Christians this week expressed their strong opposition to the Government's policy on asylum seekers.

West Yorkshire church leaders issued a statement on Wednesday in which they condemned "aspects of inhumanity in the official processes undergone by asylum seekers", and pointed to a "barrage of negative sentiments from some politicians and some quarters of the media" that has left victims of persecution to deal with stigma.

At present, asylum seekers are not allowed to work until an initial decision has been made on their case, which can take up to 12 months. The policy forces asylum seekers to rely on state support, which is set at 30 per cent lower than the amount UK citizens receive.

According to the Refugee Council, most asylum seekers are living in poverty and face poor health and hunger daily.

"The prejudiced attitude towards asylum seekers within our society is demeaning both to asylum seekers and to those expressing the prejudice," the church leaders continued.

In the statement, the church leaders, who come from across the denominational spectrum, called on Christians to use the period of Lent to grow in awareness of the special needs of those seeking asylum.

They urged the Government, meanwhile, to improve the legal representation available to asylum seekers, saying that the current legal process "invites injustice by not enabling asylum seekers to express themselves coherently and with confidence".

Church Action on Poverty (CAP) welcomed the statement from the church leaders.
CAP's National Co-ordinator Niall Cooper said: "As Christians we cannot walk by on the other side whilst asylum-seekers are subject to open hostility, denied their basic human rights, and left destitute on our streets.

"Church Action on Poverty wholeheartedly welcomes this bold statement, and I am personally delighted that the churches are at the forefront of the Still Human Still Here campaign to force the Government to end its shameful policy of deliberately making asylum-seekers destitute.

"I would encourage church leaders across the country to take a stand alongside some of the most marginalised, vulnerable and voiceless people within society - our Christian faith demands nothing less."