Looking to London: Stories of War, Escape and Asylum

Description

London is celebrated as one of the most ethnically diverse capitals in the world, and has been a magnet of migration since its origin. Looking To London steps into the maelstrom of current and recent wars and the resulting migration crisis, telling the stories of women refugees who have made it to London to seek safe haven among the city's Kurdish, Somali, Tamil, Sudanese and Syrian communities, under the watchful eye of the security services. Cynthia Cockburn brings her lively and lucid style to a world in which hatred is being countered by compassion, at a moment when the nationalist, anti-immigrant sentiment expressed in Brexit is being challenged by a warm-hearted 'refugees welcome' movement bringing community activists into partnership with London borough councils for the reception and rehoming of victims of war. This book is essential reading for all who want to think more deeply about the meaning of asylum. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 9 Introduction......Page 12 1. London: Magnet for Migrants......Page 20 2. From South-East Turkey to North-East London: Kurds in Hackney......Page 42 3. From the Horn of Africa to the Isle of Dogs: Somalis in Tower Hamlets......Page 76 4. Home for Whom? Tamils in Hounslow and Home Office Detention......Page 109 5. The Sudans’ Divided People Come to Camden......Page 145 6. Syrian War, Migration Crisis and ‘Refugees Welcome’ in Lambeth......Page 178 Notes......Page 222 Index......Page 245