Nt#68 by New Times

A magazine produced by asylum seekers living in the Danish Red Cross Asylum Centres >june 2006>issue # 68

New times DRC Culture House, Strandgade 100E 1401 Copenhagen K, Denmark

The outcome of the Media Coverage page 03 Asylum Children Are Under a Microscope page 04 Rights for asylum seekers, Rights to work and the 1st of May page 05 “Suicidal Silence” the article which won the 1st prize page 08 THE DARK DAY FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS page 09 Interviews with Amnesty International page 10 “5 years in asylum centres” The story of a famous artist. page 12 The story of refugee at a public place page 12

A painting for the artist Ihsan Adham

RIGHTS OF NON-CITIZENS Whether they are victims of religious persecution, victims and torture survivors from war or pro-democracy activists fleeing repressive regimes, those who flee to Denmark arrive with the belief that they have finally reached a place where they will be safe, free and treated fairly and enjoy their human rights, as stated in International Conventions. Universal Declaration of Human Rights Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. Adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly Resolution 217 A (III) Article 14 (1) of 10 December 1948

A painting for the artist Ihsan Adham

By Osama Asylum seekers are like humans without rights because the states of which they are citizens are unable or unwilling to guarantee them their fundamental human rights, and because the states in which they are requesting asylum have not yet recognised them as refugees. From the end of the Second World War in particular, it has been assumed that the solution to this issue must be repatriation, resettlement or asylum. Asylum seekers have limited rights under international law. At the same time their protection under domestic human rights law can often relegate them to the status of second-class citizens. Sometimes

newtimes 路 June 2006

the human rights of asylum seekers seem to drift completely out of the view of decision-makers. Universality Human Rights are universal, and civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights belong to all human beings, including asylum seekers, who also enjoy certain rights specifically linked to their particularly vulnerable status, including the right to freedom from forcible return, freedom of movement, the right to a nationality, and to receive protection and assistance in securing their basic economic, social and cultural rights. Polarizing Human rights is a term rich with

political connotations; and it seems to have polarised Danish society. The debate on asylum is too often trapped in the narrow ground of the here and now. This is unsurprising, given the political importance of the issue and the passions that it stirs up amongst the wider public. Future! In the borderless world of refugees, asylum-seekers will continue to seek asylum from the forces and nations that are persecuting them. There is a need to let asylumseekers know that only certified refugees will remain in Denmark. However, there is also a requirement that all countries uphold the human rights treaties they have

ratified and their obligation to provide asylum for those in need. In this Issue of New Times we explore international and domestic human rights law, the reasons for deficiencies, the problems of enforcement with regard to those rights that asylum seekers enjoy and prospects for the future. The New Times staff followed a 6 week training course arranged by the Asylum Department in The Danish Red Cross Culture House, regarding Human Rights and International Conventions. In this New Times issue is what staff members, whom are asylum seekers, found important to highlight in this regard. Enjoy reading.

ON-GOING ASYLUM DEBATE

FACTS: In February 2006 there were 2,479 people living in asylum centres, of which 682 were children. About 1,400 asylum seekers have had a final rejection and stand to be deported. Convention on the Rights of the Child Denmark signed the Convention on the rights of the Child in 1991

Photo: Mohammed

By Osama For the last three months there has been much political debate about the asylum seekers in the Danish asylum centres. For many years we have been writing in New Times about the poor conditions that asylum seekers face. But what has happened? Also, why did the debate flare up again three months ago? In March, the former Uzbek asylum seeker, Dina Yafasova, published her memoirs of daily life during the months she stayed in Sandholm asylum centre. Her book gained a lot of press coverage. At the same time, New Times published an issue on the theme of children in the Danish asylum centres. For a long time the Red Cross had been inviting the integration committee to visit the asylum centres. In March, during the intense media coverage, the parliamentary integration committee decided to visit the centres at Sandholm and Kongelunden. The press commented on the conditions in the asylum centres and described them as indecent, inhuman and unacceptable, especially for children. Demands for Improvement 1 In April a majority of MPs called for an improvement in the conditions at the asylum centres and especially in housing conditions for the children. But responsibility for the welfare of the children lies with the parents. They can just go home like they have been asked to do.

