Lunch and Learn: Citizenship, Refugees and Legacy

The UK Home Office has quietly introduced new ‘Good Character’ rules that deny citizenship to refugees who arrive via irregular routes , even if they are legally recognised as refugees.

This policy contravenes the UK’s obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention, which affirms the right to seek asylum regardless of route and prohibits penalising refugees for “illegal” entry (Article 31).

As we approach Sukkot, a time when we dwell in temporary shelters and reflect of our ancestors’ displacement, we are reminded of the importance duty to welcome and protect the stranger. Jewish history and Jewish values compel us to open our doors to those in need of safety. This policy does neither.

On 19 March, René Cassin, HIAS+JCORE and 25 Rabbis wrote to the Home Office demanding change. The Government’s response repeated harmful language and ignored international law.

Speakers:

Mia Hasenson-Gross is the Executive Director of René Cassin. She as in-depth knowledge of international human rights work and experience in human rights education, campaigning and organisational development, acquired over 15 years while working for Amnesty International. Mia has a BA in international relations and an MA in international law from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She is a graduate fellow of the Minerva Centre for Human Rights at the Hebrew University and graduate fellow of Wizo’s Women’s Empowerment and Leadership Programme. Mia is also an alumnus of the first Dangoor Senior Leadership Programme for lay and professional leaders in the Jewish community, 2018-2019, and is trustee of the Coalition for Genocide Response, Director of Stop Uyghur Genocide and is on the advisory council of the World Uyghur Congress UK and Burst the Bubble UK.

Rabbi David Mason is the Executive Director of HIAS+JCORE. He previously served as rabbi of Muswell Hill Synagogue for over 14 years, and at Kingston Synagogue in South West London prior to that. Born in Edinburgh, he studied at George Watsons College before receiving a BSc and MSc in Econometrics from the London School of Economics. He attended yeshivot in Israel for 7 years before joining the Rabbinate. David also has a Masters in Conflict Resolution in Divided Society from King’s College London. He has built up expertise in inter faith work and social cohesion work as well as in strategic leadership, and was a Trustee at the Council of Christians and Jews and EcoJudaism. Rabbi Mason has developed thinking that connects Jewish ideas and scholarship to social responsibility.

A young person from HIAS+JCORE’s JUMP befriending project.

Zoe Bantleman is a barrister, Legal Director of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA), in London, and an editor of the Journal of Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Law. As a barrister, her practice has covered a wide spectrum of advisory work, drafting, and advocacy across UK immigration, nationality, asylum, and human rights law. She now advocates for improvements to the law and access to justice within it, by providing evidence to Parliament, meeting with governmental and non-governmental bodies, and supporting funding and coordination of strategic litigation. Zoe is an expert for LexisNexis and an advisory board member for the Greater London Authority. She frequently delivers seminars and writes on a range of issues relating to migrancy and hospitality.

Bishop Guli