A view from the edge

A VIEW FROM THE EDGE DONCASTER CONVERSATION CLUB NEWSLETTER
Issue 19
A view from
the edge
Doncaster
Conversation
Club
Newsletter
02 June 2016
STANDING ALONGSIDE REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS IN DONCASTER
IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome, refugees
By Rev Tom McCready
I find the rhetoric surrounding the
European referendum difficult to
cope with. Of all the nations in all the
history of the world the British
nation has the least moral or logical
justification for hostility to
immigrants and refugees. Whatever
political or economic influence we
have among the nations of the world
is due to the fact that once upon a
time we had an empire. And
whatever moral or ethical standing
we think we deserve among the
nations of the world is because we
would like to claim that we realised
the game was up before any other
colonial nation; that we disengaged
quicker and with greater grace and
were more willing to give something
back than any other colonial nation.
We have always welcomed refugees;
we have opened our doors to the
people of the former colonies and to
the victims of European conflict.
And we have benefited greatly from
doing so. They have contributed not
only to our diversity but also to our
prosperity. So of course we welcome
refugees; and not only out of
compassion, not only out of moral
conviction, but out of enlightened
self-interest. We welcome refugees
because we welcome initiative, we
welcome skill, and we welcome
courage and resourcefulness. The
very qualities that motivate a person
to become a refugee and to get
themselves and their families out of
a dangerous and demeaning
situation are the very qualities a
nation needs to thrive; and when a
person becomes a refugee because
they have taken a moral stand
against oppressive authority, we
become strengthened morally as
well as materially. Welcome.
Visit to Sprotbrough
Page 5
DCC @ the Dome
Page 4
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Seeking sanctuary
By Paul FitzPatrick
In England, during the Middle Ages, it
was possible to seek sanctuary in a
church. Refugees in time of trouble
and civil war, or wrongdoers in flight
from authority and justice, or people
who were falsely accused, could
claim the protection of the Church
until they were assured of a full and
fair trial. It was a way of limiting
revenge and preventing blood feuds.
It was a way of saving the lives of
vulnerable people. Anyone breaking
the right to sanctuary by capturing or
killing a person who had sought
refuge within the church could be
punished. The existence of the
sanctuary stool shows that people
were in need of such protection.
The word ‘sanctuary’ has been
revived recently to refer to a place of
welcome and hospitality for people
seeking asylum because their own
state has failed to provide safety. So
there are differences between the
situation in the Middle Ages and the
situation in the present time. It is
important to recognise that those
who are fleeing from persecution
and war in Syria or Sudan or Eritrea
to seek asylum in the UK are not
criminals! To seek asylum is
recognised in international law as a
right of all human beings.
There is a ‘City of Sanctuary’
movement in the UK, which started
in Sheffield ten years ago. The aim of
any ‘City of Sanctuary’ is that the
town should be a place of safety for
all who live there. In some of the
churches which provided sanctuary
in the past, there was a chair for the
person claiming sanctuary to sit in.
This was known as a ‘frith chair’.
There is one of these in Sprotbrough,
a village on the edge of Doncaster.
By Brigitte McCready
The word ‘sanctuary’ refers to a
place of safety and protection,
originally associated with a church.
The word ‘sanctuary’ also denotes
what is regarded as holy.
‘Frith’ is an Old English word, no
longer in use. It means ‘peace,
security and freedom from
molestation, protection, safety’.
Different forms of the word are
found in the names ‘Frederick’
(peace-ruler) and ‘Wilfrid’ (wanting
peace) and the modern German
words for peace, Friede, and
churchyard, Friedhof. It is related to
the word ‘friend’ and the word ‘free’.
Many of the great churches had frith
stools placed close by the high altar.
As the practice of sanctuary
developed in Europe, it made use of
ideas and practices taken from the
ancient Hebrews (as recorded in the
Bible) and from ancient Greece and
ancient Rome. Greek sanctuaries
gave shelter to escaped slaves.
