SECTION: Pg. 13

LENGTH: 565 words

HEADLINE: Turning the racist tide;The intolerant must realise new Scots are allies

BODY:

She is South African. He is Ugandan. This family is from Lebanon. They are all from different parts of the world but they have congregated in Scotland, drawn here by desires to seek asylum, refugee status, work and a better life. They could be the face of the new Scotland. The Scottish Executive wants to project that face as smiling and contented in hopes that others will be attracted to come to this country from abroad to live and work. Scotland's demographic problems are well-documented - a shrinking population with an ageing profile and fewer people of working age. Without an infusion of fresh blood the economic and cultural future looks bleak. Step forward, then, the new Scots from other airts. As they do, however, it is increasingly likely that their heads will be bloodied and bowed rather than held high from a sense of pride in their new status (even if only as temporary Scots on work permits).

New figures from Positive Action in Housing (PAIH), a Scottish charity led by ethnic minorities that campaigns for equal opportunity in affordable accommodation, show a disturbing rise in the number of complaints about racial harassment in the year to March 2004 - up some 75% on the previous 12-month period. The shocking testimony of the South African, the Ugandan and the Lebanese is repeated by others and covers the gamut of racist behaviour, from verbal abuse to physical assault.

A South African nurse, one of more than 20 with skills the NHS is crying out for, has been the victim of so much racism, she tells The Herald today, that she wishes she had never come to Scotland. What chance is there of persuading more like her to come to work in this country when she, and others who are also making plans to return home, cannot be retained? Only the racist believes that colour marks people out as different, but the PAIH research found that others who could not be differentiated by their skin also suffered.

Self-interest alone suggests that a rising tide of racism must be tackled, because it would be a powerful disincentive to the people Scotland needs. But that should be a minor consideration. When launching the initiative urging people to consider coming to Scotland, Jack McConnell, the first minister, warned of the "subtle dangers" inherent in failing to act to stop the population shrinking and ageing. Do we want a future Scotland to be blighted by a lack of diversity, narrow-minded and less confident about itself?

The PAIH findings suggest we might already be heading in that direction. They are a counter-balance to the complacent notion that Scotland is a friendly, welcoming, tolerant place and confirm a trend identified in a police inspectorate report last year - that the number of racist incidents reported to the police is steadily rising (albeit at a slower rate according to the latest figures). Perhaps the only crumb of comfort comes from the victims of racism themselves who report that Scots are in general warm towards ethic minorities.

The big concern, however, is that they identify teenagers as the purveyors

and perpetrators of race hate. This is the very group the executive and sporting authorities want to speak out against racism in the workplace and football. Clearly, the message is not getting across to a hard-core minority. They, too, must learn that the new Scots are an ally, not a threat.

LOAD-DATE: March 08, 2004

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The Herald (Glasgow)

March 8, 2004

SECTION: Pg. 1

LENGTH: 679 words

HEADLINE: Huge rise in racist attacks;Complaints of physical and verbal harassment up 75%

BYLINE: Exclusive Vicky Collins And Stephen Stewart

BODY:

RACIST attacks have risen to unprecedented levels, with many immigrants to Scotland facing abuse and violence every day.

The details emerged as another report raised concerns that increasing numbers of child asylum seekers could fall prey to organised criminal gangs.

Positive Action in Housing, an ethnic-minority housing charity, revealed that complaints about racial harassment in Glasgow have risen by 75% in the past year.

Okwiri Rabwoni, who runs the Forum for Africans in Scotland, was not surprised by the figures.

An increase in racist incidents and the changing asylum seeker situation may make worrying reading for Jack McConnell, the first minister, who last week launched a high- profile initiative aimed at attracting immigrants to Scotland to tackle the decline in the working population.

Mr Rabwoni said: "The Scottish people in general are very warm towards ethnic minorities but the teenagers are a

really, really big problem - everyone complains about them."

"Almost everyone I know has suffered attacks. My friend was stabbed last year and gangs spit on children and give asylum seekers lots of verbal abuse."

Positive Action in Housing, which collates the number of racist incidents reported by its clients on an annual basis, said that 28% of households had complained of racial harassment since April last year, a rise of 75% on the previous year.

In the latest figures, 36% of those who said they had suffered racial harassment said it happened on a regular basis.

Only 120 of the 174 households complaining of racism provided details to PAIH. Of these, 25% said they had suffered physical assaults, with seven households claiming they suffered physical racist attacks on a daily basis. Almost half (49%) said the harassment took the form of verbal abuse, and 13% said their property had been damaged.

The Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees has also reported anecdotal evidence of an increase.

The Herald has learned that more than 20 South African nurses living in Springburn, Glasgow, who are in Scotland on a work permit and are not seeking asylum, have complained of being verbally or physically abused while travelling to work on a night shift. One nurse said she was chased by a youth who punched and headbutted her in the face, shouting "black bitch".

Able Miller, a refugee from Zimbabwe, was granted asylum, but two years in Britain has failed to provide him with the security he craved.

"I was very grateful to be accommodated here. I wanted to restart my life but now I just feel I am living in a prison cell," he said. Mr Miller said he suffers constant racial abuse, mostly from gangs of children and teenagers.

A separate report revealed that the number of young, unaccompanied asylum seekers in Glasgow has spiralled, raising fears about their vulnerability and potential involvement in child prostitution, the transportation of drugs, illegal working and benefit fraud. It was also shown that more asylum seekers, both children and adults, are now coming from sub-Saharan Africa rather than eastern Europe with a potentially higher prevalence of TB and HIV among them.

Changes in the numbers and diversity of origin of asylum seekers have created greater pressure on community care, health, homeless and children's services and an urgent need for more cash from the Scottish Executive, according to Glasgow City Council officers.

Ethnic minority and refugee groups have called on politicians to take urgent action to prevent the situation from getting worse and warned of a direct correlation between abuse of asylum seekers and the inflammatory language used by some politicians and sections of the media.

Sally Daghlian, chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council, said: "A lot of good work has been done to ensure that there is more understanding of why refugees are here and a lot of local people in Glasgow have been extremely welcoming.

"There does, however, seem to be a minority of people intent on making life hell for refugees and asylum seekers."

GRAPHIC: VICTIM: Able Miller, a refugee from Zimbabwe, outside his home in north Glasgow's Red Road flats where he says he suffers constant racial abuse. Picture: Angela Catlin

LOAD-DATE: March 08, 2004

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Sunday Times (London)

February 29, 2004, Sunday

SECTION: Features; Ecosse; 4

LENGTH: 236 words

HEADLINE: Being seen as a worker but not a citizen

BYLINE: Carolyn Rae

BODY:

"When I went into town when I was 11 or 12 I would be surprised if I wasn't called a name; now I'd be surprised if I was. There has been a lot of integration, but there's always a new community who will come in and take the burden of negative feeling -right now it's asylum seekers. "The impression I get is that it seems to be 'okay' not to like asylum seekers. People talk about them in a way they would no longer talk about Asians."

Sanjeev Kohli, comedian and star in BBC Scotland's Still Game "I've personally not had any experiences of racism in Scotland. But I know of plenty of people who have. A friend was standing at a bus stop in Edinburgh and was punched in the face. It was a totally unprovoked attack. I think racism is a problem in Scotland but it's no worse than anywhere else."

Davena Rankin, union official and Scottish Conservative candidate who stood for Glasgow Kelvin at the 2001 Westminster elections "The problem with this country is that racism is so endemic that people are too blind to see it. As soon as a black worker arrives, they're welcome as workers but not as citizens. That's the dilemma Scotland needs to address. After the second world war this country needed workers and in the 21st century it needs them again to do the jobs nobody else wants to do."

Robina Qureshi, director of campaign group Positive Action Against Housing Interviews by Carolyn Rae

LOAD-DATE: March 5, 2004

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Daily Record

February 25, 2004, Wednesday

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 1,4

LENGTH: 393 words

HEADLINE: BOY WHO CHOKED TO DEATH IN SCHOOL SCUFFLE

BYLINE: BY JANICE BURNS

BODY:

AN asylum-seeker schoolboy has choked to death after a scuffle at a secondary school.

Suhail Saleh, 11, whose family are Somalian refugees, died after an incident at All Saints RC school in Barmulloch, Glasgow.

Last night a 12-year-old pupil from the school was charged in connection with the youngster's death.

Suhail collapsed in the school canteen and, despite efforts by teachers and paramedics to revive him, he was pronounced dead at Stobhill Hospital. Police were told the first-year pupil was involved in a scuffle minutes before he fell to the ground.

One shocked parent, whose 13-year-old attends the school, said: 'My son told me the lad had been eating his lunch when it happened.

'He was choking as he had some food in his mouth.

'There was chaos and all the kids ran screaming from the lunch room.'

A post-mortem was being carried out.

Last night, Suhail's family gathered at their home in Glasgow's Red Road flats.

