§ Mr. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North)I rise to present a petition on the plight of refugees who sought safety and asylum in this country, only to find that their families in Turkey are being harassed by the police and armed forces and exposed to great danger.
The majority of the refugees arrived in 1989, and as a demonstration of their desperation, 62 of them are on hunger strike. They demand that the Home Office reviews their cases so that a decision can be taken on whether asylum should be granted to them individually, which would enable their families to join them in this country. The petition says:
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. The Humble Petition of the residents of the United Kingdom, Sheweth. That asylum seekers from Turkey who sought safety in Britain are being denied the right to family life by the refusal of the Home Secretary to grant entry to their husbands, wives and children since they arrived up to three years ago. Wherefore your Petitioners pray your honourable House will urge the Home Secretary to review all cases to enable the families to be reunited in Britain. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.I strongly support the petition, which has been signed by 2,995 residents of Islington, Harringey, Hackney, Waltham Forest and other parts. They have shown their compassion for the poor people who have been left alone and vulnerable and who are harassed daily in Turkey. We demand that the Home Secretary takes action to expedite the decisions on those who are on hunger strike, so that their families can be brought here.
§ To lie upon the Table.