Sanctuary was a feature of many
other societies too. There were
traditional methods for offering
protection to wrong-doers in Sudan
or Nigeria. Even before the coming
of Islam, there were shrines in Arabia
where all fugitives were protected.
The Arabic word haram has a similar
meaning to sanctuary. Although
usually translated as ‘forbidden’, it
also means ‘set apart’ and ‘sacred’.
In many North African villages, the
settlement of the Sufi master (the
marabout) was placed next to the
market, and visitors from outside the
tribe had to leave aside their
weapons at the Sufi shrine before
entering the market to trade. The
market area was therefore a place of
safety where no weapons could be
carried and no blood spilled.
The end of the practice of sanctuary
in England is associated with the rise
in the power of the centralised state.
The practice of seeking sanctuary in a
church was banned by King James I in
1624. The frith stool became
redundant and was probably thrown
away. The state wanted to control
and limit the power of the church.
Sometimes people still seek
sanctuary in churches but this has no
legal standing.
The carvings on the chair in
Sprotbrough are mysterious – it is
not clear what they represent.
The Sanctuary chair in Sprotbrough Church
For further information on the concept of
sanctuary, see the book by Linda Rabben
(who visited DCC in March): Give Refuge to
the Stranger: The Past, Present and Future of
Sanctuary Walnut Creek, California: Left
Coast Press
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FORTHCOMING DATES
06 – 19 June Material
Stories of Migration
Exhibition: Sheffield Central
Library
07 June Right to Remain
Workshop in Sheffield 6.00 –
8.30 on practical solidarity
with people in the asylum
system.
14 June Right to Remain
Workshop in Sheffield 6.00 –
8.30
18 June DCC outing to the
Epworth Music Festival
19 June Drumming session
at the Unitarian Church
20 June World Refugee
Day: a day of information
and events organised by
SYMAAG at Theatre
Delicatessen, The Moor,
Sheffield
NB There is a variety of
events in Sheffield all week.
22 June Upcycling session
at the Meeting House
22 June Abdool Ghuljar at
the Unitarian Church,
Doncaster, 7.30pm: film and
talk about refugees in
Lesbos, followed by iftar
Crossing Europe,
reaching
Doncaster
24. Coming from Sudan
In Sudan, I was student at secondary
school. I have mother, father, sister,
brother. The government come. Say
he is from ISIS. I want to change
government. They put me in prison
45 days. Very, very hard. They say ‘if
you give me information, we let you
free.’ If not, we will catch you again. I
do not know.
I left home.
First to Chad, 2 months. Big car. I
have my uncle and his friend driving.
Then Libya in small car. In Libya ISIS
arrest me in prison 7 months. At that
time, the people they took me for
building work. When finished, told
me go back. Looking for his friend.
After that I think best to come to
Europe. I can’t go home, so crossed
river to Italy. Then to France and
Calais. Came to England by train.
Now have papers.
25 June ‘Songs of Freedom
& Justice’: a charity concert
for refugees and asylum
seekers. At the Unitarian
Church.
For orthodox Christian, before
Easter is fast for 55 days from
midnight until 2p.m.No meat or fish
or eggs - no protein. Just maize and
vegetables. One week before Easter
stop greeting people. No shaking
hands or kissing.
In last week before Easter, someone
puts cultural ring prepared from
palm leaves. This time is called Sin
Time in Tigrini, Hamamat. After
this time on Thursday, is called
Dinner of Jesus. After finishing at
4p.m. they eat beans and continue
on Friday. Everyone fasting until
7pm. On Saturday, everyone is
fasting to midnight. Up to midnight,
everyone is going to church and
they kiss the cross. After that,
everyone goes to his house. Eat
Ga’at, which is maize powder and
water and butter.
After midnight, kill animals and
prepare ceremony in the daytime
and it is a holiday. Some people
sing- not a God song.
After 55 days, we happy, we sing,
we dance, we do everything!
Easter was celebrated on 1 May this
year.
