UK: More than 200 organisations sign open letter in response to anti-refugee protests
Topic
Country/Region
11 August 2025
More than 200 refugee organisations, charities, trade unions and more have signed an open letter to party leaders today condemning the anti-refugee protests that took place across the weekend. Statewatch is a signatory to the letter.
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Image: Nizam Akanjee, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The letter, coordinated by campaign coalition Together With Refugees, has been signed by 213 organisations including Amnesty International UK, City of Sanctuary UK, Care for Calais, Doctors of the World, End Violence Against Women Coalition, Freedom from Torture, HIAS+JCORE, Islamic Relief, Oxfam, PCS Trade Union, Rainbow Migration, Refugee Action, Safe Passage, Scottish Refugee Council, Welsh Refugee Council and Women for Refugee Women.
The open letter states: “Anti-refugee protests across the country have been distressing to witness, with echoes of last summer’s riots making them all the more alarming.”
The letter, addressed to party leaders, goes on to say: “The pernicious and insidious currents of racism and hatred underlying these protests are glaring evidence of a failing system. The responsibility to end the divisive politics, racist rhetoric and demonising language of the past is yours. Only then will you bring unity instead of division and cohesion rather than hate.”
Finally it states: “For those who need our compassion to be confronted with further torment here in the UK is shocking. But the outpouring of support from communities condemning the hatred is a powerful reminder that these views do not represent the vast majority. Today we stand in solidarity with those targeted, because this is what represents our country, this is who we are.”
Sonya Sceats, Chief Executive at Freedom from Torture, said: “No matter who we are or where we come from, we all have the right to feel safe. We know from our clinical work that many men, women and children in these hotels came here seeking protection after being tortured in countries like Afghanistan and Iran. To meet with hate on the streets of Britain, whipped up by politicians for their own ends, makes survivors feel hunted again and adds to their trauma. This isn’t who we are as a country. It is down to the millions of us who want a more compassionate approach to stand together with refugees and for an end to the torture and repression which drives people across borders in the first place.”
Jo Benefield, volunteer campaign coordinator for Bristol Defend the Asylum Seekers campaign, was one of many signatories who took part in counter gatherings across the country. In Bristol on Saturday estimates suggest the protesters were outnumbered by eight to one, with around 50 in the anti-refugee group compared to approximately 400 of those standing in solidarity with refugees.
Jo said: “In the riots of last summer it was counter protesters who protected residents in another Bristol hotel before police arrived. So the people staying in the hotel being targeted this year were pleased to know so many of the local community were there to support them.
“Being joined by hundreds of people from across Bristol to stand against this vile racism and hostility was inspiring, with the huge numbers who stood together with refugees a powerful display of solidarity and compassion. This is who we are in Bristol, and this is who we are across the UK. Now party leaders must act too. It is on them to stand for unity and cohesion with an end to hostile policies and demonising language. Now is the time to create a fair plan for refugees.”
Andrea Simon, Executive Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: “The far-right has long exploited the cause of ending violence against women and girls to promote a racist, white supremacist agenda.
“The facts are 1 in 4 women in England and Wales will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime, almost half of all rapes of women are perpetrated by their partner or ex-partner, and in 85% of cases, the victim knows the perpetrator, whilst abuse within the family accounts for almost half of all child sexual abuse offences reported to the police in England and Wales.
“These attacks against migrant and racialised communities are appalling and do nothing to improve women and girls’ autonomy, rights and freedoms.
“The fight to end gender-based violence and uphold migrant rights are connected, as they rely on a world in which everyone’s human rights are respected. Political leaders must change course and play a positive role in working to build a better world for all.”
Carenza Arnold, Head of Campaigns at Women for Refugee Women, said: “The ongoing protests targeting hotels accommodating people seeking asylum are a direct consequence of the divisive and hostile language spouted by some politicians and elements of the media, supported by years of cruel immigration and asylum policies. Women seeking safety in the UK from war, gender-based violence and other torture are scared to leave their accommodation and afraid of being targets of racist violence and hatred. This should shame us all. The Government must choose responsibility over rhetoric. People’s lives depend on it.”
Leila Zadeh, Executive Director of Rainbow Migration, said: “We are outraged and saddened to see the scenes of racist protests over the weekend but we know that the majority of the people in the UK are welcoming. Communities up and down the country have always welcomed refugees with warmth and kindness. It’s crucial that we come together and demand that this government changes their use of inhumane rhetoric that fuels these protests, stops scapegoating people seeking safety and migrants and instead focuses on creating a kind of compassionate asylum and immigration system and building a country where everyone can belong.”
Tim Naor Hilton, Chief Executive of Refugee Action, said: “The vicious and relentless attacks on people seeking asylum from some politicians and sections of the media using age-old racist tropes and shoddy data must stop now. We must build on the huge swathes of support for refugees that has spilled out onto the streets and create truly resilient and welcoming communities.”
Together With Refugees also held its Welcome Weekend – a national moment uniting communities – this weekend, with organisations across the country holding events, putting up posters and sharing stories on social media – all with a message of welcome for refugees. These activities are made all the more important in light of the anti-refugee protests.
Together With Refugees is the largest pro-refugee coalition in British history with more than 600 member organisations, from grassroots and refugee-led groups to international development charities and trade unions. With 80% of the British public wanting an approach to the asylum system that is well managed, fair and compassionate, the coalition is calling for a fair new plan for refugees. It wants a plan that upholds the UK’s commitment under international law to the right to claim asylum, provides a proper strategy for welcoming refugees, and forges stronger global cooperation to tackle the root causes that force people to flee their homes and provides positive solutions when they do, including through safe routes to refugee protection.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The open letter in full (a list of signatories is not being published for security reasons)
Dear Party Leaders
Anti-refugee protests across the country have been distressing to witness, with echoes of last summer’s riots making them all the more alarming.
Many of the people targeted have already suffered unimaginably, having fled for their lives from countries such as Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Sudan and Syria. Now, due to unacceptable delays and a broken system, they are housed in hotels, a collective target of hostility, banned from working, with limited control over their lives or futures. Believing they will at last be safe and protected, they are then faced with further persecution and fear.
It is clear that major action is needed. It is time for you, our leaders, to take a strong and united stand. The pernicious and insidious currents of racism and hatred underlying these protests are glaring evidence of a failing system. The responsibility to end the divisive politics, racist rhetoric and demonising language of the past is yours. Only then will you bring unity instead of division and cohesion rather than hate.
For those who need our compassion to be confronted with further torment here in the UK is shocking. But the outpouring of support from communities condemning the hatred is a powerful reminder that these views do not represent the vast majority. Today we stand in solidarity with those targeted, because this is what represents our country, this is who we are.
About Together With Refugees
Together With Refugees is the largest pro-refugee coalition in British history with more than 600 member organisations, from grassroots and refugee-led groups to international development charities and trade unions. With 80% of the British public wanting an approach to the asylum system that is well managed, fair and compassionate, the coalition also has a growing network of committed people getting organised and taking action to influence their MPs in constituencies across the country. The coalition is calling for a fair new plan for refugees that upholds the UK’s commitment under international law to the right to claim asylum, provides a proper strategy for welcoming refugees, and forges stronger global cooperation to tackle the root causes that force people to flee their homes and provides positive solutions when they do, including through safe routes to refugee protection. Find out more at togetherwithrefugees.org.uk and @RefugeeTogether on X and @RefugeesTogether on Instagram and BlueSky.
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