The boy and his brother Mohammed, 14, had fled Mogadishu with their mum Samira, 28, and aunt Sabah, 24, three and a half years ago.

Mohammed said: 'We are all in shock. I was at school when I heard about Suhail.

'It just happened so quickly. He choked on crisps or something at break time. We still don't know what happened for sure .

'We were very close. Everyone loved Suhail, he had lots of friends.'

Samira, who also has a year-old son, received a call from school to say her son had been taken to hospital. Then family liaison officers arrived to say Suhail was dead.

Sabah's husband, 32-year old Mohammed Sahirf, said: 'Samira is very, very upset. She does not know what to do.

'The family have been through a lot together. Everyone is just so shocked.'

A hospital source confirmed the youngster choked on a crisp, adding: 'Suhail was mucking about with two other pupils and he started choking, then just collapsed.

'A teacher tried to resuscitate him but I think he was already dead.'

Robina Qureshi, of the charity Positive Action and Housing, said: 'From what we know, there was a Somalian child involved in some sort of incident.

'The Somalian child was taken to hospital and died. We do not know whether there was a racial motive.'

Police confirmed last night that a 12-year-old boy was due to appear before Glasgow Sheriff's Court this morning.

GRAPHIC: SCHOOL TRAGEDY:; Suhail Saleh, 11; TRAGEDY: The school

LOAD-DATE: February 25, 2004

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Daily Record

February 25, 2004, Wednesday

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 1,4

LENGTH: 410 words

HEADLINE: BOY WHO CHOKED TO DEATH IN SCHOOL SCUFFLE

BYLINE: BY JANICE BURNS

BODY:

POLICE are investigating claims that an asylum-seeker schoolboy choked to death on a crisp yesterday after a scuffle with classmates. Suhail Saleh, 11 whose parents are Somalian refugees collapsed in the canteen of All Saints RC Secondary in Barmulloch, Glasgow, during break. Despite the efforts of teachers and paramedics, he was pronounced dead at Stobhill Hospital.

Police were told the first-year pupil was involved in a scuffle minutes before he fell to the ground. One shocked parent, whose 13-year-old attends the school, said: 'My son told me the lad had been eating his lunch when three other boys jumped on him.

'The boy then fell back from his seat and banged his head.

'He was choking as he had some food in his mouth.

'There was chaos and all the kids ran screaming from the lunch room.'

A post-mortem was being carried out. A police spokesman said: 'It is too early to say if the death is suspicious.'

Last night, Suhail's family gathered at their home in Glasgow's Red Road flats.

The boy and his brother Mohammed, 14, fled Moga-dishu with their mum Samira, 28, and aunt Sabah, 24, three and a half years ago.

Mohammed said: 'We are all in shock. I was at school when I heard about Suhail.

'We were very close. He was the nicest and funniest guy I know. Everyone loved Suhail. He had lots of friends.

'We still don't know what happened for sure.'

Samira, who also has a year-old baby son, was in shock after the school called to say her son had been taken to hospital. Then family liaison officers arrived to tell her Suhail was dead.

Sabah's husband, 32-year old Mohammed Sahirf, said: 'Samira is very, very upset. She does not know what to do.

'The family have been through a lot together. Everyone is just so shocked.'

A hospital source said: 'Suhail was mucking about with two other pupils in the canteen and he started choking, then he just collapsed.

'A teacher tried to resuscitate him but I think he was already dead.'

Robina Qureshi, of the charity Positive Action And Housing, said: 'From what we know, there was a Somalian child involved in some sort of incident with an Iranian child, both from asylum-seeker communities.

'The Somalian child was taken to hospital and died. We do not know whether there was a racial motive.'

Pupils are to be offered counselling when they return to All Saints this morning. Yesterday, the school closed early as a mark of respect.

GRAPHIC: SCHOOL TRAGEDY: Suhail Saleh, 11; TRAGEDY: The school

LOAD-DATE: February 25, 2004

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DAILY MAIL (London)

February 25, 2004

SECTION: ED_SC2_04; Pg. 1; Pg. 2

LENGTH: 811 words

HEADLINE: BOY, 12, CHARGED AFTER SCHOOL DEATH

BYLINE: STEVEN HENRY

BODY:

AN 11-year-old asylum seeker collapsed and died yesterday after a fight with another boy in a school dining room.

Suhail Saleh was taken to hospital after a break-time scuffle, but the Somalian, who had lived in Scotland with his mother for four years, died.

Last night a 12-year-old boy was reported to the procurator fiscal in connection with the incident and is expected to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court today.

The row at a Glasgow secondary school with a high mix of ethnic minority pupils and asylum seekers broke out between Suhail and an Iraqi boy.

Last night it was unclear exactly whether he died as a result of the fight or choked while falling. However, police sources stressed no weapons had been used.

Yesterday, at the high-rise flat where the family live, Suhail's mother Samera was too upset to discuss the tragedy.

But his 14-year-old brother Mohamed said: 'I still can't believe what has happened he was my wee baby brother.

I just saw him this morning.'

Suhail's uncle, also Mohamed, said: 'We are all just devastated. We can't believe what has happened to our family.

'He was a lovely boy and full of fun and now he has been taken from us.'

Referring to Suhail's mother, he added: 'She can't think about this.

'She thought everything was going to be good here and now this has happened.'

Hundreds of stunned pupils witnessed the incident, which took place at 11.30am yesterday in the canteen of All Saints Roman Catholic secondary school, Barmulloch, in the north of the city.

One pupil said: 'Suhail and this other boy were shoving each other and pushing. It looked like Suhail lost his balance and fell over.

'All the teachers crowded round and a teacher tried to give him resuscitation.

'Then we couldn't see any more. It was horrible, some people were crying.'

Teachers and other staff tried in vain to help the boy and he was taken to nearby Stobhill Hospital but died a short time later.

A post-mortem examination was due to be carried out last night to determine the cause of death.

Shocked pupils were each given a letter to take home to their parents to explain the tragic events.

Headteacher Tom McDonald wrote: 'I write to inform with great sadness that due to a tragic event today in school a pupil has lost his life.

'The whole school community obviously feels a deep sense of grief and our thoughts are with his family.

'Pupils should attend school as normal tomorrow.

Support will be available for those who require it.

'Prayers will also be offered for the repose of his soul.'

Suhail had just enrolled at the secondary school, known for its multi- cultural roll because of the high proportion of asylum seekers who live nearby.

A total of 909 children attend All Saints, which began admitting asylum seekers in 2000.

It currently has 67 asylum seeker students and 23 pupils who have been granted refugee status.

Up to 14 nationalities study at the school, including Iraqi, Iranian, Afghan and Eastern European children.

Councillor Steven Purcell, Glasgow City Council's education convener, said: 'This is tragic news.

'Our thoughts are with everyone connected with the school, in particular the famcharityily and friends of the pupil concerned.

'The department will be working closely with everyone at All Saints to provide the necessary support.'

A Strathclyde Police spokesman said: 'Inquiries are continuing following the death of a pupil at All Saints Secondary in Glasgow.

'The boy was removed to Stobhill Hospital after apparently becoming ill following an incident.

'A post-mortem examination will be carried out to establish the cause of death.'

Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action in Housing said: 'We don't know exactly what has happened.

'It is not certain if there was a racial motivation or if something has gone wrong when the children were fighting.

'There are pressures on refugee communities to settle in. But whether that has a bearing, no one knows yet.'

Local MSP Paul Martin said: 'Our sincere condolences go to the family.

'We must ensure further investigations take place and that the family are given all the support they need.

'There are a significant number of asylum seekers at the school, but it is too early to say what happened.'

All Saints school is in an area neighbouring Sighthill, which is home to thousands of asylum seekers who were sent there under the Government's controversial dispersal programme.

The influx saw a rise in racial tensions in the area which were inflamed in August 2001 after Kurdish asylum seeker Firsat Dag was stabbed to death.

Police increased patrols in Sighthill following the killing.

Scott Burrell was jailed for 14 years for the murder but the court heard there was no racial motive for the attack.

END

GRAPHIC: SUHAIL SALEH: TEACHERS GAVE FIRST AID

LOAD-DATE: February 27, 2004

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Daily Star

February 25, 2004

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 23

LENGTH: 253 words

HEADLINE: FIGHT DEATH OF ASYLUM BOY, 11

BYLINE: by JOHN MAHONEY

BODY:

A BOY asylum seeker died yesterday after a clash with a fellow school pupil.

The 11-year-old Somalian youngster collapsed following a scuffle in the crowded dining hall of a Glasgow school.

Other pupils who saw the incident were in "complete shock", said a spokesman at All Saints Secondary School in the city's Barmulloch area.

The boy - who had lived in Glasgow for three-and-a-half years - was rushed to hospital but later died.

The victim had been involved with an Iranian boy who was also an asylum seeker said Robina Qureshi of the charity Positive Action and Housing. "There was a scuffle and something happened, " she said.

"We do not know whether there was a racial motive between the kids or whether it is just children at a school and something has gone wrong.

"There are pressures on refugee communities and children from refugee communities in terms of trying to settle.

"Whether that has any bearing on what has happened between these two children, we will not know until there has been an investigation."

All Saints has 67 asylum seeker students. Up to 14 nationalities study at the school.

Headteacher Thomas McDonald told parents: "The whole school community feels a deep sense of grief.

"Pupils should attend school as normal. Appropriate support will be available to those who require it."

Strathclyde police said inquiries into the boy's death were continuing.

A post-mortem examination was being carried out last night to establish how the boy died.

LOAD-DATE: February 25, 2004

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The Herald (Glasgow)

February 25, 2004

SECTION: Pg. 1

LENGTH: 626 words

HEADLINE: 12-year-old for court over incident with refugee

BYLINE: William Tinning, Alison Chiesa And Elizabeth Buie

BODY:

A 12-YEAR-old boy will appear in court today in connection with the death of a Somalian refugee boy who collapsed after an incident in a school dining hall.

It is believed Suhail Saleh, 11, took ill after being involved in a scuffle at All Saints RC secondary school in Barmulloch, in north Glasgow, shortly after 11.30am. He was taken by ambulance about two miles to Stobhill Hospital, but died a short time later.

Police said the 12-year-old was detained in custody and he is expected to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court today.

A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said: "A 12-year-old boy has been reported to the procurator-fiscal in connection with an incident at All Saints Secondary School in Glasgow."

Glasgow City Council said Suhail, who had lived in the city with his family for three-and-a-half years, fell ill in the school dining area during a mid-morning break.

Teachers gave the boy first aid before paramedics arrived.

A spokesman said that the dining area was crowded at the time and pupils who witnessed the incident were in "complete shock". Police are understood to have spoken to several pupils, including some of Iraqi and Iranian origin, who are believed to be from the same year as the dead boy.

Last night the dead boy's mother, Samira, and his older brother, Mohammed, 13, who also attends All Saints, were too upset to talk at their home in the Red Road flats, which is near the school.

Mohhed Sharif, 32, the boy's uncle, said the family had lived happily since arriving in Scotland in 2000. He added: "None of us can believe what has happened. It is so, so sad.

"His mother is too upset to talk to anyone right now. She is not saying anything.

"His brother Mohammed cannot believe what has happened to his little brother. We don't know what happened at the school. We are still waiting for the police to tell us."

Aged only 11 years and a few months, Suhail was young to be in S1, an indication that he may have been academically bright. He had arrived at All Saints from one of its feeder primary schools. His family came to Glasgow three and a half years ago as asylum seekers and received refugee status within six months, granting them exceptional or indefinite leave to stay.

Suhail attended the mainstream section of the Catholic secondary, not the specialised unit for asylum seeker children needing language support.

Nassir Iqbal, a local shopkeeper, said that Suhail had been in his shop almost every day and he knew him well. He was such a bright, friendly and happy boy. It is such a tragedy. We were all stunned when we heard what had happened. My thoughts are with his mother and brother."

Last night, a post-mortem examination was carried out on the dead boy to establish the exact cause of death.

Robina Qureshi, of the Positive Action in Housing charity, said: "From what we know there was a Somalian child involved in some sort of incident with another child. We do not know if there was a racial motive, or whether it is just children at a school and something has gone wrong."

Ms Qureshi added: "We know it is difficult as there are pressures on refugee communities and children from re-fugee communities in terms of trying to settle within the community.

"Whether that has any bearing or not for what has happened, no-one knows. We will not know until there has been an investigation."

Thomas McDonald, the school headteacher, has written to all parents informing them of the tragedy.

He said: "I write to inform you of great sadness that due to a tragic event today in school a pupil has lost his life."

The headteacher added: "The whole school community obviously feels a deep sense of grief and our thoughts are with his family."

GRAPHIC: SCENE OF TRAGEDY: A policeman heads for the school after a pupil died. Picture: Kieran Dodds

LOAD-DATE: February 25, 2004

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The Mirror

February 25, 2004, Wednesday

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 5

LENGTH: 215 words

HEADLINE: TRAGIC LAST DAY AT SCHOOL

BYLINE: RICHARD GRAY

BODY:

SUHAIL'S last tragic day at school began like any other.

But within hours the bright 11-year-old lay dying on the floor of the canteen at All Saints Secondary in front of horrified classmates.

It was Shrove Tuesday - normally a busy day at the Catholic secondary, which has become one of Scotland's most multicultural schools.

But tragedy struck during the regular mid-morning recess.

Suhail was involved in an alleged scuffle with another boy.

Minutes later, the first year scholar collapsed in the school's assembly hall.

Staff desperately tried to resuscitate Suhail before he was rushed to Stobhill Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Last night staff left the school red-eyed and crying.

They are expected to hold a special assembly later today to pay tribute to Suhail.

Members of the refugee community were last night struggling to come to terms with what had happened.

Robina Qureshi, from refugee group Positive Action in Housing, said: "We are still waiting for the results of an investigation into what happened.

"Obviously there is a lot of pressure on asylum seekers and their children to settle in.

"Sadly, this will make the difficulties asylum seekers face even harder to bear and our thoughts are with his family."

LOAD-DATE: February 25, 2004

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The Times (London)

February 25, 2004, Wednesday

SECTION: Home news; Scotland; 1

LENGTH: 350 words

HEADLINE: Asylum boy dies after fight at Glasgow school

BYLINE: Gillian Harris and Shirley English

BODY:

AN 11-YEAR-OLD asylum-seeker died yesterday after an incident involving another pupil in a school dining hall.

The boy was named locally as Suhil Saleh, a Somalian whose family lived in Glasgow. He collapsed after a scuffle with the other pupil, who is thought to be Iranian, at All Saints RC Secondary School during morning break. He was rushed to Stobhill Hospital but died a short time later.

He is thought to have either choked to death or suffered a heart attack.

Last night Suhil's mother, Samira, and brother Mohammad, 13, who live in Springburn, were too upset to talk about the tragedy. But the boy's uncle, Mohammad Sharif, 32, said: "None of us can believe what has happened. It is so sad. We don't know what happened at the school. We are still waiting for the police to tell us."

Glasgow City Council said that the family arrived from the war-torn African state 3 years ago. They learnt last month that their asylum application had been successful.

All Saints has about 90 asylum-seekers and refugees among its 909 pupils. It won an award last year for its work integrating pupils from 14 different countries, including Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Afghanistan and Eastern Europe into the school community.

Steven Purcell, the council's education convener, said "This happened in a very crowded dining area so the pupils who witnessed it are in complete shock." Thomas McDonald, head teacher, has written to all parents informing them of the tragedy.

"The whole community obviously feels a deep sense of grief and our thoughts are with his family," he said. Other pupils would be offered the appropriate support, he added. Paul Martin, the local MSP and a former All Saints pupil, expressed his condolences to the boy's family. "This is not a time to speculate on what happened. We must let the investigations take their full course."

Robina Qureshi, director of the charity Positive Action in Housing, said: "We do not know whether there was a racial motive between the two kids or whether it is just children at a school and something has gone wrong."

LOAD-DATE: February 26, 2004

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Aberdeen Press and Journal

February 17, 2004

SECTION: News; Housing; Other; Pg. 6

LENGTH: 290 words

HEADLINE: ANGUS WOMEN'S AID SHARES IN :300,000 HOUSING ALLOCATION

BODY:

A Domestic-abuse agency in Angus and housing groups in Aberdeen and Mull and are to be given shares of Scottish Executive funding worth £ 300,000 over the coming year. The money, from the executive's housing agency, Communities Scotland, is to make information available on housing issues, prevent homelessness and resolve specific problems people may face in these areas.

A grant of £ 16,000 has been awarded to homelessness charity Aberdeen Cyrenians for work with housing providers to help people with debt problems. This would involve arranging payment plans, as well as help for people facing court action over non-payment of debts.

Two new projects are also being given cash.

The Information Trust, in Mull, is getting £ 11,935 for a website to help residents explore housing options on the island, on neighbouring Iona and other areas.

A grant of £ 14,589 is going to the Angus branch of Women's Aid to provide information on obtaining benefits and applying for permanent housing.

The biggest grant, £ 137,285, has been awarded to Shelter Scotland for its housing advice, consultancy and referral work. Other national groups receiving cash include the Legal Services Agency, Positive Action in Housing and the Pakistan Society.

Angiolina Foster, chief executive of Communities Scotland, said: "The funding will allow a range of organisations to provide some of Scotland's most disadvantaged people with much-needed and often crucial advice about housing.

"Whether this involves debt, language difficulties, form-filling, domestic abuse or the particular problems experienced in rural areas, these organisations are being supported to make a difference to individuals with real needs."