23 June referendum on EU
membership
24 June Film The Divide at
CAST
An Eritrean Easter
Celebration
Collecting for the Red Cross
Members of the Conversation Club
took part in fund raising for the Red
Cross on 6 May, and raised £369.20.
Preparing the Meeting House garden
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DCC @ The Dome
doing. I fall on the floor. I see
everyone laughing and fall over and
stand up and fall over again. Very
good for laughing. Nobody was hurt.
There is no ice in the Congo. I never
saw ice skates. Just in book, on TV,
in movie.
Comment from Ibrahim:
It’s strange for me. Even first time
Papy better than me!
By Emma Stocks [of DCLT]
Since April I have been working with
the DCC and getting them involved
in different sports activities at the
Dome. My role with the Doncaster
Culture and Leisure Trust is to work
with community groups and
organisations to get them more
active, and the work I have been
doing with the Conversation Club has
been really enjoyable and
rewarding. Many of those who have
come along each week have been
really enthusiastic about trying new
sports such as badminton, table
tennis, squash and cricket. One of
the more unusual activities that we
did was the ice skating. It was the
first time that any of them had tried
it and although there were a few
falls and slips, there was a lot of
laughter and smiles as well. I hope
that our partnership with the DCC
can continue to develop and we can
help these wonderfully diverse
people to learn more about our
country.
SQUASH
By Habeeb
I’ve been hearing about Squash, so I
haven’t actually have opportunity to
know what kind of game was it until
DCC introduced it to me. So I was
told by Julia to come and have a look
if I will like it or not. I don’t have an
interest until I get there and I meet
the lady.
When I play, I find it so helpful
because while playing I forgot all
about situation and problems I’m
going through and it releases my
stresses. I feel so stress free and I
really love to play again. Thanks to
Paul and Julia and the lady who
coached me. I really did appreciate it.
I would like to do it every week.
I REALLY ENJOYED IT!
TABLE TENNIS & BADMINTON
By Stefan
ICE SKATING
By Papy
First one, I say thank you for inviting
to go ice skating, because it is the
place where doing ice skating we
relax and have fun. If you go there,
no more stress. Is good. No more
stress because you can see
everyone. I never do ice skating. Is
my first time.
Before it was strange, but now I go to
it, is OK. It made me laugh if I cannot
As I strive to become a certified
coach of table tennis I can say it was
not easy to accommodate and
organize everyone since there was
only one table tennis set ready and at
least 4 or 5 people.
But forgetting didn't cross my mind
because everyone was too absorbed
with having fun. We didn't know each
other, but were we there to discover
ourselves in the first place?
I had to explain some basic rules so
that as many people could play at the
same time, that is train, without any
competition going on and using two
balls and just one table at the same
time for maximum fun.
While one can play double they can
also train double with no score
whatsoever, much to the pleasant
surprise of some who never went to a
professional table tennis sports
training facility or competition and
never had the opportunity to talk
about basics with a coach at all...
Some were totally inexperienced and
some were ready to give some advice
although not a professional one, but
still close.
As we know everyone is unique so
some people required more attention
and some learn easier or are selftaught, some required just quality
playing.
Minster English
Sessions continue on Wednesdays,
starting at 1.15, and will continue
during Ramadhan (which will start
early in June). During Refugee
Week (20-26th June), there will be a
display in the Minster of accurate
information about asylum seekers
and refugees worldwide and in the
UK to try and counter some of the
inaccurate information which is
around.
Word search at the Minster
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Visiting Sprotbrough
By Adam Mohammad
In a nice day, we met in DCC in the
morning for picnic to Sprotbrough. It
was a beautiful day, the sun was
shining. We were walking by feet. we
crossed the bridge one side is Balby,
other side is Hexthorpe. We stopped
in Hexthorpe park, actually nice park
and bigger, the sight is amazing, we
took a lot of pictures to remind us this
place. After that we walked beside
the river. Beside the river the sights
were incredible and the weather was
breeze pleasant. We walked and
crossed other bridge was used for
trains but now it is used a foot path.
