A group of asylum-seekers completed a four-day “march for freedom” from Bristol to Cardiff yesterday in protest over anti-migrant policies that have left them destitute.
About a dozen men and women, forced to flee their home countries, arrived in the Welsh capital to stage a demonstration outside a Home Office immigration centre.
Carrying home-made placards and marching to the beat of a drum, they completed the final leg of their 50-mile trek for justice that began in Bristol on Thursday.
Photos posted by the group show children applauding them as they pass through Newport. Other onlookers showed their support on social media.
“Just drove past these lovely people,” wrote Rebecca Berrow in south Wales. “Everyone should be supporting them!”
Mohammed, who fled his family home in Iraq because his life was in danger, said the walk had been both “enjoyable and hard.”
He said: “We’re walking with very lovely and kind people and always new people are joining us.
“We found this march is the best way to express our feelings about the justice and asylum system in the UK and all of Europe.
“Everyone wants to stay with family and enjoy their life but our lives were threatened, that’s why we left our countries.”
The group will be joined by other asylum-seekers angry over their treatment since arriving in Britain and by anti-borders campaigners at a protest today.
They are calling on the government to stop enforced destitution, detentions and deportations.
Mohammed told the Star how he has been forced to rely on friends and charities to survive since his asylum application was hturned down four years ago.
“I only got six to eight months’ support and accommodation and £35 a week.
“After my application was refused, the government cut everything. It’s very difficult. We’re looking for safety and want to be treated as humans.”
Hassaen, who was also on the march, said the march and protest was the only way to stop the government ignoring their plight.
He said: “We want to stop people having to wait a long time to get visas and stop deportations and detentions without any reason.”