At least, this is the opinion of the Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who announced in Parliament on May 3rd: “Parents are responsible for their children and thus if the parents do not cooperate with their repatriation when they have been denied asylum, then it is to a large extent their own responsibility that their stay in the asylum centres is so prolonged”. However, a proportion of parents have become very ill as a result of their stay at the asylum centres. According to the Danish Immigration Service the number of residents is falling, whilst the expenses for medical treatment are increasing. In earlier issues of New Times we have focused on this phenomenon and in this issue you can read an article, which won an international prize. It was about suicide: Attempted Suicide in the Asylum Centres. More activities for children, more space for the families with children and an upper limit for how long a person can stay in an asylum centre, are the concrete suggestions which Enhedslisten (Unity Party), De Radikale (RADICAL), SF (Socialist Peoples’ Party) and Socialdemokraterne (Social Democrats) came up with in the middle of May when Parliament had a big debate about the conditions for children at the asylum centres. Demands for improvement 2 A significant majority of Danes want better conditions for the children who have been in the asylum cen-

tres for a long time. This is shown in a survey that Vilstrup made on behalf of the national newspaper, Politiken. Two out of three Danes think that an upper limit should be set for how long children and their families can live in a centre. Fifty eight percent of Danes think that Denmark, like Sweden, ought to let rejected asylum seekers reapply if it has not been possible to send them home. 37 million for children On 18th May, the government granted 37 million kroner a year to improve conditions for children at the asylum centres. The first 37 million kroner must be used in 2006 with a focus on activities for those children whose parents have been denied asylum, but who have not yet left the country. It was suggested by the Minister of Integration after the debate in Parliament on 18th May that the money must first and foremost be spent on club and after-school activities and on teaching the children their native languages so that they will be prepared to start a new life when they are sent home. In addition, there will be special teaching for those who need it. “Out of the total, 12 million kroner will be spent on improving the physical conditions at the centres, but it is first and foremost up to the Red Cross Asylum Department to decide what is needed,” said the Minister. A smaller proportion of the money will be used to improve

counselling for the rejected asylum seekers so that they will go home voluntarily. There is also money to help people settle down in their home countries. The opposition is critical The Social Democrats consider the Minister for Integration’s proposal of more money for the asylum children a farce. They feel it is a way of getting people to shut up and stop being critical because the problems have not been solved. The party also wants an upper limit for how long someone can live at a centre. “We have been given a gobstopper. The government is saving money now that there are fewer asylum seekers coming to Denmark, so we say that the conditions need to be improved for those who are already here,” said John Dyrby, spokesman on integration. Enhedslisten (Unity Party) does not think that the problems will be solved with more activities because above all, it is the confined spaces that the children have to live in and the long waiting times that make daily life inhuman.

Article 2 1. States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child’s or his or her parent’s or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status. 2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination or punishment on the basis of the status, activities, expressed opinions, or beliefs of the child’s parents, legal guardians, or family members. Article 39 States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to promote physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of a child victim of: any form of neglect, exploitation, or abuse; torture or any other form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; or armed conflicts. Such recovery and reintegration shall take place in an environment which fosters the health, self-respect and dignity of the child.

newtimes · June 2006

CHILDREN UNDER A MICROSCOPE Mothers of Iraqi asylum children appeal to Danish Government to grant them temporary residence as in the case of rejected asylum seekers in Sweden and Norway.

Photo: Mohammed

Reportage by Jawad On the 25th of April asylum seekers from Kosovo gathered and demonstrated in front of the Danish Parliament for 3 hours. On Friday the 28th of April more than a hundred Iraqi asylum mothers accompanying their children also demonstrated in front of the Danish Parliament. Both had the same reason to protest and they were calling with loud voices: For the sake of our children Towards a better future for our children Humankind owes the child “the best it has to give” For human life outside asylum centers. Seeking a solution The mothers demanded a solution for Iraqi asylum seekers who had been for more than 5 years confined in asylum centers, suffering from all kinds of pressures which lead to lost future for many children and adults. The demonstration ended with a protest note handed to the secretary of the Parliament. The demonstrators had included in their note a request to Mrs. Rikke Hvilshøj, the Minister of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs, to act and find a quick and efficient solution to save the asylum children and make plans for their future instead of leaving them to wait for years at asylum centers and to also give them a chance to build their futures. The protesters asked for residences for their families in order to achieve

newtimes · June 2006

these goals and to live in equality with Danish and refugee children living in Denmark. They also asked to have the same rights as rejected asylum seekers in Sweden and Norway. The demonstrators continued onwards from Parliament and marched down the middle of the street towards the Ministry of Immigration and Integration Affairs. Again they called with loud voices in front of the Ministry building to be heard by decision makers. Finally, Minister Rikke Hvilshøj showed up to receive another memorandum delivered to her by Helin, an Iraqi girl who was very young when she first came to Denmark and is still at asylum centre after nearly 7 years. Helin said to the Minister when she delivered the letter: “Remember you are a mother.” Appeals Merza, a mother over 50 years and tired from yelling said: “We want a solution to our case, after a long time of suffering and stress that has caused us a lot of psychological and physical problems. They have pushed us with all kinds of pressures to force us back home, to death. Where is the humanity, the justice, the democracy which they are calling for? They know very well the unsafe circumstances in Iraq which do not allow us to go back….I just say listen to our voices and include us within your democracy.” Topics in the protest included: long stays in asylum centres, living

in a single room with not enough space for children, the routine of the centres, the isolated location of camps being far away from living areas, the lack of entertainment and other facilities for children. Souhad, a mother of two kids explained in other words: “Going back means rapid death…while staying in Denmark means slow death. We don’t want to go back to Iraq to be kidnapped or join the mass death. The basic simple requirements for life are missing nowadays. In Iraq, death is fast with explosions. On the other hand, living at an asylum centre in Denmark for all these long years under inhuman pressure with our children will be the way to the slow death.”

ON THE 1 OF MAY People from differ-

By Sergie

ent nations struggled

The Copenhageners who came to Fælledparken to celebrate the traditional Worker’s Day on the 1st of May were lucky: the weather was nice and the sun was shining. On that day the biggest park of Denmark’s capital turned into a small town. The enormous area of the park, usually deserted, was covered with stalls that circled a huge territory like walls of a medieval city. Some of the stands were headquarters of diverse Danish parties; there, representatives put out all their propaganda material: books, newspapers, emblems and badges. Some of them were fast food stands, where the sellers offered their guests hamburgers, Thai and Chinese food, ice-cream and different sorts of beverages. Music, kites and balloons of different colours floated in the air and the fun fair at the entrance of the park was made fun for young people and adults as well. Not everybody came here to speak out or to support some ideas; a lot of people emerged here just to relax.

for their working rights and have declared the 1st of May as the Workers Day. Denmark still denies asylum seekers the right to work although there are many voices who support this right

The Celebration On this first of May, 2006 people marched through Copenhagen and gathered together in Fælledparken. Representatives from several different city districts carried red flags, one with the symbol of International Worker’s Day on it. This flag was installed at the main “headquarters,” a big stage in a form of a shell with a platform for speakers. On the cornice of the platform was a slogan: Welfare, Tolerance and

International Solidarity. A lot of speeches were made on this stage and the utmost claim of speakers was to stop an attack on social welfare: even in a country like Denmark, rich with high social guarantees for its people, some Danes are poor and have a lot of frustration towards the government. There were many different speakers during the day. One, the leader of the Danish Communist Party, argued against the participation of Denmark in an EU programme and spoke against the Danish military cooperation with Americans in Iraq. There was also a young man, around 16 or 17 years old, who stood with a red flag next to the main stage. He was a representative from the Youth Party. This party fights for improvement of the Danish education system; they want to enlarge its scope and make it more global, striving towards the English educational system. Asylum seekers ”Refugees in a Danger,” was a slogan on one stand and volunteers provided literature about asylumseekers. This proved Danes, who just from a sense of compassion towards refugees distributed different materials about the sorrowful lives and fates of refugees, trying to inform common Danes about the real situation of asylum-seekers living at camps. The majority of relevant literature they were distributing was dedicated to the forthcoming deportation of people from Kosovo. It is difficult to imagine any other day that could be so appropriate to distribute large amounts of different literature and informa-

tion to people. Evidently, several thousands of people gathered in Fælledparken. Among them were inhabitants of Copenhagen and other Danish cities, and also guests from other countries and Danish asylum-seekers. Bitter flavour Alas, for these people a joyful and colourful feast had gotten a bitter flavour. Many asylum-seekers have lived in Denmark for many years and are nevertheless still denied the right to work, one of the main human rights written in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Indeed, from Scandinavian countries only Denmark refused asylum-seekers to have a work permit, despite that many refugees have skills and knowledge that could be useful to the country. Thereby, the main slogan of 1 May, 2006 in Denmark was “Welfare, Tolerance and International Solidarity.” The word tolerance is in accordance with the daily life of asylum-seekers. The only thing left for these people to do is to just be tolerant, observe the normal life of the Danish people with whom they live together for years and hope that some day they also will have a possibility to celebrate International Worker’s Day and feel that they are a part of society and not just common bystanders.

FACTS: The worker’s movement started from a strike of Carpenters in the year 1791. During this time, there was a working shift of more than 11 hours and the worker’s demanded to change it to a ten hour working shift and ultimately, they got their demand approved. Later on, they again demanded an eighthour dayshift and the demand for eight-hour shift was wedded to the 1st of May. After that the tradition of celebrating 1st May spread worldwide. On May 1st 1890, demonstrations took place in many European countries and were held in Chile and Peru. 1st May in Russia, the origin of Communist ideas was first celebrated in 1891 and finally after the 1917 revolution when it became a Soviet Union, the celebration was announced as Government Celebration and days 1st and 2nd May were counted as Official Holidays. Traditionally, people marched through the streets of Moscow and usually there were meetings at Red Square, the popular and important place in the history of USSR and where the mausoleum of Lenin was situated. The place was considered sacred in the Soviet Union and gathered the most important members of government, including the President of the country. On the 1st of May, people in Denmark, had the possibility to relax, drink beer and listen different kind of music. For information on Refugees in Danger open: http://www.refugeedk.org/

Photo: Mohammed

newtimes · June 2006

New Times was present at the celebration of worker’s day on the 1st of May at Fælledparken. The staff made several interviews with different people who were there. We asked questions about their participation in Worker’s Day and about the law that prevents asylum seekers from working, herein is a part of the answers: Interviews are made by Mohin and Abdul-Aaziz

“It’s a great day. I came to Fælledparken to meet other people and to show solidarity with workers. Asylum seekers should be allowed to work because they are humans and should be treated in a nice way. I don’t think they have come for fun; they fled their countries for serious reasons. I do hope for a change soon in the rules allowing them to work as, I think, the situation in the asylum centers is inhuman.”

“This day is definitely needed. Asylum seekers must have work rights. Keeping people in asylum centres for 4 years is too long. We can’t treat people in such a manner. It is very disrespectful. I think the government has to decide first whether asylum seekers should get asylum or not, second when they get residence partly to help them in finding a job. It is very important to learn the language in every country you stay in.”

Ida

“I am here for solidarity with workers, to struggle and fight for the rights, remembering the history in fighting for freedom against racist. It’s a form of racism to deprive asylum seekers from their right to work. It is a form of control on people and we have to stand against it and support the asylum seekers who live under pressure and hard conditions. I do hope the government will pay attention to those people.”

“It’s a great day and I wish more than one day could celebrate the workers. It’s a common day for fun, acquaintance and communication for all social classes, different nationalities and countries, including you and me. It’s against the human rights not to allow asylum seekers to work especially if they are kept in center for a long period of time. Work is healthy, gives hope and occupies time.” Monalisa

Cesar Vargas Bente

"We don’t have similar events for this day in our country. We know about 1st of May, but we don’t celebrate it. Also the security situation is dangerous and does not allow celebration. In the Kurdish part of Iraq, they celebrate but on a small scale. A member of my family has been waiting for 7 years now in Denmark without a residence. His children are born here and the authorities want to send him back to Iraq. It is not the proper way to treat people; it’s still unsafe to go back to Iraq. It is inhuman treatment, some people will be killed if they go back home. It is a big problem that asylum seekers cannot work. When people are able to work, they must be given the chance to work. My wife has the ability to work and her job is needed, but she has no right to work." Arko Ali Ahmed

“It is a big popular party we witness today, an old tradition. It is a fight for the freedom of workers in the 20th century. I consider it as a part of a holy day, the 1st of May celebration is symbolic and for some people very important. Depriving the asylum seekers from the right to work is to keep them far away from the society until they get residences. It’s a stupid policy, they should grant a chance to allow live under the shadows of human rights.”

newtimes · June 2006

Djmese

“The 1st of May has turned into a circus compared to the idea of Worker’s day and what is all about. It was about a free day for workers to say their opinions and engage in politics. What we see today is completely different. We hear music while other politicians speak. It is shame in my opinion. I am an occupational therapist. I know a lot about the daily occupations, partly is working for the adults. It is a big concern that asylum seekers can’t work and can’t have a normal life. It is very difficult, sure the whole family will be affected by such situation especially children.” A Danish lady

“Worker’s day is a good idea. It doesn’t seem celebration today is concerning the rights of the workers. However, it is still a good day to discuss politics. I call for equal rights for all. I believe most of the asylum seekers come because of feeling stress in their home country. Usually, they come due to hard political or military reasons. I also believe that only a very few people have come here with bad intentions.” Kim

"It is a great day today. There are a lot of people here from different organisations. It is a multicultural day. Asylum seekers must have the right to work. I personally would hate sitting around for four years, doing nothing. Life like that has no value and little dignity. It is restless and asylum seekers get depressions and psychological problems in the long run when they have no right to work. Well, I know that asylum seekers are allowed to work in Sweden and Norway. I wonder why they don’t have the same right in Denmark.” Marian

GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT Does the current Danish asylum system con-

