For the first time since 2013, the Danish immigration agency does not consider the situation across all of Syria to automatically qualify refugees from the Middle Eastern country for temporary asylum status. Specifically, this could affect the cases of persons from the Damascus province, the Ministry of Immigration and Integration stated in a press statement Thursday evening. The decision was made on the basis of a report on conditions in Syria published by the Immigration Service on February 21st, the statement said. The agency considered there to be a “general improvement of conditions in government-controlled areas in Syria, including the Damascus province in particular,” the ministry wrote. Asylum seekers who come to Denmark from Damascus province will therefore no longer automatically be given temporary asylum based on conditions of conflict in the Syrian province. The Refugee Appeals Board (Flygtningenævnet) has also changed its assessment of the situation … [Read more...] about New Danish assessment makes future uncertain for Syrian asylum seekers
Asylum seekers example
Iranian asylum seeker relives ‘miracle’ of boat rescue in Channel
News / UK and world by Press Association February 20, 2019, 6:34 am Send us a story Sign up to our Daily newsletter An Iranian asylum seeker who spent eight hours clinging to a dinghy battered by rough waves in the English Channel has relived the “miracle” of his rescue. Ali, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, attempted the perilous crossing from Calais to England with seven others in December. The civil engineer boarded the small boat to cross one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world in a desperate attempt to reach England, where he has a brother, sister and friends. But the 26-year-old thought he would die in the Channel and never see France nor England when the weather worsened and they lost control of the dinghy in the rough water. He said: “I saw one and half metre waves (and the beginning of a storm) and you can’t understand – you climb up with the waves, you can’t go for example some place you … [Read more...] about Iranian asylum seeker relives ‘miracle’ of boat rescue in Channel
HS: ECHR asks Finland to give account of death of ex-asylum seeker in Iraq
Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday wrote that the man had worked as a criminal investigator for a government agency tasked with investigating corruption and human rights violations under the Iraqi Ministry of Interior. As he was the agency’s only Sunni Muslim, his work became more dangerous following the emergence and recognition of paramilitary groups of Shia Muslims in Iraq. Related posts: Amnesty Finland chief questions lack of response to death of ex-asylum seeker in Iraq (14 February, 2018) YLE: Man denied asylum in Finland shot dead in Iraq (13 February, 2018) He, for example, received a death threat from a colleague and was the target of two murder attempts in early 2015, according to the newspaper. The man fled the country together with his son and daughter in August 2015 and applied for an asylum in Finland in September 2015. His application was rejected by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) in December 2016. Migri stated in its decision that, although the … [Read more...] about HS: ECHR asks Finland to give account of death of ex-asylum seeker in Iraq
Mykkänen wants all asylum seekers to take test on Finnish culture and society
“Participating in the course is not enough, but we must also make sure the contents of the course are being internalised,” underlined Mykkänen. The Ministry of the Interior, he added, has consequently earmarked funds in its supplementary budget for piloting a computer-based test in state-operated reception centres. The course curriculum would also include videos about the basic rights, criminal code and penalties imposed for criminal activity produced as part of a joint project between the reception centre in Oulu, National Police Board and Police University College. “The course test could make sure in the future that the applicants have paid attention in class, read the course materials and watched the videos. It has to be perfectly clear, for example, that under the law an under 16-year-old can never give consent to sexual contact with an adult, but that it is always a crime with serious consequences,” said Mykkänen. “All asylum seekers would … [Read more...] about Mykkänen wants all asylum seekers to take test on Finnish culture and society
Asylum seekers lodge 47 complaints; Direct Provision system exceeds bed capacity
Asylum seekers lodged just 47 complaints with the Reception and Integration Agency about the Direct Provision system last year.The figure, provided by the Department of Justice, comes amid confirmation that the DP system now has exceeded its capacity and has had to access emergency bed spaces. Nick Henderson, the CEO of the Irish Refugee Council, said there were "several issues" with the relatively low number of complaints, including the likelihood that some asylum seekers would be wary of making a complaint about the centre in which they live amid an expectation that little, if anything, would change.He said some asylum seekers may not be aware of the complaints mechanism and would also be wary of lodging a complaint with RIA, while they may also feel the scope of any possible complaint would be quite limited. He said a complaint regarding transfer between different centres may not be entertained at all. "Also people may be wary of complaining to the body which is providing … [Read more...] about Asylum seekers lodge 47 complaints; Direct Provision system exceeds bed capacity