Within the UK, hatred and terror has been rising regarding the refugee crisis, though the question is why? After all, the UK has for so long offered safety to those in need. Take, for example, the Kindertransport program, allowing for 10,000 predominantly Jewish children to be sent to the UK during the outbreak of the Second World War.
Looking at a journal from 2018, we see that the UK population is not as welcoming, as a look at The Syrian Refugee Crisis draws attention to the public opinion on refugees. This source states that in a BBC poll, it was found that 41% of British people believed that fewer refugees from Syria and Libya should be accepted.
Though looking at recent public views published in March 2024, Ipsos have determined that the public unhappiness regarding immigrants has gone to its highest since the EU referendum. Now, 69% of citizens are reportedly dissatisfied, with only 9% satisfied with the government’s handling of immigration.
Looking at current events, there have been a string of UK riots about the pouring of refugees into Britain, causing much fury towards the government. Violence has erupted, with such events causing many asylum seekers to fear for their lives.
Looking to Context, one anonymous woman’s story is showcased as we read how she was forced to flee her war torn country, only to meet a further threat of violence in Britain. She has commented on the constant trepidation many refugees are experiencing, as although she has not faced any violence, she is aware it could happen within an instant. The interactions she has had with British citizens have been mixed, with some proving ‘incredibly welcoming and supportive,’ while others have been discriminatory. She says that people in her hotel have even been harassed, being told ‘You’re not welcome here, you should go back to your own country.’
This woman wants the rioters to realise that those living in hotels do not have it easy, as they must navigate cramped living conditions with unsanitary food, noting that she even had food poisoning twice. These people, skilled, though so often undervalued, are looked down upon as a stain to society, though this woman acknowledges the value in what many of these refugees can offer.
Assessing the YouTube video on Channel 4 News, where a man was sentenced to nine years after attempting to set fire to a Premier Inn, we see the level of hate directed towards refugees. The man, Thomas Birley, who the court heard had ‘hints of a white supremacist mindset,’ has received the longest sentence regarding the riots thus far.
Two asylum seekers whose names were changed for the interview had been trapped in the building, they have stated that ‘[the rioters] want to kill us.’ The level of violence directed towards men and women who left their home countries to escape such an issue is disturbing to say the least, as instead of finding peace in a country considered safe, they have been shown further mistreatment.
It is apparent that there is a severe level of misinformation and anxiety within the British population, with The Guardian even declaring that the government were ‘complicit’ in the hotel attacks against asylum seekers. The article goes on to say that the government’s policy of deporting refugees to Rwanda ‘fits with a long-running campaign of rhetoric and demonisation.’
With a government said to be not doing enough to educate its citizens and end these violent protests, one fears for one's own safety. With harsh prison sentences falling upon the heads of these rioters, will this be enough to rebuild order and security?