CROWDS gathered in Glasgow today to protest planned lock-change evictions of hundreds of asylum seekers in the city.

Home Office contractors Serco this week announced a removal programme will begin next month with 30 evictions per week.

The demonstration, organised by Stand Up to Racism Scotland, gathered people of all ages at the Buchanan street steps to protest the evictions.

Adults and children alike held home-made placards reading “Migrants and Refugees Welcome Here” while the crowd chanted in support of refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland.

Speakers at the protest included chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council Sabir Zazai, Labour MP Paul Sweeney and and SNP MP Chris Stephens.

Zazai addressed crowds with stories of his own father’s fight with the Home Office after his visa to watch his son receive an honorary doctorate was denied.

The protest occurred amidst reports that the Home Office is potentially in breach of human equality legislation in refusing visa applications to two blind musicians attempting to travel to Edinburgh today for a cultural exchange programme with India.

Protester Carol Clarke said: “You don’t have to belong to any organisation, you just have to be a human to know that this is wrong.

“The whole thing is a scandal.”

Jo Haythornethwaite, another protester, has opened her home to destitute refugees awaiting asylum appeals.

“I’ve had 12 people of 9 different nationalities in the last 12 years ... The freedom to work and move and live such an important thing.”

Anwar, an asylum seeker at the demo added: “We protest so many things about this. I am a skilled person, and I want to work. I live here too; I am a part of this nation.”

Alison Phipps, Unesco professor for Refugee Integration for languages and the arts at the University of Glasgow was also showing her support.

Speaking to the Sunday National, she said that it was important to remember “hate does not discriminate” and called for a housing provision approach that is based on human rights. “The new integration strategy for refugees in Scotland is based on human rights, and that includes the right to housing. Evictions take away that right.

“What is happening in Glasgow is a litmus test for what will happen in so many other Serco-run places across the country … The issue is how these procurement contracts are set up by the Home Office. Changing the provider will not change what the contracts say – that’s like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.

“It’s really important to come and stand in solidarity with our neighbours and to keep doing it … we continue to show that we believe in the rule of law and the human rights agenda … and we don’t let go of the need for people to have decent housing and live in dignity in the city as our neighbours.”

Zazai told the Sunday National: “The Home Office are using destitution as a policy.

“You cannot expect people to integrate or manoeuvre through the complexities of the system without a roof above their head.

“This is a major crisis that will have an impact on the individuals affected, put pressure on our services, create a community within communities that will be destitute and at risk of exploitation. We want to make sure they are treated with dignity.”

Sweeney, MP for Glasgow North East, commented: “It’s great once again to see such a strong turnout in solidarity with people who are the weakest in our city, and who are facing such a terrible and inhumane reaction from the Home Office failing to recognise the duty of care they have to these people.

“The reality is that because of Home Office bureaucracy, people are basically imprisoned for years without trial or appeal, struggling to have any meaningful quality of life and forced to live in destitution… at a moment’s notice can have someone burst into their house and tell them that they are no longer entitled to live there, to work or support themselves.

“You are dealing with a whole generation of young people who are growing up in Glasgow effectively second-class citizens. That is totally shameful and there should be more of a public outcry.”