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July RJ Update 

Issue 11 July 2007

On 16^th of June 2007 despite the wet weather, over 400 people from across Scotland come to David Livingston Centre in Blantyre to mark the Bicentenary anniversary of passing through the parliament of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act. Many have signed the statement agreed by Scottish churches, and a petition to ask Gordon Brown to act and support the nations that bore the brunt of the Save trade. More about the event is found at www.scotlandandslavery.org.uk.

Racial Justice Sunday resources are now available for order. You can order it from ACTS or from publisher through our weblink at: http://www.racialjusticescotland.org.uk

Refugee Week
This year, Refugee Week takes place from 18-24 June 2007 and we would like individuals and organisations to take part. To get involved contact Scottish Refugee Council on 0141 248 9799 or email Abbie Wallace at abbie.wallace@scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk . To find out more about the week go to www.refugeeweek.org.uk 

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and Churches Commission for Racial Justice launched this week Churches and Migration: Migration Principles, a statement of churches working on migration. Find more information about the book through our website resources page: http://www.racialjusticescotland.org.uk/

1. Racist incidents in Scotland:

Attacks on Poles blamed for rise in hate crimes
A growing number of attacks on Polish bar workers is being blamed for race hate crimes rising to new record levels in the Capital. Police are now dealing with an average of three racist incidents every day after another rise in complaints of abuse and attacks. Bar staff and doormen from Eastern Europe are now among the most common victims. Every weekend police are called to incidents in which the workers, usually from Poland, have been physically assaulted because of their nationality or have faced racist insults. Evening News

Rise in race crimes linked to attacks on Poles
A growing number of attacks on Polish bar workers is being blamed for race hate crimes rising to record levels in Edinburgh. Scotsman

Dopey racist fails to withhold number
John Montgomery, 20 of Hillside Road, Greenock, has been sentenced to 250-hours community service after pleading guilty to possessing racially offensive material and making threats to Socialist Party activists over the phone - he forgot to withhold his number and was caught. Greenock Telegraph 

Race attackers back on streets after just 10 months   
Edinburgh News

East End Shop Gutted In Car Fireball Attack
A car was driven into a shop in Glasgow's East End early today and set on fire.
Evening Times

Petrol bomb attack on mosque may have been 'revenge' attack
A fire attack on a mosque in Bathgate, Glasgow, is being investigated amid concerns it was targeted in 'revenge' for the earlier attempted car bomb attack at Glasgow airport.
BBC  

Religious leaders unite to condemn terror attacks  
We, the under-noted religious leaders of Scotland, utterly condemn the recent attack on Glasgow airport and incidents in London, as we do all acts of terrorism and hope that the full force of the law will be brought to bear on those who perpetrate such violence against innocent people.
Church of Scotland press release

2. Developments, Reports and Investigations 

Racism isn't going away
A survey of black opinion suggests prejudice has got worse, and solutions must come from within
Guardian

Three Cops Injured In Orange Walk Arrests
Three police officers were injured and 61 "hangers on" were arrested at Glasgow's biggest Orange march.
Evening Times

'These Are Not Your Young People'
Outrage at the attack on Glasgow Airport echoed across Scotland's Muslim communities yesterday, along with determination that it should not damage relations with the wider public.
Herald

3. Asylum refugees: 

Pledge to end dawn raids
Alex Salmond, the first Minster in Scotland, has promised that dawn raids on the homes of asylum seekers in Scotland will end.
Scotsman 

Outrage as Albanian student seized by immigration officers
Educational officials have expressed outrage after an Albanian asylum seeker studying at a Scottish university was seized by immigration officials, making it impossible for her to finish her degree. Merita Hazizi, a fourth-year student at Strathclyde University, was due to sit several exams in August and September in order to complete a BSc in Physics and Maths but was detained along with her parents on Saturday. They are now due to be flown to Albania from Stansted Airport on Thursday.
Herald

Asylum pupils awarded top marks
A report by HM Inspectorate of Education in Scotland has revealed that children of asylum seekers have overcome language barriers and racist abuse to outperform Scots pupils in national exams.
BBC  

Abused asylum seekers find asylum interviews difficult
New research has found that asylum seekers face difficulties in revealing during Home Office interviews details of sexual violence. Those with a history of sexual violence are also more likely to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder.
Medilexicon  

U-turn on care threat to failed asylum seekers' children
The Home Office has abandoned its threat to take into care, the children of failed asylum seekers who refuse to leave the country.
Guardian  

4. Immigration

We should welcome the dawn of the migration age
The negative aspects of the era of mobility too often overshadow its potential power: to bring millions out of poverty.
The Guardian 

Tenth of UK population born overseas   
Scotsman

Half of immigrant Poles plan to stay   
Herald

Polish GPs fly in to cover for NHS Grampion staff   
Press and Journal

5. Marking the Bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade

See www.scotlandandslavery.org.uk

6. Publications:

Review of Scotland's Colleges: Equalities Issues Report
Download the review in PDF format  

Antisemitism: 2007 Hate Crime Survey
Download the survey in PDF format

Joint inspection of services for children of asylum seekers in the Glasgow City Council area
Download the report in PDF format