The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow has made an unprecedented attack at the way refugees are treated in Britain following the apparent suicide in the city of three Russian asylum seekers. As Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent “sincere condolences” to the family and friends of the dead family, Archbishop Mario Conti called for a “more efficient and compassionate” method of dealing with migrants and refugees saying it is “far from humane that such families have to live in constant fear of deportation”.
Mr Brown met Glasgow North East MP Willie Bain in London yesterday amid speculation about the circumstances of the deaths and questions about the handling deportations.
Russian diplomats have been pressing for information about the incident that led to the mother, father and son being found at the bottom of the 31-storey block of flats off Red Road in Balornock, Glasgow on Sunday.
While the three Russian nationals have yet to be named by police who have still to contact next of kin, it is understood they were Serguei Serykh, 43, his wife Tatiana and his stepson.
The family are believed to have moved to Canada and been granted refugee status in 2005.
“We have been informed about the tragic incident, but at the moment we have no official information about whether those people were Russians,” a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
Archbishop Conti’s comments came in a statement of support for a protest march planned for Saturday from the flats to George Square.
Archbishop Conti said: “I have been appalled time and time again at the way refugees, after several years residence here, are suddenly deported.
“During those years they have often forged relationships within the community, and people are ready to stand by them and support them and are deeply distressed when they suddenly disappear.
“The tragic case of the Russian family who jumped to their deaths last weekend is a unique case but serves as a terrible reminder of the anguish faced by asylum seekers in the city.
“We must constantly examine our conscience as a society and ask whether we are fully respecting the dignity of the human beings who find their way to our shores.
“It is far from humane that such families have to live in constant fear of deportation. A more efficient and compassionate method for dealing with refugees is urgently needed.”
It is believed the family received a letter explaining that their accommodation in Glasgow was due to stop on Sunday.
Mr Bain said: “The Prime Minister asked that I pass on his sincere condolences to the deceased’s friends and family.
“We talked about the asylum system, in particular how we can publicise the support network available to applicants and what measures can be put in place to better support those whose cases have been fully determined.”
Mr Bain added the fact the family were applying for asylum from Canada was very unusual. He said: “The Prime Minister agreed that this case appears to be exceptional and should not be viewed as emblematic of the asylum system as a whole.”
Glasgow-based charity Positive Action in Housing, which is helping orchestrate Saturday’s march has called for a public inquiry into the deaths after saying the family had an application to stay in the UK rejected.
Director Robina Qureshi said: “We want to know what other factors may have influenced their deaths. That is why we are calling for a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the deaths.
“We want to know if the asylum process played any part in their decision to end their lives.”
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