17 June 2008 158 views No Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

This Times Article today makes me angry.

The first Iraqi interpreters to be offered refuge in Britain are living in fear in squalid tower blocks in Glasgow, The Times has learnt.

They complained of living among drunks and drug addicts, being abused and spat at, and of feeling isolated and unable to work. One girl of 9 had had her hijab torn off by one of her new neighbours.

Abdul, 71, one of three Iraqis who risked their lives working for British troops in Basra and were resettled in April with 15 dependents, advised others in a similar position to stay in Iraq.

The Government decided to offer sanctuary to some of the hundreds of Iraqis who have helped British Forces after their plight was highlighted by The Times. In Iraq they are regarded by extremists as traitors and many have been targeted by death squads.

I’m against uncontrolled immigration, but I firmly believe that people that have served the UK, such as, in this case interpreters, or foreigners such as Gurkahs serving in the British army should not only be welcomed into the UK, but should also receive the same help that any UK citizen would expect to be granted.

At fault here is not only the neanderthal idiots that are dishing out the abuse, but also the government who have let these kind of attitudes towards deserving immigrants to develop though their perceived support of the less deserving ones.