Protesters gathered on the steps of Glasgow’s Buchanan Street to protest the treatment of refugees in the city.
Stand Up to Racism organised the demonstration after what they described as a “very dark year for refugees” which saw a number of vulnerable people lose their lives.
Campaigners called for the Scottish Government to step in and break immigration laws imposed by the UK Home Office in a bid to protect the lives of vulnerable asylum seekers.
It comes after the deaths of both Mercy Baguma, 34, and Adnan Olbeh, 31, who both lost their lives in Glasgow while going through the asylum process in the city.
Mercy, was found dead in a flat in Govan on August 22 beside her one-year-old son.
She had been forced to leave her job after losing her leave to remain and applying for asylum.
Syrian asylum seeker Adnan, who is also known as Adnan Walid Elbi, was found dead at a Glasgow hotel in May after being moved into the accommodation during the Home Office’s Covid-19 response.
Protesters held banners stating: “Migrants and refugees welcome here”.
Speakers included human rights campaigner Mohammed Asif and local politicians gave the demonstration their backing.
SNP MP for Glasgow East, David Linden sent organisers a video message ahead of the event.
He stated: “Thank you for all the work you are doing to campaign against racism and campaign for greater rights for refugees and asylum seekers.”
He added: “The last few months have been particularly difficult with a number of pretty significant events that have saddened so many of us.”
Prior to the demonstration, a statement from Stand Up to Racism said: “2020 has been a very dark year for refugees in Glasgow having to cope with the pandemic and the further imposition of the racist hostile environment.
“Forced into hotels by the UK Government's accommodation provider Mears and left penniless, given inedible food and now being targeted by fascist thugs invading their hotels.
“All this after the tragic unexplained deaths of asylum seekers Adnan Olbeh and Mercy Baguma and the horrors of the West Park Hotel incident.
“The Home Office has repeatedly demonstrated that not only is it unable to keep refugees safe but actively places them in harm's way, either directly with the hostile environment and illegal detention policies or via callous profit-driven private contractors.
“It's good that Nicola Sturgeon has denounced the hostile environment and described the UK asylum and immigration policy as 'broken'.
“But we think we must now go further.”
They urged protesters to “demand that the Scottish Government and Parliament step in now and break the immigration laws when necessary to protect the human rights of asylum seekers.”
The organisation also promoted and supported the Black Lives Matter movement and honoured those killed in racially aggravated situations in the US.
Stand Up To Racism said: “2020 has also been a year of tragedy for black and ethnic minority communities in the UK and the USA with disproportionate deaths from Covid-19 due to the economic and cultural effects of racism, and the horrific filmed shootings of George Floyd and Jacob Blake.
“The inspiring cross community world wide ongoing demonstrations in response to demand that Black Lives Matter and to demand the defunding of the racist police forces responsible must continue and lead to real and lasting justice.
“Black lives are also at huge risk in the Mediterranean and the Channel where refugees on flimsy rubber dinghies fleeing wars the UK has waged, or torture and persecution, are being denied life saving assistance by the European and UK authorities.
“Support our demand that the UK and Europe respect and honour the UN convention on refugees and help end the avoidable slaughter of the innocent crossing the sea to seek protection.”
