Dear kbf community, I live in Edinburgh with my wife and my 9 year old daughter. I am Spanish and my partner is German, so we (used to) visit our families in Spain and Germany. You may have heard of the latest travel restrictions imposed by the Scottish Government, https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-public-health-checks-at-borders/pages/exemptions/ Due to this new draconian travel quarantine imposition, we now find ourselves unable to travel to Spain/Germany to visit our family. My daughter hasn't seen her Spanish family for over a year now, despite us keeping a close bond and visiting them regularly in pre-pandemic times. I would like to get legal advice on this and if necessary initiate a legal case against Scottish government, for what I believe an unlawful governmental decree, and a breach of basic human rights as recognised by the Human Rights Act 2006 (e.g. the right to respect for family life). Moreover I also believe this could be a breach of the fundamental right of a child to see her family. We (as a family) simply cannot afford paying 3 the absurd cost of £1,750 × 3 = £5,250 to travel to Spain (these are just the quarantine costs imposed by the government; we would need to add travel costs on top of that). On top of that, even if eventually we could borrow the money, for the sake of seeing the family, we would add the distress and trauma for all of us and particularly my 9 year old daughter, having to stay in a quarantine hotel (in our own home city!) like prisioners for 10 days on our return from Spain, despite holding permanent residency in Edinburgh since 2012. I consider this outrageous and unacceptable in a civilised democratic country (or is it still?), short of barbaric and uncompassionate towards children and families. So I am contacting you for legal advice and/or some feedback on this issue, to understand our legal position and take the legal case forward as appropriate. I believe this constitutes a violation of the basic human principles that make our society healthy and functional. This is simply insanity and must be challenged/stopped. I am shocked and disgusted, and I will not stop until this inhuman unneccesary government decree is retracted (in court if necessary), so that can resume a healthy life in our communities, and give our children the healthy upbringing that she deserve. SHAME on the government for tearing apart families and communities through this distress, pain and misery, with repressive goverment measures. If any of you can provide advice or indicate where we can get it, ease contact me on the email below; we would be very greatful. Also please disseminate this through all your channels. People need to hear about this and, at the very least, the government needs to be put to shame for this. I am afraid they have become the enemy of the people, but the only power they have is the power that we have given to them. Little they realise that the human spirit is unbreakable and so we (the people) will prevail. Peace & love to all. Enrique & family Email: entron00@yahoo.co.uk
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Best of luck. Sorry I don’t have information on human rights lawyers but wherever possible we should hit these bastards in the pocket for their evil actions. The Matt Hancocks of this world deserve to be made penniless and bankrupt for these despicable actions.
Hello Enrique
Somebody gave me the address of this person. She is in Glasgow but not Edinburgh unfortunately. Might be worth a try?
Clare Ryan
2 Douglas Gardens, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 2SJ
T@ 07977000312
Covers the whole of Scotland. Clare Ryan has a great track record of defending activists in Scotland.