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Scottish Connections

Refugees and Asylum Seekers Today

According to the 1951 Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees (link opens in a new window), a refugee is a person who: 'owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country'.

An asylum seeker is someone who has applied to the government to be recognised as a refugee. In Scotland most asylum seekers today are from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Somalia. Many countries from which asylum seekers come are recognised by Amnesty International (link opens in a new window) to have chronic human rights abuses or conflicts.

Asylum seekers are from all sections of society. Many are skilled professionals: teachers, doctors, engineers and journalists who had good jobs in their own country.

Since the introduction of the 1999 Asylum and Immigration Act, it is estimated that 9,000 asylum seekers have been dispersed to Glasgow.

Studies have shown that asylum seekers in the UK are the most likely of the non-white population to encounter hostility. A poll in June 2002 found that 24% of Scots thought that it was justifiable to verbally attack asylum seekers who receive housing and benefits in Scotland.

Visit the Scottish Refugee Council website at: www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk (link opens in a new window)for further information and personal accounts from asylum seekers and refugees.

For further information about Asylum Seekers in Scotland, please see the following reports: