AYS News Digest 8/11/23: Asylum seekers undergo invasive body searches at EU borders
UNHCR Negligence in Libya/Border Violence Monitoring Network — September report/Racist comments made by former European Commissioner/Decrease in numbers of arrivals in Greece/ French Immigration Bill threatens the rights of asylum seekers and refugees/ Afghan former interpreter for British army speaks of his experience relocating to the UK…
LIBYA
UNHCR Negligence
In the evening of November 6th, individuals who had been camped outside the UNHCR building for months were picked up and moved to Ainzara camp.
European Union
Horrendous abuse and invasive body searches of asylum seekers at EU borders
Al Jazeera writes about the experiences of several women who sought asylum in Europe and were mistreated by police and border officials in Greece. The women speak of being forced to undress in public and officials carrying out very intrusive body searches. These examples of abuse are not limited to Greece — there have been similar reports in Bulgaria and other border countries.
These testimonies also include the use of physical violence, including beating individuals, especially in relation to pushbacks.
The aim of such abuse is to dehumanise, humiliate individuals, and prevent them from attempting to return to Europe to seek asylum.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in 2001 that body searches by law enforcement can be justified in some cases, for example, if they prevent criminal offences.
However, forced undressing and genital searches, which leave victims “with feelings of anguish and inferiority capable of humiliating and debasing him”, violate Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
At EU borders, refugees report invasive genital searches during pushbacks | Refugees | Al Jazeera
GENERAL
Border Violence Monitoring Network have published their report for September 2023: Balkan Regional Report — September 2023 — BVMN (borderviolence.eu)
GREECE
Racist comments made by former European Commissioner
Anna Diamantopoulou expressed racist comments at a recent conference referencing her experiences in countries in Africa, including Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ghana.
Anna Diamantopoulou / Wishes Europe not to become “forcibly dark” (video) | Dawn (avgi.gr)
‘Sanctioned Ignorance’ and the detention of people seeking asylum in the EU-funded CCAC on Samos — Ellen Allde
I Have Rights team member has published an article on the Closed Control Access Centre on Samos and how it acts as a site of unlawful de facto detention.
The CCAC is situated within the particular legacy of bordering Europe and practices that seek to control and conceal experiences of detention. In particular, the author focuses on:
-The sudden changes of rules regarding entry or exit in the CCAC, food provision, asylum interview dates, and the cumulative impact on the facility’s population.
-The prolonged wait times people are subjected to for asylum appointments, interpreters, food, medical support, and entry and exit from the CCAC.
-The lack of information provided to people living inside the CCAC regarding reasons for changes in rules or long waiting times.
-The challenges which legal NGOs and lawyers face in advocating against detention.
You can read the full article here: ‘Sanctioned Ignorance’ and the detention of people seeking asylum in the EU-funded CCAC on Samos | I Have Rights.
AlarmPhone reports on a pushback
A group of 25 individuals needed urgent rescue, but the Greek authorities pushed them back and left them adrift in Turkish waters. In the most recent update, the Turkish authorities are still searching for the group.
Decrease in numbers of arrivals in Greece
The numbers of individuals reaching Greece in October decreased by 42% compared to September.
A total of 6,581 migrants were recorded as having arrived in Greece during the month of October, compared to 11,470 arrivals in the previous month.
FRANCE
French Immigration Bill threatens the rights of asylum seekers and refugees
The bill aims to reinforce immigration legislation, creating a more hostile and strict environment. The government wants to particularly focus on foreigners who have committed a crime, and have more power in deporting them.
There is significant disagreement within the government regarding this bill, and amongst human rights organisations.
French immigration bill would expel ‘foreigners who commit crimes’ — InfoMigrants
UK
Afghan former interpreter for British army finally resettles in the UK
The former interpreter and his family have been relocated to the UK two years after they had been approved for relocation. For an unknown reason, his approval was later rejected, preventing him from being evacuated in 2021. He faced a lengthy legal battle and was finally granted his visa.
Changes in policies relating to the ACRS and ARAP schemes over the last two years created obstacles for the interpreter and his family to secure their visas. For instance, the UK government put in place a rule whereby in order for a visa application to be successful, Afghan applicants would need to have arranged accommodation in the UK.
WORTH READING:
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