Church leader condemns detention of children at immigration centre

A senior leader in the Church of Scotland has spoken of his "horror" at the detention of two five-year-olds at the Dungavel detention centre.

Twins Joshua and Joel Ovranah were taken to the centre on Wednesday together with their mother Stephanie Ovranah after going to the Brand Street Immigration Centre in Glasgow to sign on.

The move has been condemned by the Rev Ian Galloway, convener of the Church of Scotland's Church and Society Council.

"The General Assembly along with many others in Scotland have expressed their abhorrence at the practice of detaining young children and have asked the Scottish government to end this brutal and inhumane regime," he said.

"Here is the latest example of young children being put in distressing circumstances without any indication that they have done anything other than what has been asked of them."

The Ovranahs came to Scotland from Nigeria in 2006 to escape domestic violence at the hands of Mrs Ovranah's husband and mother-in-law. Mrs Ovranah has severe scarring from burns she claims were part of the abuse.

Mrs Ovranah fears her partner will forcibly take the boys from her if she returns to Nigeria.

The family worships at Cranhill Parish Church and the boys have been attending St Rose of Lima Primary in Glasgow's East End.

The Ovranahs have been visited at the detention centre by Minister Reverend Muriel Pearson, who said it was likely the family would be transferred to Yarls Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedfordshire.

"Our church members question the need to detain the family, since Stephanie does not pose a flight risk," she said.

Rev Pearson raised concerns over the welfare of the children at Dungavel, where all detainees have their belongings removed, are photographed and have finger print recognition done.

She said: "It is a horrific experience for anyone to go through, not least for two five-year-old boys."