LOAD-DATE: February 18, 2004

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The Herald (Glasgow)

February 11, 2004

SECTION: Pg. 1

LENGTH: 641 words

HEADLINE: Children's czar attacks family detention at Dungavel;Professor highlights the asylum issue

BYLINE: Rob Crilly

BODY:

THE lawyer nominated to become Scotland's first children's commissioner put herself on a collision course with ministers yesterday over de-taining families at Dungavel asylum centre. She said no child should ever be locked up.

Professor Kathleen Marshall said she had been selected to be an "outspoken advocate for children".

A panel of MSPs yesterday named Professor Marshall, a former director of the Scottish Child Law Centre, as the best candidate after a selection process which included being interviewed by primary school pupils.

Professor Marshall, 50, best known for leading the 1999 inquiry into the Edinburgh care homes sex abuse scandal, is expected to be endorsed for the (pounds) 72,000-a-year post by the Scottish Parliament tomorrow.

Her role will be to promote and protect the rights of children by reviewing current law, policy and practice. She will submit an annual report to MSPs and has the power to carry out investigations.

She identified asylum seekers as one of the main issues facing her. "I don't think children should be locked up at all,'' said Professor Marshall.

"I am sure there are better ways we can deal with the situation that arises with regard to asylum-seeking children. I want to be party to looking at some of those. I would like to see that all children have the freedom to develop in the way that is most helpful to them."

Campaigners have condemned the policy of locking up children at Dungavel, in Lanarkshire, as immoral and a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Jack McConnell, first minister, has insisted that treatment of asylum seekers is reserved to Westminster, making him powerless to intervene. However, the silence of Scottish ministers on the matter last year provoked fury among opponents.

Professor Marshall said the split in responsibility between Westminster and Holyrood had put the executive in an awkward position. "It has been difficult for them because there has been a lack of clarity."

However, she added: "I have been quite clear about saying there are reserved matters but there are no reserved children. We have a responsibility to ensure their human rights are respected."

Professor Marshall, a visiting professor at the Glasgow Centre for the Child and Society, is examining how her position is affected by this split in responsibilities. She is expected to take up her role at the end of April.

MSPs created the post after the education committee recommended in 2002 that a commissioner should be ap-pointed. The role is initially for a fixed term of five years, but can be extended for a further period of up to five years.

Margaret McKay, chief executive of the charity Children 1st, said: "At last we have a children's champion to make sure that children's rights are respected. Kathleen Marshall combines the best of academic rigour with practical experience of working with children."

Refugee campaigners agreed Dungavel should be the first priority. Robina Qureshi, of the charity Positive Action in Housing, said: ''The Scottish Executive effectively has a policy of ignoring the children at Dungavel. The Scottish people do not accept that."

Robert Brown, selection panel member and convener of the education committee, said: "Children and young people are the future of Scotland. It is important that we listen to what they have to say and take their views into account, particularly where matters affect them directly."

The professor said her office would employ school leavers as one way of ensuring young people's views filtered through the policy process. "I will be constructively critical, not oppositional or obstructive. I won't get involved in personal criticism but I have been appointed to be an outspoken advocate for children and young people, and that's what I intend to be."

GRAPHIC: KATHLEEN MARSHALL: An outspoken advocate.

LOAD-DATE: February 11, 2004

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The Herald (Glasgow)

January 23, 2004

SECTION: Pg. 4

LENGTH: 696 words

HEADLINE: Scot gives Russian asylum seeker refuge from Dungavel;Ullapool beckons after two years spent in detention

BYLINE: Billy Briggs

BODY:

AN unemployed fisherwoman yesterday provided sanctuary in her home for a 58 -year-old Russian woman who has spent nearly two years in Dungavel detention centre.

Maria Ramanova, who does not speak any English, was released into the care of Lisa McCaffrey, a 26-year-old single mother of two from Ullapool, who came forward after hearing of her prolonged incarceration.

Ms Ramanova, who applied for asylum in 1999, was arrested after mistakenly believing a work permit she was originally granted from the government at the time of her application gave her permission to remain in the United Kingdom.

Prior to July 2002, asylum seekers were allowed to work if their application for asylum was outstanding for six months.

Ms Ramanova was arrested in May 2002 in Crawley, Sussex, and has remained in custody since then despite the Home Office not being able to provide any evidence she is at risk of absconding. This is one of the main reasons cited by the government for detaining asylum seekers.

Yesterday, at a hearing at the immigration appellate office in Glasgow, applause broke out after a Home Office adjudicator decided she should be released on bail immediately.

Ms Ramanova will now live in Ullapool with Ms McCaffrey and her two children, Nina, eight, and Hamish, four, and report to local police once a week until a final decision is made on her appeal to stay in the UK.

Campaigners opposed to Dungavel said afterwards the case once again highlighted the government's "abhorrent practice of locking up innocent people".

An emotional Ms Ramanova, speaking through an interpreter, said she was delighted to be free after being held for nearly 21 months in the detention centre.

"I am very, very happy and I am looking forward to seeing Ullapool as I think it is beautiful from the photographs Lisa sent me," she said.

Ms McCaffrey, who has been corresponding with Ms Ramanova through letters and telephone calls with the aid of interpreters, said her family were pleased to have at last secured her release.

"I just felt that it was rotten that people who come to Scotland should be treated like this. Scotland is not meant to be like this," she said.

Ms McCaffrey said some of her friends in Ullapool had learned snippets of Russian after socialising with sailors from Russian klondikers - floating fish -processing ships - that used to anchor off the town on the north-west coast of Scotland.

"I suppose there used to be a bit of a 'Russian community' in Ullapool. I am not worried about the language barrier though, as I had a Hungarian au pair speaking fluent English after only three months when she stayed with me," she said.

The Home Office had opposed the release of Ms Ramanova on the grounds she had failed to obtain an emergency travel document from the Russian authorities and had "no incentive to comply with direction set by the judge".

But the adjudicator disagreed and granted bail.

Ms McCaffrey and the Dungavel Bail Fund, set up by Peter Mullan, the award -winning Scottish film director and actor, jointly put up bail of £ 500.

Robina Quereshi, director of Positive Housing, an anti-racism charity that assists ethnic minority and refugee communities in Scotland to access housing, later praised Ms McCaffrey for her actions.

She said: "This woman (Lisa) had the courage to come all the way from a small community in the north of Scotland to help a woman who does not even speak the same language as her."

Ms Quereshi also criticised the Scottish Executive, which she said condoned the incarceration of innocent people by its silence on the matter. She said: "It is a travesty that Dungavel exists and innocent people are locked up. Even greater, the Scottish Executive ignores this atrocity. If Lisa had not come forward she (Maria) would have been left to rot."

Julian Simpson, of the Scottish Refugee Council, said that detention of asylum seekers should always be used as a last resort. "It is wholly unacceptable to deprive people of their freedom especially with children. Dungavel is the only place in the UK that does this."

The Scottish Executive refused to comment.

GRAPHIC: HOUSE MATE: Lisa McCaffrey, from Ullapool, has offered to let asylum seeker Maria Ramanova stay at her home. Picture: Colin Mearns

LOAD-DATE: January 23, 2004

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Sunday Mail

January 4, 2004, Sunday

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 41

LENGTH: 700 words

HEADLINE: NO SHELTER;

ASYLUM SEEKERS OUT IN COLD EXCLUSIVE SCOTLAND'S BORDERS CLOSED TO

BYLINE: BY NORMAN SILVESTER

BODY:

SCOTLAND has closed its borders to asylum seekers after eight councils refused to give them homes.

The local authorities abandoned pledges to offer shelter to 1500 refugees as part of a government drive to move them out of London.

The councils pulled out after claiming the refugees earmarked for their areas did not match strict conditions laid down about nationality and numbers.

Glasgow is the only one of Scotland's 32 local authorities to fulfil its promise to support refugees as part of the National Asylum Support Service's dispersal programme.

The city already houses the majority of the 12,000 asylum seekers mainly from the Balkans, Africa and the Middle East who live north of the Border.

But East Renfrewshire, Fife, Edinburgh, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire and Perth and Kinross councils have refused to take in refugees despite previously agreeing to do so.

The councils' backtracking means the only place where new asylum seekers can go in Scotland is the controversial Dungavel detention centre in Lanarkshire.

It is being expanded by 25 per cent and a new 44-bed unit is to be created at the secure site where asylum seekers, including children, are held while their final appeals are heard.

The holding of families and children at the unit has been fiercely criticised by campaigners.

Last week, West Dunbartonshire became the latest authority to refuse more refugees, even though they had told NASS they would offer housing and support to 150 asylum seekers.

The council claimed that NASS were unable to supply the right "kind" of refugee. They particularly wanted refugees who all spoke the same language or came from the same country, to cut down on translation costs.

