Survivors of torture living in Glasgow put its Deputy First Minister on the spot

Shameem Sadiq-Tang campaigns for Freedom from Torture. She visited Freedom from Torture's Scotland centre in Glasgow for a special event with Deputy First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon MSP. Find out more about how Freedom from Torture's Scotland centre helps survivors of torture.

I'm sat in a packed room at Freedom from Torture's Scotland centre in Glasgow with people from around the world who have been forced to flee their homes following torture. We are waiting for the arrival of Nicola Sturgeon, the Deputy First Minister for the Scottish National Party (SNP) and MSP for Glasgow Southside.

Anisa, a young volunteer, arranged the meeting after Nicola turned up on her doorstep during the election campaign in May 2011. Nicola had not heard of Freedom from Torture, despite being the Cabinet Secretary for Health. When Nicola eventually arrives she comments on how smart Anisa is: 'She knew that a politician looking for votes would not say no when asked to come and talk to people in the community'. So, now she's here and there are lots of people who want to hear what she has to say.

Nicola has around 30 minutes to spare so we go quickly on to a 'question and answer' session before she tells everyone that, 'we have an obligation as human beings to provide refuge to people fleeing persecution.' A good way to start, I think to myself, but I want to know if she really means it.

This group of people aren't going to give her an easy time. They know what they are talking about, through lived experiences.

The opening question is from an Iranian man who has been destitute and homeless for five years. The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has refused his asylum claim but cannot return him to Iran as it is too dangerous. As a result, for the past five years he has lived with no regular support whatsoever – no food, no accommodation, no money, nothing. He asks her what he should do.

Other people raise questions about the culture of disbelief by UKBA of claims of persecution; and the treatment of documented evidence of torture by the same agency. 'Immigration officials should stick to their role and not challenge medical evidence by experts,' says a survivor from Africa. I take the opportunity to point out the recently published report from Freedom from Torture, Body of Evidence. The report details how expert medical evidence documenting torture is often dismissed or accorded little weight in the consideration of torture survivors' asylum applications.

Another man speaks passionately about how asylum seekers are treated at shops in Glasgow when they use the Azure card, a payment card accepted in select stores to buy basic necessities. In response to many of the questions, she says that she is not happy with the systems put in place by Westminster but that is the system she has to work with. It's one of her arguments for the devolvement of Scotland.

Nicola makes some positive remarks about giving asylum seekers permission to work, as well as granting them full access to healthcare, regardless of their asylum status. She also says that she'll follow up on concerns raised about the treatment of medical evidence by UKBA and will push for GPs to develop a better understanding of the needs of torture survivors. Before rushing off, she offers to come back and speak to people again. This is a good sign, perhaps, as it is really difficult to have a  meaningful dialogue in only 30 minutes. I hope she does return.