Responding to a challenge to the planning status of hotels housing asylum seekers, Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland Director of Amnesty International, said:

“Amnesty International has long raised concerns that hotels are wholly unsuitable for housing people seeking asylum. This judgment must not lead to even further disruption and insecurity for the refugees themselves. Proper investment by government in planning and providing for appropriate accommodation is urgently needed.

“At the same time, that department must reset its asylum system to provide people with decisions on their asylum claims fairly and efficiently – so people are not stuck in limbo and can get on with their lives.

“At a time when racist vigilantes are targeting people on our streets, we need political leaders to refrain from using language such as ‘illegal immigrants’ when referring to people who are going through the legal process for seeking asylum. People must be treated with dignity, just as we would expect if it was our families who were forced to flee war or persecution.”