We think the decision is inhumane and may be at odds with our requirements under international law — asylum is a human right and an international obligation as recognised in the 1951 Geneva Convention on the protection of refugees. There also wasn't a vote in Parliament on this decision.

Assad’s rule has come to an end and there is uncertainty in Syria. We think the decision to pause the asylum claims of Syrians in the UK is immoral, especially when at the same time British citizens have been encouraged to leave Syria for fear of safety. We believe the UK has contributed to chaos in Syria; for that reason, and out of basic compassion, we consider that we must welcome Syrian asylum seekers.