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Asylum in Britain: a question of conscience

Anthony Harvey has made the whole of his book available as a free download:
Asylum in Britain, a question of conscience - Anthony Harvey (PDF) [Help]

This book gives a brief outline of asylum in the light of Christian teachings. It highlights with clarity the national and international policy problems, and queries current public perceptions and statutory practice.

Anthony Harvey was formerly Canon Theologian at Westminster Abbey and remains an active member of the Steering Committee of the Churches' Refugee Network for whom he has organised a number of expert seminars.

Book contents

Chapter 1: Fortress Britain

• Words and Attitudes: the connotations of ‘asylum seeker'
• Asylum seekers/economic migrants: is the distinction justified?
• Costs and sufferings involved in maintaining the distinction
• Open Borders?
• The evils of trafficking
• The alleged ‘pull factor'
• A Christian perspective: we are all ‘strangers and pilgrims'.

Chapter 2: The Process

• The rights of individuals vs the obligations of government
• Guilty until proved innocent?
• The procedure
• Rights and limitations of appeal
• The New Asylum Model
• The 1951 Convention: rights and reservations
• Christian advocacy of the vulnerable

Chapter 3: Detention - a Defensible System?

• Exceptions to habeas corpus: history and politics
• Detainees:how classified and treated
• Is the system defensible?
• The Christian conscience and the culture of resort to imprisonment

Chapter 4: Destitute by Choice?

• The right to food and shelter
• Taxpayers' rights and priorities
• Restrictions on support
• The right to work
• Fast Track and its consequences
• ‘Willingly destitute'?
• Human Rights: philosophical doubts, Christian priorities.

Chapter 5: The End of the Process

• Removal: the rights of government
• legal constraints and political pressures
• When removal is impracticable or immoral
• Removal and the community
• Asylum and immigration: a Christian response
• The Independent Asylum Commission
• The challenge to show Faith in Asylum