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Minister accused of unmerciful decisions
The Archbishop of York has launched an attack on "the unmerciful" immigration minister Phil Woolas.
Dr John Sentamu said the UK "must show a better way" at a time when Zimbabwe's citizens are tortured and subjected to inhuman treatment.
He added that "the tough talking of the unmerciful" was believed to be the only way to win popularity.
"Only recently an Honourable Member of the House of Commons – a junior minister – attacked lawyers and charities working on behalf of those who are seeking asylum and accused them of playing the system," he said.
The Archbishop was referring to an interview Mr Woolas gave earlier this month when he said: "The system is played by migration lawyers and NGOs to the nth degree. By giving false hope and by undermining the legal system, (they) actually cause more harm than they do good."
Dr Sentamu said: "I would suggest that the allegation that lawyers are undermining the law is very serious indeed."
Mr Woolas was appointed immigration minister in October's reshuffle. He has already faced criticism for his hard line views and was reportedly pulled from a scheduled appearance on BBC's Question Time.
The Archbishop cited the example of a seriously ill Ghanaian mother-of-two, Ama Sumani, who was deported from the UK in January.
She had been receiving dialysis treatment at a Cardiff hospital but died two months after returning to Ghana. "Sadly, the separation of religion, morality and law has gone too far, leading to such dire unintended consequences," Dr Sentamu said.
He made the comments in a speech at the Evangelical Alliance's Temple Address at The Royal Society in London.
He told the audience neighbourliness and mercy were lacking in our society.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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