The Myths and Facts about Asylum Seekers in Coventry

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The Myths and Facts about Asylum Seekers in Coventry

Download this leaflet in pdf format. 

Photo courtesy of UNHCR

Imagine that this was your home! 

What would you do?

Lets do our bit to create a fairer and safer world!

The Facts about Asylum Seekers in Coventry

Who are they?

Men, women and children escaping from crises all over the world. In Coventry the biggest number are Kurdish people, mainly from Iraq. There are also people from Iran, Afghanistan and the Balkans as well as many African countries.

Are refugees the same as asylum seekers?

All people fleeing their country of birth are refugees. Refugees are described as asylum seekers while they are awaiting official recognition as defined by the United Nations.

Why do they come here?

They are escaping persecution, death or devastation in their home country. In 1951 Britain and many other countries signed up to the United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees. This gives us responsibilities to offer sanctuary to people fleeing persecution.

How many stay here?

In the year 2001 a total of 71,700 people applied for asylum in the UK. This is equivalent to 0.14% of the UK population. During the same year 30,470 people were granted permission to stay here.

It is estimated that there are about 5000 asylum seekers and refugees in Coventry - about 1.7% of the population of the city.

More information on the Refugee Council site.

Myths and Truths About Asylum Seekers

Myth:   "We can't cope"

Truth:   Britain provides for 0.05% or one out of every 2000 refugees world-wide.  The majority of refugees go to neighbouring countries. Many smaller and poorer countries than ours take a much higher percentage of refugees. For instance there are 1.5 million refugees from Afghanistan living in Iran. Per head of population the UK ranks tenth in Europe and 78^th in the world for receiving refugees.

Myth:   "They get more than our pensioners"

Truth:   In the year 2002 pensioners under 75 get from the government a guaranteed minimum income of £84.65 a week and may get other benefits. Older pensioners get more.  But a single asylum seeker gets less than half of that – only £36.54, plus accommodation. The UK gives less financial support than other European countries including Belgium, Ireland and Denmark.

Myth:   "They take our jobs"

Truth:   33% of asylum seekers have degrees or professional qualifications.  Even though asylum seekers might have been doing valuable jobs in the countries that they have left, they are not usually allowed to work whilst their application for asylum is being considered. Those who can work usually only find low paid and temporary employment.

Myth: "I have been waiting two years for a move and they have jumped the queue"

Truth:   Asylum seekers are placed in accommodation on a no choice basis.  These are normally provided by private landlords and Registered Social Landlords. Often these are the hard to let properties that nobody else wants.  People who have had to wait two years for a move are those who want accommodation of their choice.

Myth:  "Thousands of asylum seekers have come to Britain, bringing terror and violence to the streets of many towns."

Truth:   There is no evidence for a higher rate of criminality among asylum seekers and refugees.  In fact they are often the victims of crime.   There have already been countless attacks on dispersed asylum seekers around Britain.

Myth:  "Most of them are not fleeing political oppression but are economic migrants."

Truth:   66% of asylum seekers had jobs in their own countries.  They are not allowed to claim mainstream welfare benefits in this country.

Myth:   "They have no right to be here!"

Truth:   Yes they have legal rights to stay in this country under the United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees and its 1967 New York protocol.

Myth:   "They are not in need of refuge here because they come through other safe countries to get here"

Truth:  Many asylum seekers do not know where they will end up. Others come to this country because of existing community or family links. Some European countries have a reputation for sending back people to dangerous situations (e.g. France sends back many Algerian refugees).

More myths and truths on the Refugee Council website.

Refugee’ Stories

Tseluma is from Zaire. He has been in England for 4 months and has already been refused asylum and is in the process of appeal. He was tortured for 10 days and suffered leg, arm and head injuries. He does not know where his wife and 3 children are despite efforts by the Red Cross to trace them. He cannot sleep at night.

Joyce is a potter from Zimbabwe. Her brother was very active politically and was killed, Joyce was then raped. She fled to England and was housed in emergency accommodation in a large towerblock in London for 9 months where she gave birth to her baby. She felt very isolated. When a friend arrived in Coventry she came to Coventry  Refugee Centre pleading to be moved here. Although she had notes from her doctor about post traumatic stress disorder and post natal depression the Refugee Centre were unable to persuade NASS (National Asylum Support Service) that she should stay here.

Osman is from Afghanistan. He came to England with his wife and 3 children two years ago and has been granted full refugee status. He was a Maths teacher but has been unable to get back into teaching here. He works in a crisp factory and studies in the evenings. His wife is unwell and unhappy and seems unable to make friends here. Her sister had been killed by the Taliban and her sister’s daughter taken away. She does not like the children playing outside.

Lets Fight Prejudice!

Photo courtesy of UNHCR

Download this leaflet in pdf format. 

Download a new briefing note about asylum seekers and refugees (pdf format - 41Kb)

Refugee and Asylum Seeker Links

This page was last updated on 31/07/03