We stopped there and looked at the
boat on the river, also we took many
pictures.
When we arrived at the canal lock,
the staff explain to us about the canal
and how to change the water level
through the main gate. After that we
walked up steep hill to Sprotbrough.
We arrived St Mary’s Church Hall, it
is beautiful place, it use it for
occasion and meeting. We were very
lucky to visit this place at this week
because this special week for
Christian people every year in May.
We met many people came from
different area to visit the church. The
staff provided to us lunch meal,
different kinds of food it was
delicious, really all of us were like it
so much. After lunch we drank
coffee, tea and some juice. They
respect us a lot I appreciate that for
them. After that we walked to
Sprotbrough church. In church we
met the priest called Amanda she is
lovely and kind, she is first woman to
be priest in this church. She gave us
a lot of information about different
parts in this church. She said about
the sanctuary stool in Sprotbrough
church, “in England, during the
middle Ages, it was possible to seek
sanctuary in a church. Refugees in
time of trouble and civil war, or
wrongdoers in flight from authority
and justice, or people who were
falsely accuse, could claim the
protection of the church until were
assured of a full and fair trial. It was
a way of saving the lives of
vulnerable people. Anyone breaking
the right to sanctuary by taking or
killing a refugee within the church
was liable to punishment. The
existence of the sanctuary stool
shows that people were in need of
protection”. Also she gave us
information about ogee design up to
700 hundred years ago, and green
man up to 1340. (The ogee style was
originally brought back by the
Crusaders to the UK. This shows
how features of Islamic style have
been part of British architecture for
almost 1000 years).
Green man: he was a sign of new life,
spring, crops growing. Really it was
wonderful to visit this church because
to know how the people respect the
religion in the past more than now. I
hope to back again to get more
information about the church.
At last, I would like to give thanks for
all staff worker in DCC every time
they take us to new place to be
friendly with others, and get
confidence how to deal with people
from different culture. Also thanks for
all staff worker in Sprotbrough
church, especially Amanda and Ted
(the guide).
family, as well as the Green Man
symbol and the carvings on the pews
and on the screen.
Some of us then walked back along
the river as far as Doncaster town
centre.
‘I’m enjoud to know the history of the
sanctuary chair. All so I’m so happy I
walked with Paul and Julia talked us
about the church and I enjoy to go
along river Don’.
‘I like walk with other. I enjoyed food.
I like friends, Thanks the staff. We
have got many information from the
church’.
‘I enjoyed with walk together with
people and sharing the love and
anyone respect the other. Also the
food was delicious and we were very
lucky because week of Christian Aid.
We met the first woman to be priest in
this church called Amanda. She is
very lovely and provide to us many
information about the church. At last I
want to give thanks to the staff work
in the conversation club’.
‘I’m enjoy today for looking for river
and the I help with people talking with
me. I enjoy come to look for church
and look for new picture. This village
is pretty. Thank you to Amanda for
telling us about the church and the
sanctuary chair. The lunch was very
tasty’.
Some comments from others on what
they particularly enjoyed.
‘I had a chance to pray in this church.
I am a Hindu. So I think it is a spiritual
journey today. And I had a nice soup
and bun and pancake from Inajete
and I enjoy friendship. It is a chance
to participate in LIFE’.
There were other interesting things in
the church, concerning the Copley
‘As always the sights and sounds of
nature, relieving stress. The company
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of others and how helpful they are.
The history of where we were – even
what plants to eat etc’.
‘For nature, walking, conversation,
sunshine. I have enjoyed the history
of Sprotbrough Church. The Christian
Aid food and their hospitality . It was
all very nice’.
‘We’ve been running up the hill.
Talking with new people. I have
enjoyed everything especially the
history of Sprotbrough Church’.
‘Running around, conversation with
people. Nature. I have enjoyed the
history of Sprotbrough Church’.