Debate column by Mads

sider asylum seekers as potential refugees,

The fair trial system is based on the principle that suspicious people are seen as innocent until the contrary is proven. During a legal trial the suspicious individuals are placed in an accusation cage in the front of the court and are not submitted to unfair punishment unless the court proves them to be guilty. This type of system favours the person on trial, as they remain innocent until proven guilty. The Danish Refugee Board is the court that looks into asylum cases after rejection by Immigration Service. The asylum seeker appears in front of the Refugee Board as guilty in the accusation cage. The foregoing principle for a fair trial is not applied on them. They have to prove that they are eligible refugees instead of the contrary: being viewed as eligible refugees until the court proves they are not.

or are they considered illegal immigrants? The refugee coordinator from Amnesty International, Ms. Stinne Bech and Mr. Ole Larsen from Dansk Flygtningehjælp, wonder whether the sceptical approach towards asylum seekers has reached an inappropriate level.

Violation of the basic principle for a fair trial Viewing rejected asylum seekers as eligible refugees is the official point of reference for the Danish Refugee Board in handling these cases, but Stinne Bech, the refugee coordinator for Amnesty International in Denmark, and Ole Larsen from Dansk Flygtningehjælp are wondering whether they are really owning up to their official claims when it comes to practise. “Every asylum seeker should be treated as a refugee until the opposite is proven. Not with suspicion,” declares Stinne Bech, who also thinks that the sharp tone in

the debate concerning immigration policy has resulted in a growing suspicious attitude towards asylum seekers. She fears that this attitude might negatively impact the handling of asylum cases in the asylum system. Stinne Bech refers to the drastic decline in the percentage of asylum seekers who have been permitted residences as an indicator of the more sceptical line towards asylum seekers; since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dansk Flygtningehjælp were excluded from the Danish Refugees Board in 2001. She calls for an investigation into the subject. . However she points out that the development in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo might have influenced the smaller number of accepted asylum seekers. Ole Larsen is making the point that one should impress, that an asylum seeker is refugee until other is proven. Rejected asylum seekers feel that their cases were mishandled by immigration authorities and unfair decisions were made based on the strict immigration policy of the government. Treated as illegal Otman Miloud, an Algerian asylum seeker who fled to Denmark in 1999 and lives in Konglunden asylum centre says: “I have been treated as an illegal immigrant and my case was mishandled. I have been submitted to a great pressure in my asylum life. I feel that the authorities are trying to scare me to leave the country. It’s almost 7 years being an asylum seeker in

Denmark. I feel no respect to my life. I don’t know what to do. I am loosing every hope for a good and normal life.” Otman is one of the refugees who feels unfairly treated as a consequence of the sceptical approach towards asylum seekers. A doctor from Amnesty International has confirmed in a document that Otman was exposed to torture and he is still suffering psychologically. For seven years, Othman has been trapped in the web of the Danish asylum system and until today, his case has still not concluded and he is forced to put his life on hold. Otman describes his long waiting period by repeatedly highlighting the toughness of his situation and ending intense half finished sentences saying “it’s difficult…” in an exhausted tone. “I feel it like being in a dark room. I don’t know which way to go…back, forward, left, right. Days make no difference for me, Monday or Friday. I rarely think about it. I am like a blind man. In general life is very difficult.”

FACTS: The percentage of residence permits granted for asylum seekers in Denmark was dropped down from 53% in 2001 to 17% in 2005. The percentage in Norway was 64% in 2005. Sweden made a second investigation of their 30 000 rejected asylum seekers and has granted so far 12 000 residence permits out of them.

newtimes · June 2006

WE WON THE FIRST PRIZE

Asylum seekers in Europe were the subject of writing in a competition organized by Jesuit Refugee Service. The competition was supported by the European Council of Refugees and Exiles (ECRE), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and European Year against Racism.

By sameer

Photo from EP Photo Service- Danish MEP Britta Thomsen (PSE) who presented the first prize to Kasper

In Brussels on the 18th of April at the European Parliament, the Jesuit Refugee Service has announced at a prize-giving ceremony, Kasper Tveden Jensen, a student at Danish School of Journalism as the winner of the first prize for his article “Suicidal Silence”. The prize is a trip to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya

Kasper was amongst students of the Danish school of Journalism visiting Sandholm, the asylum reception center in Denmark, and the Culture House of The Danish Red Cross in Copenhagen to attend presentations for Asylum Seekers Information Group (ASIG), who provide necessary information and references about asylum seekers in Denmark.

