IN THE early 2000s, Roza Salih and her family fled from Southern Kurdistan after her grandfather and two uncles were executed by Saddam Hussein. She landed in Scotland aged just 12 and has since built a successful career in politics following her activism work as a teenager and young adult.
Speaking with The National, Salih walked through the difficulties she faced with the asylum-seeking process, how she turned it into positive action and the advice she wants to share with young refugees.
“We were one of the first family pilots to be dispersed to Glasgow, so everything was new for us," Salih explained.
“Many people didn’t know about refugees or asylum seekers. Life was difficult, and the system was difficult too because instead of money we had vouchers.
“It’s different now because people are given cards and are able to lift money, but we had only had vouchers back then and it took nine years for us to get our status.
“The hardest things though, when I was a kid, were the tensions and the deportations and the dawn raids. That hugely affected me as a child when I came to claim asylum in a new country for protection.
“Then I saw my friends and neighbours being deported and dawn raided. It was strange, because we had escaped dictatorship and come to a safe country for protection just to be treated this way.”
At the age of 15, the Glasgow Pollok SNP councillor co-founded activist group Glasgow Girls with fellow pupils from Drumchapel High School. The group campaigned to stop the UK Border Agency from carrying out deportations of schoolchildren after one of their friends, Agnesa Murselaj, was detained in a dawn raid in 2005.
“We did a lot, and we were just young lassies, you know?” Salih said.
“I was sitting my Standard Grades when Glasgow Girls started and English was not my first language. It was difficult because I was trying to balance getting good grades while we were also fighting for justice.
“We were going to the Scottish Parliament, campaigning, talking to journalists, and I think it was a very successful campaign because we were just teenagers and we were so passionate.”
After leaving Drumchapel High School, Salih graduated from Strathclyde University with an honours degree in law and politics. During her time at the university, she was appointed vice president for diversity and advocacy within the Students Association. She was also elected to the National Union of Students’ (NUS) international students committee and the NUS UK Student trustee board.
She was appointed to the Scottish Trade Union Council (STUC) in 2017 and swiftly joined the SNP, standing as a candidate in Garscadden and Scotstounhill in the Scottish Council elections.
Salih is the first refugee to be elected to a Scottish council.
She said the similarities between Scottish and Kurdish people are what prompted her to join the SNP.
“The fight for freedom and independence came naturally to me and I think that’s why I joined the SNP”, Salih explained.
“I believed then and I still believe that Scotland should be an independent country and should rule its own people. That’s why I keep on fighting for independence.”
She said that her “whole journey had been in politics” and that she was grateful for her experience as a campaigner prior to standing for elections.
“I think it’s important for politicians to understand the other side before they actually become politicians”, she said.
She went on to criticise the asylum procedures, expressing feelings of exhaustion after 20 years of campaigning to make the system fairer.
Salih said: “No human being is better than another.
“We’re all human beings and we all want a better standard of living. We just want to have normal lives.
“Over the past 20 years I’ve done so much and been so vocal for refugees’ rights and now I’m at a point where I’m just so exhausted.
“I’m exhausted with this system. It’s not going to change. A lot of people thought Labour were going to be amazing and do things differently, then everything is suddenly made worse for asylum seekers and refugees.
“I told people they weren’t going to make a difference. The only way to make a difference is if immigration is devolved to Scotland and we gain independence.
“We can make all the decisions ourselves, and they might not be the best decisions, but at least we can challenge that within our own country.”
Asked what advice she would give to those currently seeking asylum in Scotland, Salih emphasised the importance of solidarity and seeking support where you can.
“It’s a difficult process and sometimes you feel like you’ve been let down, you feel isolated and like the world is not on your side and it’s difficult, but it’s important to educate yourself and integrate into the culture you’re living in”, she said.
“Focus on the positives where you can, because it is a harsh process and it takes some time. Until it passes, stay in solidarity with others, even on issues that aren’t affecting you, because good karma comes back around.
“Participation of women and ethnic minorities especially is important because it helps you meet other people. All of the things I participated in when I was an asylum seeker made me unique in so many ways. Participation helps build friendships and relationships in Scotland.
“Try to stay positive, try to integrate, and try to do something about what you’re facing, because sitting back and not participating won’t make the process any easier.”
