AYS News Digest 10/03/23: #StoptheBill
Maxym Butkevych sentenced to 13 years in prison by Russian authorities//Organisations call for a free accessible WIFI network to be implemented on the island of Lampedusa// Within 24 hours, 1350 individuals have arrived on Lampedusa// Violent attacks against refugees in Tunisia following President Saied’s speech// Protests and shared anger towards the UK’s new anti-refugee bill 2// and much more…
FEATURE: Protests and shared anger towards the UK’s new anti-refugee bill 2
As mentioned in AYS News Digest 8/3/23, new legislation hones in on the UK’s discriminatory right-wing approach to Channel crossings and irregular migration in general.
The legislation is once again based on the incorrect notion that someone who arrives by boat across the Channel, and seeks asylum in the UK, has arrived illegally. The government has made very little, if not no effort to create more routes that would allow asylum seekers to reach the UK safely. They, instead, simply put the responsibility on those seeking asylum, and criminalise their efforts of trying to flee persecution and reach safety. Furthermore, this legislation won’t protect individuals from human trafficking and exploitation, rather will put them at even more risk.
*Monday 13th March @ 6pm, Parliament Square, London — Stop the Bill protest as MPs come together to debate the new legislation*
In Paris, Utopia 56 and other NGOs expressed their views on the UK and France’s political collaborations relating to refugee and asylum seeker policymaking.
Ongoing reactions to Gary Lineker’s tweets against the UK’s discriminatory migration policies
Former footballer and current Match of the Day presenter has been taken off air temporarily whilst the BBC assess what they should do following his tweet against the new ‘Stop the Boats’ policy.
Many well-known figures have joined Gary Lineker in solidarity, further highlighting the double standards in the BBC’s impartiality stance. Many are making it clear that it is essential that influential figures such as Gary Lineker show solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers, especially at a time of incredible discrimination, scapegoating, and racism in UK politics and wider society.
Join the campaign tackling the new Anti-Refugee Bill 2 and contact your MP: Refugee Action (refugee-action.org.uk)
Interesting read on Australia’s influence on UK immigration policy: The UK’s “stop the boats” policy shows a failure to learn from Australia’s mistakes | British Politics and Policy at LSE
UK clampdown on small boat crossings fails to deter Dunkirk’s refugees | Financial Times (ft.com)
RUSSIA-UKRAINE
Maxym Butkevych sentenced to 13 years in prison by Russian authorities
Maxym is a prominent Ukrainian figure advocating for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Ukraine. His sentence relates to a fictitious case against him accusing him of deliberately killing civilians.
Human Rights Watch have made it very clear that they do not believe this case is legitimate, and that his confession was obtained through torture at the hands of the Russian authorities.
GREECE
Border Violence Monitoring Network report on a pushback using visual analysis from a drone
The Turkish Coast Guard updated their database on pushbacks in the Aegean. This included visual data from drones, in particular surrounding an alleged pushback on the 4th December 2022. BVMN analysed the footage, taking into account the physical characteristics of the boat seen in the footage (proven to be the same make and model as the boats used by the Greek Coast Guard), as well as the trajectory of the drone, and the geographical location of the event.
The report concludes that the visual drone evidence provided by the TCG relates to the definitive pushback at the hands of the Hellenic Coast Guard on 4th December 2022.
ITALY
Organisations call for a free accessible WIFI network to be implemented on the island of Lampedusa
There are growing numbers of asylum seekers staying temporarily in the hotspot of Lampedusa, exponentially exceeding the 389 capacity. Whilst the hotspot’s internal regulations and the Convention between the Prefecture of Agrigento and Badia Grande should guarantee connection with wider society, those stuck in Lampedusa do not have reliable access to the internet.
NGOs are calling for a reliable WIFI network to be established to help those who have fled their home countries and endured significant trauma in trying to reach European shores. This would allow for at least a brief sense of comfort as they can connect with families and friends. In addition, a WIFI connection would allow individuals to connect with legal advisors and wider information on their rights, including their right to asylum. This element can have a huge impact on understanding and taking control of their right to safety and protection.
Within 24 hours, 1350 individuals have arrived on Lampedusa
The individuals are reportedly from Syria, Yemen and other African countries, and began their journey across the Mediterranean from Sfax, Tunisia.
TUNISIA
Violent attacks, robberies, job terminations by employers, evictions by landlords against refugees following President Saied’s speech
The President made a speech on 21st February that used dangerous language and rhetoric that has since harnessed violence against Black African migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Many refugees are camped outside international organisations’ headquarters as they say they feel safer there, as they are less likely to get attacked and arrested.
The President has made a slight attempt to prevent this violence, however, Human Rights Watch claim he has not done enough.
SEA/SAR
Alarm Phone reports on an attack on five boats by the Tunisian Coastguard~
Another boat carrying 500 individuals is adrift in the Mediterranean, off the cost of Sicily
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