Sandstone Press

The shadow still falls

Posted by RLD on 23rd February 2010

In June 2007 this publishing house was honoured to put Remzije Sherifi’s SHADOW BEHIND THE SUN before the book reading public. Mrs Sherifi’s account of the persecutions in Kosova, intercut with her experiences working for the Maryhill Integration Network, was not only featured widely in the press, praised in the Scottish Parliament, and short-listed for two national literary prizes, but also touched the hearts and minds of thousands.

For a while it seemed as if change in State attitudes was possible, that a new approach could in some way match the more humane elements of our society, which is to say the majority, particularly with regard to the treatment of children. Alas, what is not constantly before our eyes is too easily forgotten.

Today this office received an email from Vista author Margaret Elphinstone requesting the company’s support in the case of Rima Andmariam, now 17, and her adoptive parents Robert Swinson and Alison Phipps. Rima is from Eritrea. Her birth mother sent her to Italy after her father had been ‘disappeared’ and Rima herself had been taken for questioning. When she was released it became evident that her safety was in grave doubt.

After a difficult and dangerous journey Rima eventually reached what should have been a place of sanctuary. Again, not so. After giving her name, date of birth and fingerprint, Rima was effectively ignored. Surviving in dire conditions she lost a finger with the stump becoming badly infected. Charity workers ‘clubbed together’ to send her to a place where she would at least have hope. Allow me to quote from Margaret’s attachment:-

‘She came to stay with Robert Swinfen and Alison Phipps in Glasgow in March 2009, and they have become a close-knit family unit. Rima has a strong case for asylum from Eritrea, but under the Dublin Regulation is liable to be returned to Italy. She has come to love Robert and Alison as her Dad and Mum, and they have very strong parental feelings for her too. For the past year they, with some help from friends, have provided her entire support as if she were indeed their foster daughter. Rima is extremely vulnerable and in need of a secure family to recover from the trauma and chaos of the past three years of her life. She is doing very well, but is far from ready to live on her own and both wants and needs to continue living with her British Mum and Dad.’

It is the intention of the British Government to return her to Italy, and the derelict squat and soup kitchens her flight to the UK should have saved her from. Letters of protest and appeal are invited to the Home Secretary, MPs of the State Government, and the three national Governments at Holyrood, Cardiff and Stormont (HO Reference: A1374575/2).

It is an astonishing and sickening thing that such evacuations can still be possible. Hopefully the letters of support for Rima, Robert and Alison, together with the humane outlook that we would take to be natural within any liberal democracy will win the day. I actually suspect they will. What though, of the many others who will still be subjected to this outrage on our watch? Let the public not look away.