"The EU-Turkey deal represents a
seismic shift in the European Union's
policy towards forced migrants and its
international protection obligations,"
concludes the extensive policy
analysis of the EU-Turkey deal
published by JRS Europe today.
In the 24-page document made
available to policymakers, legal
practitioners and other stakeholders,
JRS Europe identifies a number of
key human rights concerns with the
EU-Turkey deal, setting the context
and background for further advocacy
action to defend the rights of forced
migrants.
Based on consultation with their 15
national offices in Europe, the policy
analysis finds: "There are other safe
and effective means of enabling
people to seek protection within the
EU that maintain, rather than
vanquish, peoples' dignity.
Brief News Headlines
1. Floods in Ethiopia
Heavy spring/belg rains have caused
floods and landslides in Ethiopia
since April. 100 people have died as
of 12 May. Up to 120,000 people
have been displaced in six regions
(Somali, Oromia, SNNPR, Afar,
Amhara, and Harari) which are
already severely affected by the El
Niño drought.
The deal is historic but, regrettably,
for all the wrong reasons – it
represents a serious challenge to the
basic principles of international
refugee law, the rule of law and
democratic accountability. The
perverse nature of the 'one-for-one'
scheme has been justified on the
basis of 'saving lives' but is cruelly
only made operational by risking
lives."
The policy analysis examines a
number of questions:

2. Cholera in Somalia
In Somalia, the increasing scarcity of
water in the central regions combined
with flooding in the south leads to use
of contaminated water sources, and
the number of cases of acute watery
diarrhoea continues to rise. As of 23
April, at least 12 people have died of
cholera in Middle Juba.
3. Jesuit Refugee Service analysis
of Euro-Turkey deal


The legality of returns to
Turkey and whether this
contravenes the principle of
non-refoulement. There are
serious questions to be
judicially examined about the
compliance of any returns
with EU law and European
Court of Human Rights
(ECtHR) jurisprudence.
The return of all 'irregular
migrants' from Greece to
Turkey and the threat it
poses to the unity of the
family and the best interests
of the child.
The transformation of
'hotspots' in Greece into



detention centres and the
inadequacy of reception
capacity in Greece generally.
The form and legal basis of
the deal negotiated between
the European Council and
Turkey. As such, it
completely bypassed
consultation with the
European Parliament and the
normal democratic process.
The rising importance given
to the nationality of
protection-seekers in the EU.
The deal purports to be a
temporary emergency
measure, but there is no end
date.
4. Ethiopia: British government
‘deeply concerned’ by treatment of
Oromo
In answer to a written Parliamentary
question, on 26 May Baroness
Anelay of St Johns stated: The British
Government remains deeply
concerned about the handling of
demonstrations in Oromia and the
reported deaths of a number of
protestors, and has repeatedly made
representations to the Ethiopian
Government over the ongoing
situation in Oromia. We will continue
to monitor the situation closely and
raise our concerns with the Ethiopian
Government, including on the use of
force.
The Ethiopian Human Rights
Commission (EHRC) has been
appointed to look into the handling of
the protests in Oromia. We will not
pre-judge the outcome of their
investigation and we await the
publication of their report. We will
continue to urge the EHRC and the
Government of Ethiopia to ensure
that their report is credible,
transparent and leads to concrete
action. We will take a view on what
further lobbying, if any might be
appropriate following the publication
of the EHRC report.
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Refugees in our time: the challenges of protection and security
Notes on a lecture in Sheffield by Professor Guy Goodwin-Gill
Once an issue has been turned into
one of national security, then other
important aspects tend to be cast
aside. This is what is happening with
the question of providing protection
for refugees today. Across Europe,
different governments are
presenting refugees as a threat to
national security by limiting refugee
status, restricting family reunions,
returning ‘irregular arrivals’ and even
suggesting the possibility of
introducing the finger printing of six
year olds. Human security, the
security of the individual person
seeking asylum, has thus been
subordinated to the interests of the
state. Border controls have become
devices for avoiding responsibility,
the specific responsibility which lies
upon governments to protect
refugees.
