Archbishop backs detention for asylum-seekers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, stunned his liberal admirers yesterday by appearing to back the idea of secure accommodation centres for asylum-seekers.
The new head of the Church of England said it was "perfectly reasonable" to consider using the centres as long as they were properly resourced, turned around applications quickly and didn't turn into prison camps.
When balancing human rights against the need for security, it had to be remembered that "it only takes a small number of terrorists" to pose a danger to society, Dr Williams said.
The Archbishop's remarks were immediately criticised by civil liberties and refugee groups as "unhelpful" and "not sensible". A British Medical Association representative said the idea of detention was "inhumane".
Dr Williams said inThe Sunday Times that asylum-seekers could be seen as a "foreign presence" unless their introduction to a community was accompanied by linguistic, cultural and other help. Echoing Iain Duncan Smith's recent warnings about the risk of terrorists abusing the asylum system, he said: "There's got to be a security agenda. The challenge for any responsible government is to be absolutely serious about security."
Lambeth Palace later pointed out that the Archbishop had not backed routine detention and had simply said it was "legitimate" to consider the issue.
Dr Michael Wilks, the British Medical Association representative on the Asylum Coalition, said: "It is inhumane to lock up these people, many of whom have been victims of torture. Many of these people require medical care, something that the Department of Health and Home Office have inadequately provided."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments