ORGANISATIONS across Glasgow are continuing their work to oppose plans to evict hundreds of failed asylum seekers.

Shelter Scotland’s legal team lodged papers at Glasgow Sheriff Court to challenge the orders to change the locks of their homes.

Serco, who agreed to suspend any action for 21 days, now have three weeks to respond in writing.

Living Rent tenant's union were yesterday supporting a refugee whose fate has been left undecided by the plans.

Khalil, who is originally from Iran, has lived in the city for three years after a traumatic journey to Britain.

The 34-year-old had to walk for seven days from Iran through Turkey before getting on the back of a lorry, which ended up in Manchester.

He was physically assaulted during the journey before eventually being sent to Glasgow by the Home Office.

He said: “I feel safe in Glasgow. I can relate it to my original home because it has a proper community like back home.

“But I live day to day as my situation can change at a moments notice. The waiting is too much, three years I have waited, the hardest thing is waiting.

“Physiologically it takes it toll, I came here not for money or to take, I came here for safety and to work and provide for myself"

"Glasgow is my second home, my first home has been destroyed. I've made friends here and built a life here. The only issue I have is with the Home office process and the length of time it takes. I just want my rights, I just want to live in peace and work and provide for myself.”

Khalil is one of hundreds to have received a letter from Serco informing him of plans which will potentially make him homeless.

He added: “I have no rights I have nowhere to go, what am I supposed to do?

“I'm putting my appeals and all the paperwork into the Home Office for my interview and then to be told I'm to be made homeless was devastating"

“I’ve had no official help, from anyone at all. The people of Glasgow have been the ones who have helped me the most.”

Members of tenants union Living Rent, visited Khalil's home to voice their opposition to Serco's plans.

Craig Paterson, spokesperson for the union, said: "We have come here today to support Khalil and to show him and SERCO the strength of of feeling in Glasgow.

"We fully intend to defend our neighbours and our communities by any and all means necessary"

Shelter Scotland’s principal solicitor Fiona McPhail, said: “Shelter Scotland is pleased that the case brought on behalf of two clients has been continued and we will be able to challenge the so-called "lock change" evictions planned by Serco. We will be back in Glasgow Sheriff Court in 21 days.

“The nature of the proceedings of this stage, was for interim orders, which are effectively an emergency prohibition or prevention.

“Because there’s an undertaking that no action is going to be taken, which we believe is in part of the legal proceedings raised by us and others over the weekend, those orders weren’t necessary.

“We can’t yet say how long this will take and how the court will view our different arguments but at this stage we’ve got an agreement there will be no action for 21 days, we’ll be back here and we’ll be update further at that stage.”

Miss McPhail said Shelter were instructed on August 3, and the position is that 21 days isn’t going to be enough to have the areas of law clarified.

The legal arguments are complex and Shelter asked for longer, but the court granted 21 days.

She said: “What the court have asked is for the other side to state their defence to the case so the court and us have an understanding of their position in writing.

“It’s a massive temporary victory for these six individuals and we know from the statement issued on Saturday that everyone else will not be served notices while these legal issues are clarified.”

Govan Law Centre is preparing to go ahead with the hearing on interim interdict at the Court of Session today against Serco and the secretary of the state for the Home Office.

Mike Dailly, Govan Law Centre’s principal solicitor and solicitor advocate said: “Govan Law Centre has written to Rupert Soames, chief executive of Serco Group plc to say that it would not be necessary to proceed with the hearing if Serco are willing to provide a 'formal legal undertaking in terms of the interdict conclusion in our client’s summons pending the courts determination of the merits of the case.”

In short, if Serco formally agree to give Govan Law Centre a legal undertaking which is the equivalent of an interdict taking no further action to evict our client until the court hears the case in full, there would be no need for tomorrow's hearing in Edinburgh.