SUICIDAL SILENCE

THANK: I would like to thank Sameer Al-Gamal from ASIG and New Times for the great help in providing information and references for my article “Suicidal Silence” which won the first prize in the European competition. Thanks to the Danish Red Cross, asylum Department as well. Kasper Tveden Jensen, May the 10th, 2006

FATCS: In September 2005 Firas Al-Najar a 27-year-old Iraqi asylum seeker hanged himself in the detention centre in Aalborg. Recently, on 19th of June 2006, Majid a 37-year-old Iranian asylum seeker hanged himsellf in the billiard salon in Hanstholm centre in Aalborg. Both commited suicide because they were rejected and facing deportation.

The number of suicide attempts among asylum seekers in Denmark is increasing year by year. The Danish government seems to neglect this alarming fact By Kasper Tveden In comparison with the Danish society, the number of suicide attempts among asylum seekers is more than six times higher. The figures are not only much higher compared with the Danes as a whole, but also a dramatic increasing trend is observed in the last years. According to the Danish Red Cross, the registered amount of suicide attempts among asylum seekers has increased from 1.8 pct in 2004 to 3.0 pct in 2005. The Danish Red Cross is the main caretaker of asylum seekers who are seeking asylum in Denmark. Hasan – a figure in a sad statistic The 24-year-old stateless Palestinian Hasan Wafic El Usta has tried to commit suicide five times since he applied for asylum in Denmark the 30th of November 2000. When Hasan got his second rejection from the Danish authorities, which is the final rejection, he went into a state of mind more and more susceptible to the thought of suicide. He started an intense alcohol and drugs abuse. “After the final rejection, I couldn’t see any future for me. If they sent me back to Lebanon, I would be tortured or even killed,” says Hasan, who escaped from a militant Palestinian group in Syria that wanted Hasan to turn himself into a living bomb and kill Israelis. If it was not the militant group who got to Hasan first, it would be the Lebanese police, who Hasan

newtimes · June 2006

knew from the time they tortured him by burning his skin with cigarettes and hot iron. Wanted to die During one of the suicide attempts, Hasan tried to burn himself to death in his room at the asylum centre Sigerslev. “I smoked some hash and I made a fire in my room. I took off all my clothes and put it in a pile with all the clothes that I had. I jumped on the fire only thinking that I wanted to die.” On Hasan’s legs and hands, the scars from the fire will be an everlasting reminder of that day. For some reason Hasan changed his mind while he was lying in the fire. “Naked I ran to the office and told them what I had done. I felt wrong. The man at the centre just told me that I should go away.” After the fire, Hasan was arrested by the police and sentenced five years to jail for the fire, but after one and a half month in jail, he was released to a hospital because of his mental conditions. Torture and Suicide According to Marcello FerradaNoli, a Swedish professor and medicine doctor in psychiatry from Karolinska Institute, there is a significant correlation between the method of torture and the method used in different modes of suicidal behaviour. Professor Ferrada-Noli has studied the epidemiology of immigrant

suicide in Sweden since 1987, and also investigated the associations between suicidal behaviour and psychic trauma among refugees to Sweden. In one of his international publications, Ferrada-Noli and co-workers have examined a group of 65 asylum seekers in Sweden, who were diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and suicidal behaviour. He discovered that if for instance a person has been the victim of torture involving water, there is a high probability that the person will use drowning as a method to kill oneself. Besides the studies of the correlation between torture and suicide, Marcello Ferrada-Noli has also studied how persons with PTSD are more likely to commit suicide than persons that do not suffer from PTSD. The reaction Hasan feels that the Danish authorities – including the Danish Red Cross - did not care about him when he tried to commit suicide. “The days after my suicide attempt, they (the staff at the centre) came to my room every second hour to check up on me. But nobody listened to what I said. I went to a psychologist but he just said that I shouldn’t do it again.” The Danish Red Cross has since 1984 taken care of the main part of the asylum seekers who are coming to Denmark, but they do not have any powers in the decision

taking by the authorities. The decision whether a person should have asylum or not. Ebbe Munk Andersen is head doctor at the Red Cross’ psychotrauma centre and he is contact to traumatised asylum seekers each day. “When a person has attempted to commit suicide we try and help the best we can. Then we take a look at the case and talk to the person to figure out what is tormenting him,” says Ebbe Munk Andersen and continues “If it is a rejection that the person is depressed by, we hope that it will not kill him. Then there is not much we can do.” In a No Man’s Land If Hasan should blame someone for his suicide attempts, it would be the Danish government. “The Danish government does not listen to our case. They just said it would be safe for me to go back, but what do they know about that?” asks Hasan. Ebbe Munk Andersen is also critical towards the government. He accuses the long period of waiting in a no man’s land for the many suicide attempts. “People who are waiting for asylum have a stressful life, and they are more likely to get depressed than others. When they are waiting a long time for a settlement in their case and the answer is negative, they often turn to drastic actions. One such action could be a suicide,” says Ebbe Munk Andersen.

