World Refugee Day hoping to bring communities together in Scotland
The theme of this year's festival is Hope
The Scottish Refugee Council is calling for compassion and solidarity as the number of people becoming refugees globally has hit a record high.
Data gathered by the UN shows around 110 million people have been forcibly displaced, with around 35 million of them seeking sanctuary overseas.
Ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Syria, as well as more recent violence in Sudan and Ukraine have contributed to the large number of people now in need of refuge.
However, the charity says that more needs to be done to let people know they are welcome when resettling in the UK.
Time for compassion and frienship
Chief Executive, Sabir Zazai, said: “at the moment we are also seeing extremely negative and hostile language used by politicians at the highest level, who are determined to turn asylum into a point-scoring political battle.”
He continued: “We know that this negativity feeds into and fuels those who want to stir up trouble and animosity among communities.”
Today is World Refugee Day, and over 120 events will take place across Scotland to mark it, as part of the Refugee Festival.
The theme of this year’s festival is Hope, and the charity are encouraging people to join in with community events, such as art exhibitions and film screenings, and share their hopes for the future.
Connections are vital to make people seeking protection welcome
Sabir said: “People in the UK have shown so much generosity and warmth towards refugees.
“I see this every day in the friendship extended to people who have recently arrived in Scotland.
“I know the difference this can make to someone who has lost their family, their home, their whole way of life.”
Glasgow will be hosting an exhibition of portraits of people who have come to Scotland in need of protection at Civic House.
In Aberdeen, Interfaith community group’s Patricia Findlay is running a You Me and a Cup of Tea event for people seeking protection in the area.
She said: “This is especially important at this time of the Migration Bill in the House of Lords and the negative feelings in the media towards asylum seekers particularly.
“Just to meet even one person in that situation challenges people's preconceptions and breaks down barriers of fear and ignorance.”