Tim Huntingford, chief executive of West Dunbartonshire, said he regretted the council had pulled out of negotiations with NASS. He blamed the Government for changing the criteria on which refugees would be moved to the area.

He said: "NASS made it clear that they are unwilling to agree to a contract with West Dunbartonshire Council on the basis of previous negotiations.

"They are now seeking accommo-dation which they know cannot be provided by the council and they have offered no clarity on the issue of language groups."

The Scottish Asylum Seekers Consortium say only Glasgow City Council signed up to the dispersal programme in the last three and a half years, despite promises from other councils that they would do so.

East Renfrewshire had agreed to make 50 properties available but pulled out.

Fife and Edinburgh have also withdrawn, despite each having agreed to provide homes for 300 refugees.

Robina Qureshi, of Positive Action on Housing, said councils had to justify why they are refusing to house asylum seekers. She said: "Councilsare getting a lot of money from the Government to take asylum seekers, so there are incentives.

"It may be they are getting cold feet because of the problems Glasgow has experienced.

"However, the Government and NASS have also got to accept the blame because of their insensitive attitude towards the dispersal of asylum seekers."

Glasgow houses more asylum seekers than any other city in the UK around nine per cent of the total.

There were integration problems when the first group arrived in April 2001.

The murder of Turkish asylum seeker Firsat Dag in Sighthill later that year increased tensions.

Jim Laird, manager of the Scottish Asylum Seekers Consortium, saidnegotiations were hampered by the strict criteria being laid down by councils.

He said most councils offered accommodation that was suitable for families of four but the Government wants to house larger groups.

He added: "The type of asylum seekers which we need to relocate are families of more than six or single parents, which is not what the Scottish councils want.

"Some councils have pulled out because of the cost involved, while others want asylum seekers who speak the same language to save on translation costs.

"There is not a lot we can do about it. Many councils may have simply gone off the idea of bringing asylum seekers into their area."

GRAPHIC: Demanding answers: Housing expert Robina Qureshi

LOAD-DATE: January 4, 2004

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The Guardian - Final Edition

December 19, 2003

SECTION: Guardian Friday Pages, Pg. 8

LENGTH: 1936 words

HEADLINE: Friday review: The Friday Interview: IF I WENT THERE ID BE FOUND HANGING FROM A BRIDGE: Peter Mullan tells Fiachra Gibbons why he wont be going to Hollywood

BYLINE: Fiachra Gibbons

BODY:

Ronald has spent the night in the cells. He's as thin and as jittery as a whippet. Even his glasses seem too big for him. He's after a wee settler, but he's a quid short of the necessary, until he finds me, his long-lost "brether", in the bar of the Tron Theatre in Glasgow.

When Peter Mullan walked in half an hour later, escaping the drizzle of the Gallowgate, where the city's gibbet once did brisk business keeping the gadgies in their place, we were discussing the decline of the prison breakfast - a cup of scalding atomic tea that won't cool quick enough for the morning-after thirst, a half-cooked plastic sausage and an ember of black pudding.

Ronald, a silver-service waiter in his time, is indignant about the slide in standards. "Fair play to the polis for laying it on like, but black pudding at six in the morning. Man, that's punishment." Mullan - the only man to have combined a Golden Lion for best director at Venice and best actor at Cannes with an intimate knowledge of conditions inside Barlinnie prison - nods his assent. It's privatisation again.

And so it goes on for half an hour or so, Ronald telling jokes to get him to the next round - "Why do penguins keep fish in their mouths? Because they've got no pockets." I know what Mullan's thinking. Another rivet in the social stereotype of Glasgow as the city where kids are weaned on Special Brew.

Not that Mullan - actor, activist and director of Orphans and The Magdalene Sisters, two films that burned with a very un-British fire - is the type to sign himself up to municipal make-over campaigns. He is preoccupied with the fate of the 1,000 refugees who have fallen foul of a new Home Office crackdown and who will find themselves on the streets of Glasgow this Christmas. The sandwich shop across the road is advertising free soup but, as Ronald has discovered, you have to spend £ 4 first.

Mullan is sore about the tricks that capitalism plays. He has been paid only 40% of his salary for The Magdalene Sisters, despite the $ 20m it has taken at the box office, and he is not likely to see much more. He turned down £ 900,000 worth of work on a string of films including Gangs of New York and Pirates of the Caribbean so he could go out to promote The Magdalene Sisters and become, in effect, a champion and counsellor to thousands of women across the world who were locked up by the Catholic church for the crime of catching the eye of unsuitable men. The last Magdalene laundry, where women were made to scrub away their sins - real and perceived - closed only seven years ago. "It was the washing machine, not principle, that did for them," Mullan says, drawing on another cigarette.

And it's principle, not money, that's galling him. "They have you over a barrel. When the Catholic League of America want (The Magdalene Sisters) banned, and there are women from Rio to Roscommon pouring their hearts out to you, they know you will get on that plane and do it for nothing. I would have done it anyway. . . but it's been a hard lesson for me when the mortgage needs paying. Deferred payment is a racket."

But that is not what is putting a knot in his guts today. It's the "hypocrites" in City Hall that have him riled. The city fathers can't wait to be rid of the refugees, he says, having done "sod all" to stop attacks on them in the tower blocks of Sighthill, where many were housed temporarily.

"The poor always end up fighting the poor. You go into the refugees' flats and they are spotless. They are good people, there's no crime. They couldn't use that excuse to turf them out. Now those smug cunts of councillors will get their excuse at last, because when you make people destitute, there are consequences - some poor bugger will break into somewhere. It's self-fulfilling."

Many on what remains of old Red Clydeside are equally furious, but fury never fed anyone. Members of the homeless pressure group Positive Action in Housing, where Mullan helps out, are putting up evicted families. He can't and it kills him. "To bring someone into your home with your kids (he has three), it's really fucking tough. I have mates who have done it, and it's really taken it out of them. But the older I get, the more I realise that the only way forward is at the grassroots. There is no use spouting crap."

Instead, Mullan is trying to raise money for a bail fund for the inmates of Dungavel, where refugees and their children are locked up as they await deportation. "I have not met anyone who is not appalled by what is happening inside Dungavel. But when you ask them for a pound they say, 'Naw, sorry mate.' It takes a very strong brain to resist the absolutes, the myths that the media and the politicians peddle - the idea that if you are too kind, where does it all end? That not to help someone is somehow a good idea."

He is not long back from Malibu, where he took the "missus and the weans" when he was shooting Criminal, a remake of the Argentinian stamp heist Nine Queens. The film's producers, Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney, impressed him. "Instead of stealing stamps, they go for dollar bills. The only reason I took it was that I thought it was a brilliant take on the American dream - the mad, destructive, obsessional pursuit of these bits of paper.

"Clooney's a dead good guy - they both are. I mean, there is something in there. The daughter and the missus both fancy him and I wasn't too proud to ask for an autograph. The indignities families put you through, heh?"

In fact, good is what Mullan is all about; it has been the grail that has taken him from missionary schoolboy Catholicism through teenage razor gangs to a very particular socialism forged from the Irish anti-materialism of his childhood. If there is a thread that links all his work as an actor and director, it is the search for good in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Not everyone has always seen it that way. The New York Times, for instance, described Orphans, his dazzling directorial debut, thus: "The milk of human kindness hasn't merely soured in Mullan's transcendently nasty comedy. It has so poisoned the air of Glasgow that its clammy atmosphere seems charged with petty malice. . ." Halliwell's immortalised the putdown in its film guide, something of which Mullan is hugely proud.

FilmFour, who gave him £ 14,000 to write the script ("my biggest payday"), got it equally wrong, giving the film a pitiful distribution when it didn't turn out to be the Trainspotting II they were looking for. "Scots film was very cool right then - you tell me how they thought a surreal, allegorical comedy about a family going mad with grief was going to morph into a hip flick? They said there was no audience for it."

But Orphans confounded them all. Six years on it has become a cult movie, arguably the most original and underrated British film of the past two decades. It made more at the box office than the rest of FilmFour's output that year combined. "The real laugh," Mullan says, "is that Orphans, when you really look at it, is not a surreal family drama at all but a pure socialist analysis of the situation we find ourselves in."

The Magdalene Sisters brought the full opprobrium of the Vatican down on his head. For a few months, the Curia, Rome's shadowy civil service, went into Inquisition mode. In Italy, priests were sent out with video cameras to film audiences going into cinemas. "'We know who you are,' they were saying. 'Do you know that you're committing a sin by watching this film?' When it opened in Ireland, we were waiting for the big backlash, and they said absolutely nothing. And the film was huge there: one in three people have seen it. By the time we arrived in Scotland, they had changed their tune. The church took out full-page adverts recommending that every Catholic in the country see it. And by the time I got to America, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, who ran a lot of the laundries, sent me this huge apology to be handed on to the survivors of the Magdalenes. Now the church has not survived 2,000 years without being clever, so they're probably thinking, 'We'll let him win this battle, but he won't win the war.'"