Furthermore, a lot of the asylum seekers are disposed to PTSD, which makes the possibility of a suicidal behaviour much higher than under normal conditions. One way to improve the situation for the asylum seekers is to shorten the waiting time. For instance, if a person gets her final rejection, and she is to be sent back, the police has eighteen months to do so before she is given a humanitarian residency, but according to Ebbe Munk Andersen, eighteen months is a long time to wait. Looking back The 1st of March this year, Hasan received a temporary residency, which means that he will eventually receive a permanent residency. Hasan got his case opened anew because of his mental health. “I do not think about suicide today, but I get depressed when I think back on the time in the asylum system. Now I will concentrate on my future and hopefully find a girl here in Denmark,” says Hasan who stayed five years and six months in the Danish asylum system before he received his temporary residency. According to Hasan, it was not only the long time of waiting but also the worries about the future that made him consider suicide. Despite several promises for an interview from the Danish Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integrations Affairs, it has not been possible to get a comment from the Minister of Integration, Rikke Hvilshøj.

KAZIM POPAL’S DARK DAY

By Diana On April 5th 2006, Kazim Popal, an Afghani asylum seeker was arrested and sent to a fugitive camp after a stay of almost 5 years in Denmark. This young man had done nothing illegal, and as per Article 9 of the Universal declaration of Human Rights “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile”. The Departure However, Kazim was deported on April 19th to Afghanistan where he was forced to face his destiny. A lot of asylum friends, Red Cross staff and Danes gathered on the day of deportation at Copenhagen airport to bid him farewell. “The Violation of asylum rights, as well as, the system and the practice of deportation exercised by Danish authorities are contradictory to democracy. We are here in the name of Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which declares: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person,” said Mohammed, an asylum friend of Kazim who worked with him at ASIG in the Culture House. The Arrival On April 23rd 2006, Kazim arrived in Kandahar, Afghanistan and established contact with his friends in Denmark. Since being home he has a hard time and is feeling ill. It was difficult for him to cope with

the atmosphere and climate there. He found himself a stranger in his homeland, with no ground to stand on as most of his family was killed during the war. He thought that he had established a base in Denmark to build his future on, but was mistaken as he got nothing from Denmark and was sent home with empty hands after nearly 5 years. In Denmark, he was not allowed to work and was kept for years with no financial support. Kazim asked his friends in the first position for help in sending him some money. Amnesty International believes in a public statement dated the 16th of May 2006 that current conditions in Afghanistan are generally adverse to the return of rejected asylum-seekers as there are no sufficient or durable guarantees ensuring that such returns are safe and dignified. Forced deportation is taking place The Danish Aliens Act states: if a rejected asylum seeker does not leave voluntarily, he or she will be deported from the country by police mandate. On Tuesday, May 9th, 2006 early in the morning there was an incident at one of the asylum centers. Before 6 a.m. in Kongelunden asylum centre, according to eyewitness testimonies who preferred to remain anonymous, people heard screaming and shouting coming from a woman and a child in corridor no.

8. They opened their room doors to find out what the problem was, but closed them again when they saw the National Danish Police taking their neighbor, a Bosnian rejected family, forcibly in a few minutes for deportation. A similar event happened to another asylum seeker: “The police called me to talk about my case. They put me in Sandholm and the next day I was forcibly deported, knowing nothing. I didn’t sign. I am still alive in Africa,” said Yaredsole, an ex-asylum seeker who lived in Denmark for more than 6 years. “We are useless and resistless. We fear of being deported without any guarantee for our safety. We were annoyed and nervous at Kongelunden by such behavior which we witness from time to time. A few days ago the camp was a theatre for journalists and media, including Rikke Hvilshøj the Minister of Refugee, Immigration Affairs to consider the conditions of asylum seekers and their children. Where are those to witness what happened yesterday? Why was the Danish media silent about the forced deportation?” said an anonymous person.

ent monitoring of the respect of their fundamental human rights as prescribed by the UN Refugee Convention,” said Mohammed, an asylum seeker in Kongelunden. It is under international human rights standards not to deport anyone to a country where they are at risk of serious human rights violations. We see that no adequate efforts have been made to denounce such behavior in Denmark that put at risk the lives of rejected asylum seekers. Nicola Ravden, a Danish researcher on asylum cases, commented on Kazim`s case: “After such deportation no representative of a democratic country could anymore claim that Denmark is making progress in the protection of human rights in Europe. No more excuses, it is time to act to protect asylum seekers.” Some Danes do not find it fair how Kazim was treated and their number is increasing in the petition made for him. http://www.ampetition.dk/kazim http://www.indymedia.dk/newswire.php?story_id=465

The most important “Most important for the European governments is the repatriation of asylum seekers and refugees, no matter if there are no assurances from the recipient country if they will allow serious and independ-

newtimes · June 2006

EMPTY HOPES Amnesty International, an non-governmental organisation, is a worldwide movement of people with a vision of a world in which every person enjoys all human rights. However, Amnesty’s activities, efforts and achievements to protect the rights of asylum seekers are affected by government policies and conditions applied on asylum seekers in Denmark.