And that responsibility remains an
important one in international law,
enshrined in Article 14.1 of the
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. It means that the status of
the refugee is significant and
differentiates the refugee from just
any ‘foreigner’.
The history of refugee protection
since the Second World War
developed in the context of the Cold
War and the fear of communism in
the west.
It is possible to distinguish three
different periods in the evolution of
the idea of the refugee as a security
risk, which can be characterized as
‘the classical’, ‘the modern’ and ‘the
post-modern’.
The classical period produced the
1951 Convention, which did allow for
some security exceptions in the form
of war criminals or other serious
criminals, but these were
acknowledged to be very few.
The ‘modern’ period is linked to the
fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the
end of communism and the push
towards globalisation, which then
gave rise to the perception of
different threats, whether economic
or involving cheap labour or terrorist
activity.
The idea of threat was expressed
through talk about ‘risk’. Suspicion
took precedence over evidence, and
country profiling was introduced.
The effects of this can be seen in the
successive Terrorism Acts since 2000.
It needs to be stated clearly: there is
no evidence to identify greater
numbers of people seeking asylum
with an increased risk of terrorism.
In this period, the Courts and the
European Convention on Human
Rights have acted as a
counterbalance to Government
policy.
The ‘postmodern’ describes the
present situation of large but
undefined numbers of uninvited
seekers of asylum. The risk is
identified simply with the scale.
Also, despite some of the rhetoric,
there has been no real attempt
within Europe by the different states
to take a fair share of the
responsibility for receiving people
seeking asylum.
Sometimes the claim is made that
‘Refugees don’t have the right to
choose where to live’, with the aim
of preventing secondary movement
and ‘asylum shopping’. But why not?
There is no reason why refugees
should not enjoy freedom of
movement with the EU along with
other citizens of Europe. In reality,
there is currently no equivalence of
protection within the EU. And
regular reviews of status obstruct the
goal of integration, with the
assumption that the sooner a person
can be persuaded to leave, the
better. This has given rise to
deportations to places like
Afghanistan and Eritrea. Europe has
thus become a persecuting society.
In short, ‘security’ has become a
cover for the systematic failure to
protect people seeking asylum.
A potential way forward is for
smaller groups of states to join
together and institute their own
refugee protection policy. Why not?
Haiku corner
Every day
Every town Calais
Every week refugee week
Every sea the Med.
tpf
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A view from
the edge
Doncaster
Conversation
Club
Newsletter
Based at the
Quaker Meeting House
Off St James St
Doncaster DN1 3RH
To receive a copy of this newsletter by email, send a message to
Paulfitzp@aol.com
Please send your contributions and suggestions to the same address.
Doncaster Conversation Club is part of a national structure of
Conversation Clubs which offer opportunities for local people and people
who have come to live in the UK to join together to share friendship, while
offering support and practical help.
The Club seeks to create a relaxed, friendly and supportive environment,
and works on the principles of
Ownership – everyone can get involved
Impartiality – it is not affiliated to any political or religious body
Confidentiality – what you say is private
Respect – for each other’s differences and individuality.
The Club is pleased to acknowledge the support of Doncaster
Society of Friends (Quakers), The Red Cross, Migrant Help, The
Foyle Foundation, DIAL Doncaster, The Doncaster Clinical
Commissioning Group, St Leger Homes, Club Doncaster
Foundation, M25, Riverside Housing, DARTS, CAST, Fareshare
and Doncaster Minster.
The Doncaster Conversation Club is run entirely by volunteers with the
support of occasional grants for specific activities, currently from the Foyle
Foundation, the Allen Lane Foundation, and the Wharfedale Trust
The views expressed in this newsletter are those of the individual
contributors.
Paul FitzPatrick
Doncaster Conversation Club
Doncaster
South Yorkshire
Registered Charity number 1159775
Issue 19
02 June 2016