It is about this time in an interview that you ask about all those juicy autobiographical titbits that drive an actor. In Mullan's case, I'm going to have to ask about the day he put rat poison in his father's tea. And no, it was not a joke. Mullan's father - who survived the war against the Japanese and returned home to "a family of cheeky brats who had no conception of what he'd been through" - was both tortured and a torturer. "He was never physical with us - but we became right physical with him as soon as we were old enough, because he was physical with my mum. Prior to that, he was a master of the dark arts - now, I can see he was just a drunk."

Mullan's attempted patricide was "totally pathetic. I decided in a moment of melodrama that I would put rat poison in his tea, and when I took it through and asked him to drink it, he just laughed. Because he knew that I never made him tea."

For Emily Young's film Kiss of Life, in which he plays an aid worker who runs off to Bosnia while his family collapses at home, he drew on the Spanish civil war veterans he knew from home. "When I got to know some of these old guys a bit better, I asked them why they did it. To get away from the wife for a few years, they told me. I loved the way they admitted that. They were honest about it, and I admired them even more for it. Nobody is that bloody noble."

Mullan has spent the last year working his "bollocks off" on a string of low-budget films like Young's to buy himself three months to write his next film. But he's got big LA agents now, ICM. Wouldn't it be easier just to take a few big Hollywood paydays for the odd cameo? You're not exactly making it easy for yourself. "I know, I know," he says.

"Listen, if I went over there, I would probably be hanging from a bridge within a fortnight. I mean, if those big-money roles came at the right time and they weren't too kind of shameful, I'd do it . . ."

It's not as if there has been any shortage of offers. As an actor, he can instantly ground a film, as he did with Young Adam and The Claim, playing men who have lost something essential deep down, and know it. But that kind of power - the rawness that had one Edinburgh director calling the police after he asked Mullan at an audition to "Go on, scare me" - has to come from somewhere.

He talks about reaching inside for those strange mixed emotions: "I love that laughing and crying at the same time. Orphans flipped people's heads, because they were expecting gritty realism. But it's completely anti-naturalistic." He says it takes a "real genius" like Ken Loach to make naturalism work. "When I try it, it's fake."

He blushes a bit, and shifts in his seat. "Listen . . . Just before the breakdown (after his father died), I used to dress up as my old man, and I knew it was kind of crazy, but I didn't know what I was being crazy about.

"In retrospect, I don't know how much of it was acting and how much of it was exhaustion. But after the breakdown, acting made sense to me. Even when I was 14 and involved in that gang business, really it was acting by another name."

The police arrive and stride through the bar "with purpose", as Mullan puts it, towards the auditorium where a panto is in progress. A racket starts up in the foyer.

"Jesus," says Mullan, "please may it not be Ronald. . ."

Kiss of Life is out on January 2.

LOAD-DATE: December 19, 2003

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Morning Star

December 01, 2003

SECTION: Pg. 6

LENGTH: 381 words

HEADLINE: Over 1,000 march to fight racism;

Scots rally raps asylum legislation

BYLINE: Morning Star reporter in Glasgow

BODY:

OVER 1,000 people marched through Glasgow's rain-swept streets at the weekend to voice their opposition to racism and racist policies.

Saturday's traditional St Andrew's Day march was led by the GMB pipe band, with banners from the STUC, Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance, trade unions EIS, AUT, ISTC and ASLEF, the National Union of Students, the Greens, the Scottish Socialists and the Communist Party of Britain.

At a St Andrew's Square rally, speakers condemned racist asylum legislation and Home Secretary David Blunkett's new plans to take refugees' children into care.

Chairing the meeting on behalf of the STUC black workers' committee, Habib Hashmi welcomed the Race Relations Amendment Act, but warned that "the key is implementation."

He asked: "When will we see equal access to public services for blacks and ethnic minorities - and to all others who suffer discrimination on the basis of age, gender, disability or sexual orientation?"

Robina Quereshi of Positive Action in Housing spoke of the work of her organisation in providing shelter for refugees whose appeals had failed and who had been evicted by housing authorities.

She paid tribute to John McAllion, Labour MSP Elaine Smith and Glasgow Kelvin MP George Galloway for demanding a change of policy and called on the Scottish Executive and local authorities to do the same.

"By sheltering behind the claim that provision for asylumseekers was a reserved matter, they are complicit in driving people into an underclass without rights and compelled to work in any conditions, "she warned.

STUC president Sandy Boyle said that it was to new Labour's eternal shame that Tory leader Michael Howard had been able to place the Conservatives to the left of Labour on immigration.

Mr Boyle won loud applause when he demanded the immediate closure of the Dungavel detention centre as a "scar on the Scottish landscape."

Edinburgh and Lothians Race Equality Council chairman Geoff Palmer recalled the past links between Glasgow and his own country of origin, Jamaica.

"These links had been based on the profits to be made from the slave trade, " noted Professor Palmer.

"What we do lives to haunt us. If we don't remove Dungavel, this too will live to haunt us in 100 years time."

LOAD-DATE: March 1, 2004

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The News of the World

November 30, 2003

SECTION: EXCLUSIVE

LENGTH: 287 words

HEADLINE: LOOPHOLE SET TO FREE KIDS FROM DUNGAVEL

BYLINE: Euan McColm Scottish political editor

BODY:

NEW TWIST IN ASYLUM ROW

CHILDREN of asylum seekers could be freed from controversial detention centres under a loophole in Scots law.

The News of the World can reveal that the children's hearing system has the power to take kids out of centres such as Dungavel.

And authorities are now preparing for challenges on the detention of kids from social work departments.

Last night a Scottish Children's Reporter Administration spokesman said: "It will be for the Executive and Scots Ministers to prepare relevant guidance on this matter in due course."

Under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, local authorities have a duty to act in the best interests of children.

Section 22 of the Act calls on local authorities to "safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need."

And Section 25 states that "A local authority may provide accommodation for any child within their area if they consider that to do so would safeguard or promote his welfare." An Executive source said: "It is difficult to say exactly how this would affect matters until a legal challenge is made."

SNP leader John Swinney said: "This ruling from the children's reporter is a further blow to New Labour's policy of imprisoning the children of refugees.

"It's now time for the Scottish Executive to end this shameful practice."

Last night campaigner Robina Qureshi, of the charity Positive Action In Housing, said: "Our lawyers will be looking closely at this. We expect to see a legal challenge lodged."

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Executive said overall responsibility for Dungavel lay with the Home Office.

She added: "We are in regular contact with the SCRA regarding their role and responsibility."

LOAD-DATE: December 9, 2003

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Morning Star

November 25, 2003

SECTION: Pg. 10

LENGTH: 1038 words

HEADLINE: Chance to say no;

OPINION: HABIB HASHMI urges readers to take part in this Saturday's St Andrew's Day march and rally against racism and fascism.

BODY:

THE STUC black workers' committee is once again proud to be organising this Saturday's annual St Andrew's Day march and rally against racism and fascism.

Our sincere thanks go out to everyone for supporting the event. When you turn out to march against racism and stand shoulder to shoulder with us, we feel that we are not alone in our struggle against racism. We feel that we belong.

The STUC is committed to challenging racism. It has helped to put racism firmly on the political agenda and the annual STUC black workers'conference is evidence of that.

Moreover, the STUC and its black workers'committee have worked closely with the Commission for Racial Equality , Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Scottish Executive and other agencies to increase access for black people in the political and public life of Scotland.

Support for the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers has been an important objective this year. The STUC black workers' committee has conveyed its objections to the inhumane policies contained in the new Immigration and Asylum Act.

It has also submitted its opposition to the introduction of ID cards. However, the fight continues. We have a long way to go.

A report published by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, Without Prejudice - A Thematic Inspection of Police Race Relations in Scotland, indicated that figures on reported racial incidents to the police across Scotland continue to rise.

The number of applications for assistance to the CRE by people claiming racial discrimination continues to increase.

We know that the struggle is not over when a young asylum-seeker dies as a result of xenophobic racist attitudes. How can we say that we live in a freedom-loving democracy when we can lock up families and children and deny them their basic human rights in places like Dungavel detention centre?

What kind of liberal democracy do we have when the government can institute a new law that allows internment of foreigners without trial and enforces this by suspending its obligations under the European Human Rights Convention?

What kind of a representative democracy fails to elect a single MSPfrom black and minority ethnic communities?

How can young people from these communities have a sense of confidence and self-esteem when institutional racism prevents talented people from getting jobs and progressing up the career ladder?

TUC research for its 2002 Black and Underpaid report shows that "there is a concentration of black workers in particular parts of the economy - some of these sectors are traditionally low paid." The same report showed "that some black communities are concentrated in some of the most deprived areas of the country."

