Sir - I am writing to complain about the use of the term bogus asylum seeker' in last week's issue. My complaint is that the article uses inaccurate and misleading terminology, bogus asylum seeker', in breach of Section 1(i) of the Industry Code of Practice and Guidance Note on refugees and asylum seekers (issued October 23, 2003) by the Press Complaints Commission to editors.
The Guidance Note stated that the "Commission is concerned that editors should ensure that their journalists covering these issues are mindful of the problems that can occur and take care to avoid misleading or distorted terminology." It provided definitions of asylum seeker', refugee' and illegal immigrant' and highlighted "the danger that inaccurate, misleading or distorted reporting may generate an atmosphere of fear and hostility that is not borne out by the facts." An asylum seeker is an individual who has requested asylum and is waiting for a decision on their asylum claim. There is no such thing as a bogus asylum seeker'. It is up to the courts to decide whether their claim meets the United Nations Convention or Human Rights Act criteria for offering someone safety from persecution. Evidence throughout the UK has demonstrated the link between this kind of media reporting and hostility and violence towards asylum seekers who are trying to re-build their lives in already difficult and distressing circumstances.
Having worked constructively with your sister paper, the Oxford Mail, over the last year to inform the public about the real issues of asylum and to present accurate stories about asylum seekers, I am particularly disappointed by this example of The Oxford Times's prejudicial and insensitive reporting. It is also disappointing after your excellent recent coverage of Pegasus' production of Crocodile Seeking Refugee for which you were subsequently congratulated.
Amanda Webb-Johnson, Director, Refugee Resource, Oxford
The copy was provided to us by a news agency. We fully accept the criticisms and staff have been reminded of the PCC guidance - Ed
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