A fairer and more transparent system in the assessment of the asylum seekers’ phenomenon and the overcoming of the recent restrictions of asylum-seeking regulations: this is, briefly, the request launched by the new document of the Churches of Scotland due to be presented in Edinburgh tonight. It is the common statement "Principles on asylum", explains the Office for Racial Justice of the Scottish Churches, that will lay "the foundations to enable the Churches of the United Kingdom to express themselves with one voice about asylum”. According to archbishop Mario Conti, the document "is a useful resource, a prophetic voice and also a challenge for Christians” and “above all for politicians”. The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland "went through a fierce debate this year that showed the church’s commitment to have asylum seekers properly welcomed and fairly treated”, commented the assembly chairman, reverend Alan Mc Donald. “This new publication he added will help us fulfil this task". The statement, published by the Commission of the Churches for Racial Justice of England and Ireland, passes a negative judgment of the "restrictive approach of the new policies” about asylum seeking, accused of "dehumanising the asylum seekers”. In addition, it condemns "the institutional racism that is implied in the procedures” and the government’s heavy-handed attitude towards asylum seekers.