Before the local elections of May 2002 in England, a Home Office report on Building a Safe, Just and Tolerant Society recommended that "April 2003 should be established as a target for the production of the community cohesion component of the community strategy."

How can black and minority ethnic communities take such reports seriously when we are subjected to racial abuse in our daily lives and when institutional racism denies us just and fair treatment?

The fight against racism must be taken seriously by each mainstream political party, because there are real dangers on the horizon.

The low turnout of 59 per cent in the 2001 British general election - this was 10 per cent lower than 1997 - was evidence of growing disillusionment with mainstream politics.

This has been exploited by the rightwing racist parties such as the BNP, which succeeded in winning three council seats in Burnley in May 2002.

Scotland has not escaped the dangers of fascist political parties and the BNP. In the May 2003 elections, a BNPcandidate stood for the Glasgow Scottish parliamentary list and BNP or fascist candidates stood for council seats in Aberdeen City and East Ayrshire. Fortunately, they were unsuccessful.

What is alarming is that the BNP has indicated that it will continue to pursue its politics of hate in Scotland by contesting next year's European elections north of the border and tripling its resources for June 2004. It is of paramount importance that all the major political parties in this country do their best to engage the public in a meaningful way that enables each voter to be able to influence the decisionmaking process.

In order to achieve this, there has to be meaningful and genuine communication with black and minority ethnic communities.

Politicians, service providers and those involved in implementation of policy have to establish contact with the communities in order to assess their needs and understand the real issues at the grassroots level - issues of social and economic deprivation such as poverty, unemployment, substandard housing and all the other forms of social exclusion that prevent the creation of cohesive communities.

It is in such an environment of deprivation and insecurity that extreme rightwing political parties sow the seeds of prejudice and racism.

Unless we tackle such problems, how can we expect the flower of Scotland to blossom?

Let us make politics respectable again.

Devolution and the creation of the Scottish Parliament were meant to introduce a new era in Scottish politics.

It was meant to be inclusive in a real sense, giving you and I the power to make real changes in our communities.

It is this kind of engagement at the community level that can help to fight racism and create a Scotland in which different people can live with dignity, selfrespect and be proud to say that we are part of One Scotland - Many Cultures.

-Habib Hashmi is a spokesman for the STUC black workers'committee. He will be chairing Saturday's St Andrew's Day Rally on behalf of the STUC black work - ers'committee. Assemble in Blythswood Square, Glasgow, at 10.30am, marching off at 11am to St Andrew's in the Square, off Saltmarket, for a rally at 12 noon.

Speakers include STUC president Sandy Boyle, Positive Action in H o u s i n g 's Robina Qureshi, Jelina Rahman (Glasgow Anti Racist Alliance) and Professor Geoff Palmer (Edinburgh and Lothians Race Equality Council).

GRAPHIC: SIGN OF THE STRUGGLE: Dungavel "detention" centre for asylum-seekers.

LOAD-DATE: March 1, 2004

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The Herald (Glasgow)

November 11, 2003

SECTION: Pg. 10

LENGTH: 376 words

HEADLINE: Protesters oppose eviction of asylum seekers

BYLINE: Lucy Bannerman

BODY:

CAMPAIGNERS rallied outside Glasgow City Chambers last night to protest against the eviction of asylum seekers who have been refused permission to stay in the UK.

Around 20 asylum seekers have been removed from their homes in the past four months. Protesters fear a new wave of evictions soon, because many of those temporarily housed in the city's Sighthill area as part of the dispersal scheme three years ago are due to receive decisions on their asylum applications.

It is hoped that the campaign will encourage the council to review its eviction policy, which protesters claim leaves asylum seekers vulnerable as they disappear off the support radar.

Glasgow City Council stood by its policy last night, insisting that it was legally obliged to evict asylum seekers once their applications had failed.

However, Robina Qureshi, of Positive Action in Housing, said: "Eviction is effectively forcing asylum seekers into an underclass. It means people are sleeping rough, getting shelter from other asylum seekers, who are then jeopardising their own tenancy. The council can speak out, and challenge what the Home Office is forcing it to do."

Mark Brown, of the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees, added: "The council has said time after time it is opposed to asylum seekers being forced into destitution. When it comes to eviction, their response is always 'our hands are tied'. We say they are washing their hands. If it is genuinely opposed to destitution then it shouldn't be carrying out evictions. There has never been a policy in Scotland like that since the Highland Clearances."

A council spokesman said there was no obligation to provide housing to those who were technically living illegally in Britain. "If the council did decide to give accommodation to failed asylum seekers, then councillors could be debarred from office for up to five years."

He added that asylum seekers had no formal support once they had exhausted the application process.

In August, Mohsen Shirazi took Glasgow City Council to court when it withdrew accommodation after he was denied permission to remain in the UK. Sheriff Ruxton ruled that continuing Shirazi's tenancy would place the council in breach of asylum legislation.

LOAD-DATE: November 11, 2003

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Morning Star

November 11, 2003

SECTION: Pg. 5

LENGTH: 376 words

HEADLINE: Scots refugee activists stage protest;

Activists condemn 'vile treatment'

BYLINE: by LOUISE NOUSRATPOUR

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SCOTTISH refugee campaigners staged an angry protest outside Glasgow City Council yesterday at the "vile" treatment of asylum-seekers.

The demonstration, which was organised by the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees, was held outside the council's chambers in George Square to highlight the problems faced by refugees, who face eviction and destitution.

So-called "failed" asylum-seekers have lost their entitlement to support and are denied access to community care assessments and health care because of draconian changes in the system, charged protesters.

The action was followed by a public meeting at Strathclyde University, where campaigners condemned the council for carrying out orders given by "vindictive and racist" Home Secretary David Blunkett.

Speakers included human rights lawyer Aamar Anwar, Robina Qureshi of Positive Action in Housing and Mohammed Asif from Glasgow Refugees Action Group.

A host of politicians also attended, including Scottish Socialist MSP Rosie Kane, Labour MSP Elaine Smith, Green MSP Patrick Harvie and Scottish nationalist MSP Sandra White.

Campaigners warned that over 200 asylum-seekers from wartorn countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan have been evicted from their houses, with most of them forced to live on the street.

Mr Anwar attacked the government for denying refugees access to financial aid or even permission to work.

"We are supposed to be living in a democratic 21st century country, but what we see on the streets of Glasgow is Victorian conditions, " he told the meeting.

Mr Anwar went on to urge the council to defy the orders given by the Home Office to evict the asylum-seekers.

"The council has a proud record of welcoming refugees, " he said.

"Asylum-seekers are already being attacked by the government and the Glasgow City Council should be ashamed of itself for joining the queue.

"The legal process is not completely over. Around 50 per cent of the failed cases are granted by the high court, " added Mr Anwar.

Mr Asif agreed, accusing the Home Office of forcing refugees to commit criminal acts by denying them the right to work.

"How else are these refugees to survive on the streets with no money and nowhere to stay?" he asked.

LOAD-DATE: March 1, 2004

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The Sunday Herald

November 9, 2003

SECTION: Pg. 8

LENGTH: 1087 words

HEADLINE: Racial equality agency rules out police force inquiry for Scotland;'Round -table' talks replace in-depth investigation despite 'endemic' problem of racism

BYLINE: By Stephen Naysmith Social Affairs Correspondent

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SCOTLAND'S leading race-relations body has ruled out a formal investigation into racist attitudes in the police force, despite plans by its English equivalent to hold one.

The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) announced a major independent inquiry into the police force at the end of last month, in response to the BBC's controversial and damning documentary The Secret Policeman.

The CRE's inquiry will cover every police force in England and Wales and has sought powers of investigation under the Race Relations Act.

However, the Sunday Herald has learned that CRE Scotland will not insist on a similar inquiry into the eight police forces north of the Border, despite the fact that officials at the agency believe racism is "endemic" in Scottish society.

Instead, it is in talks with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) which will lead to a "round- table" dialogue to address its concerns.

CRE commissioner Kay Hampton said that an inquiry might be counterproductive to the partnership relationship that had been built up with police forces in Scotland. "We feel this might get damaged if we go in with a formal, across-the -broad investigation," she said. ''In Scotland, with eight police forces, we think it will be more effective to get them around the table."

Hampton said successive studies had shown that there was institutional racism in the police force, and an inquiry was only likely to point the finger again. "I'm more concerned with sitting down with the police and finding out what they are doing to address it."

CRE UK chair Trevor Phillips launched an investigation into racism in the police service after the BBC's documentary The Secret Policeman aired last month.

The programme depicted a culture of casual racism among trainee police officers in the Greater Manchester police force. Five officers subsequently resigned from the force, including one who had been seen on television dressing in a Ku Klux Klan-style mask, and making disparaging remarks about murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence and his bereaved family.

Hampton said it would be wrong to single out the police for criticism. "Watching the BBC documentary, I was horrified and disgusted, but to be perfectly honest, not that shocked. I wouldn't be surprised if such sentiments were held by individuals in many other institutions.

"The morale of police officers at the moment must be pretty low, given the bashing they have taken since the Lawrence Report. It is a shame that one institution gets caught out, when this is not just about the police. It is likely that there are similar racist attitudes within some educational institutions, local authorities and health services.

"Because police are figures of power and responsibility they are held up to scrutiny, but I would be equally mortified if educationalists, who are exposed to young children, held racist attitudes."

Hampton said the different approach to be taken by the CRE in Scotland should not be construed as a "light touch" or likely to be less effective, and warned against any knee-jerk reaction. "To have two formal investigations is a bit clumsy within a single organisation. Often when an investigation stretches across the UK, findings from Scotland can be rather buried. This is a different method from that being undertaken in England and Wales, but will produce the same quality of outcome."

The CRE Scotland will meet with Acpos next month to set up a round-table meeting in the new year, she said, then spread its investigation wider.

Hampton said: "After the launch in December, we will follow this up sector by sector. I think there is a complacency in Scotland about racism, that this affects people down south and is not a concern of ours. There is an attitude in Scottish society that a certain type of behaviour is racist and another is 'banter'."

But investigations - such as the BBC documentary - have shown that some of this "banter" can affect opportunities for ethnic minorities to fit in and advance in certain careers, she said. "When it becomes detrimental and affects people's choices and life chances, that is unacceptable."

The discussions with police chiefs will focus on recruitment of officers, screening them, and helping to sustain and support black policemen in the force, she said.

Further steps would then be taken to address similar concerns in other institutions. "Racism is quite endemic, not just in the police force but across Scottish society. But we want to get something tangible out of this," said Hampton.

However, the CRE Scotland's stance has already been criticised by some in the race-relations field. Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action in Housing, said: "In Scotland more than two-thirds of black officers report that they have experienced racism within the police force. When you have something which has a club mentality like the police force, people feel bound to back up fellow officers.

"In terms of accountability and transparency, nothing short of an investigation is appropriate.

"What is implicit in the CRE's decision is that Scotland doesn't matter, and racism is not taken as seriously in Scotland as in England. But black police officers are walking out of the force here because of their own concerns, while instead of an investigation we are having a get-together."

Policing racism in Scotland

- In October 2001 a report by Dr Raj Jandoo criticised Strathclyde Police and the procurator fiscal service, saying there was evidence of institutional racism in their handling of the murder of Surjit Singh Chhokar, who was killed in 1998.

- In June 2002, a report commissioned by the Scottish Executive revealed that 69% of black and ethnic minority police officers in Scotland had experienced racism within the service, though 94% said it had not affected their career.

- Last June, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary warned that elements within Scottish police forces were "institutionally racist". Sandy Forrest, one of the report's authors, said progress had been made but added: "I don't foresee a situation in my lifetime where the police can say without fear of contradiction that there is no internal racism."

- Meanwhile, racially motivated crime has continued to rise across Scotland. Scotland's biggest force, Strathclyde, dealt with 1495 incidents last year. The number of race-related crimes reaching the courts in Scotland doubled last year.

LOAD-DATE: November 10, 2003

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Sunday Mail

November 9, 2003, Sunday

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 5

LENGTH: 338 words

HEADLINE: CADETS RACE ABUSE SHAME;

RACISM IS REAL IN SCOTLAND AS WELL AND IT CAN'T BE CURED WITH A BIT OF TRAINING

BYLINE: By Robina Qureshi

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THE EQUAL rights adviser who sat on the Scottish Executive's anti-racism committee in the wake of the Stephen Lawrence murder, warns that our police forces are complacent when it comes to racism and welcomes the resignation of the two cadets.

THE Commission for Racial Equality has just announced that they are going to investigate racism in England and Wales but they did not include Scotland.

What they said is that they are going to have a meeting with senior police officers in Scotland to discuss training and issues involving racism.

That is a real letdown for ethnic minority officers in Scottish forces.

An incident like this just shows that racism is real in Scotland. It does exist and it cannot be fobbed off with a bit of training here and there or a meeting which will resolve nothing.

Research shows that two thirds of blackpolice officers in Scotlandhaveexperienced problems with racism but very few have complained because they felt almost obliged not to complain about colleagues.

If the commission for racial equality says it is sufficient just to have a meeting withsenior officers about this issue then how alienating is that message for black police officers and black people in this country.

It means we will always have a nonrepresentative police force because ethnic minorities will notapply to join. Racism is allthrough our society and the police are no exception.

The Stephen Lawrence inquiry was about rooting out and dealing with institutionalised racism in the police force. The whole police climate is one of keep quiet anddonot complain about your colleagues.

Ethnic minority officers are in a predominantly white culture where people feel they should try to fit in and that's where the problems start.

People feel isolated if they do make a complaint concerning racism. It's a good step these two were told to resign and it shows a level of commitment among senior police officers. We would welcome that, but there is still a lot of work to be done."

GRAPHIC: Cadets on parade: Strathclyde Police Chief Constable Willie Rae inspects rookie officers at the force's training and recruitment centre at; East Kilbride

LOAD-DATE: November 9, 2003

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The Mirror

November 8, 2003, Saturday

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 8

LENGTH: 703 words

HEADLINE: SHAME OF REFUGEES FORCED TO SLEEP ON STREETS;

EVICTION OF ASYLUM SEEKERS

BYLINE: MARK BROWN

HIGHLIGHT:

EVICTION NOTICE: Asylum seekers in Glasgow's Sighthill may be forced out not by racism... but by Government policy; ASYLUM DISGRACE: Blunkett

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IF ever we needed proof that the Government's asylum policy is inhumane, it can be found on our doorsteps in Scotland.

On the orders of the Home Office, Glasgow City Council has served 167 eviction notices on asylum seekers whose applications have been refused.

That means hundreds of men, women and children are faced with the choice of returning to the countries from which they fled, or sleeping rough on the streets of Scotland.

Asylum charities estimate that, once the initial backlog of cases is cleared, evictions will go on at a rate of ten per week.

The Home Office claims that every asylum seeker whose application is refused is safe to return to their country of origin.

Yet Home Secretary David Blunkett is trying to send refugees to Afghanistan - a country recognised as being run by warlords and drug dealers.

He is also attempting to force people back to the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, despite there being no safe route into the country.

Last year, only public and international pressure forced Blunkett to back down from his policy of deporting pro-democracy activists back to Zimbabwe to face the dictatorship of Robert Mugabe.

Despite this terrible record, the Home Office is pressing ahead with the policy of evicting people in order to try to force them to leave Britain.

In a statement of astonishing callousness, the Home Office says asylum seekers evicted by Glasgow City Council are "free to leave the country at any time".

We are now faced with the appalling prospect of people being forced to sleep on our streets rather than return to persecution.

Glasgow City Council pathetically claims its "hands are tied" over the evictions, as it is the Home Office which decides on evictions.

It's more a case of washing its hands of asylum seekers. The council has criticised the Blair government's policies on asylum (such as separate education of asylum seekers' children) in the past.

Now, when it really matters, they should be standing up to the Home Office and refusing to carry out the evictions.

This is the first time in over a century that a British government has introduced a measure designed to lead to destitution.

What a disgrace that such a heartless policy should be introduced, not by the Tories, but by a Labour government. As if the evictions weren't bad enough, asylum seekers continue to live under constant threat of being locked up at Dungavel.

Earlier this week, the Refuge Scotland Project - led by Labour MP East Michael Connarty - proposed a solution which could close the detention centre.

But its proposal to set up hostels for asylum seekers, while well-meaning, is badly thought out and potentially dangerous.

In a climate, in which certain "newspapers" and politicians whip up hatred against refugees, a hostel provides violent racists with a sitting target.

Fascist thugs from far-right groups such as the British National Party would seek to harass, intimidate or assault asylum seekers as they went to and from their hostel.

In the German town of Rostock 11 years ago an asylum hostel was firebombed by neo-Nazis.

The Home Office's objection to the plan is not that it would put asylum seekers at risk, but that they may be able to "abscond".

Clearly, the safest way would be to house asylum seekers within communities properly prepared for their arrival.

The Government's shameful disregard for the needs of those who come to our shores in search of refuge has created an astonishing coalition against Blunkett's asylum policies.

On Monday the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees is holding a rally and public meeting against the eviction and detention of asylum seekers.

The protest has cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament.

MSPs Elaine Smith, of Labour, Sandra White, of the SNP, Green Patrick Harvie and Scottish Socialist Rosie Kane will be joined on the platform by anti-racist campaigners Aamer Anwar, Robina Qureshi and Mohammed Asif.

The rally will take place in George Square from 5pm with a public meeting to follow in Strathclyde University Students' Union at 7pm.

Mark Brown is secretary of the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees

LOAD-DATE: November 8, 2003