Advocacy interview with Ms Stinne Bech, International Coordinator for refugee and asylum issues in the Danish section of Amnesty International.

By Kumar The Danish section of Amnesty International is trying their best to protect the rights of asylum seekers and help them through government policies. However, the actual problem is that the organization has limitations. “But there is always hope,” says Ms. Stinne Bech, the main person at Amnesty in charge of issues concerning refugees and asylum seekers in Denmark. No right to work There is no right to work for asylum seekers in Denmark and a pressure can be placed on Denmark to make changes. The right to work is not assured in the conventions of human rights but it is not forbidden either. It is up to the reception country to decide if asylum seekers can work or not, but Amnesty always favours the idea of giving the right to work to asylum seekers. In fact, asylum seekers are supposed to make a contract including training, ‘work’ and other activities at the center. Whether the asylum seeker is paid depends on what phase (2 or 3) the asylum seeker is in. In phase 2 there is a minor payment. “I believe that the problem regarding the right to work is not only a question about money. I think it is mostly a question of dignity and quality of life. In that sense I think it is very important that the asylum seekers have the possibility to work, and not only in the centres but at a real working place,” says Stinne Bech. Protection from deportation Last year Amnesty International submitted a report to the Danish authorities showing that Iraq and Kosovo are not safe for sending back rejected asylum seekers.

Amnesty International had a meeting with the Minister of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs and the situation for rejected asylum seekers was discussed. Amnesty recommended that asylum seekers like the Iraqis, who cannot return home, are granted a temporary residence permit in Denmark. It seems though, that there has been no immediate impact of this effort. The asylum seekers are still subjected to different incentives designed to persuade them to return to their home countries. Formally, there might be no pressure on these rejected asylum seekers, but in reality they do not get any pocket money. Asylum seekers and their families have to live on cafeteria food, they lack access to external activities to keep themselves busy. The rejected asylum seekers also need to report twice a week to the local police. ”The report and the meeting was an effort from Amnesty International to protect rejected asylum seekers e.g. from Iraq and Kosovo by suggesting that the government should not deport them, but apparently the effort did not have a strong impact on the authorities,” says Ms. Bech.

because organizations like the Danish Refugee Council are already providing such help. “We have decided to use our resources where we find it useful and where we have expertise. That’s why we provide asylum seekers and their lawyers with back ground information on the conditions in the country of origin, the human right situation for specific groups in different countries etc., information that might help in the asylum case. We are offering torture victims medical examinations if the lawyer judges that evidence of torture might support the asylum case and in very rare cases we help asylum seekers in danger of refoulement. On the other hand we use resources on lobbying of the Danish authorities expressing our concerns on the Danish policy and practice as well as the development in refugee protection inside the EU,” Stinne Bech explains.

Limited impact There are 40 employees in the Amnesty office. It is a big building in Copenhagen, but there is only one person in charge of refugee issues. Stinne Bech tells that Amnesty’s economic resources mainly stem from membership fees. “We are totally independent of governments, interest groups, etc. This would strengthen the ability to criticize the Danish authorities – also regarding refugee issues,” Stinne Bech adds. Amnesty in Denmark has decided not to use resources on individual counseling to asylum seekers

MS STINNE BECH COMMENTS By Abdul-Aziz “I see a difference between rejected and not yet rejected asylum seekers; because the first ones are those having the hardest time here in Denmark, not the second ones. I was in Avnstrup and I did not like what I saw. It is not a place that anybody should call a home for many years, because it is not like a home.” Health & Accommodation “Most of the health system is also connected to the centres; there are doctors and nurses at the centres. It is only in the most serious life threatening cases that asylum seekers are being sent to the hospital. People are staying for many years and that is the problem, if they suffer from illnesses that might not

newtimes · June 2006

kill them. The human rights conventions recognize the right of all individuals to an adequate standard of living, which includes the provision of food, clothing and accommodation to asylum seekers. Asylum seekers are granted the right to a place to live but the conventions do not include a more detailed prescription of the standard of the accommodation. The accommodation standards for asylum seekers and refugees will differ from country to country according to the resources available. In refugee camps in Africa, refugees are living very close together in tents because these countries don’t have the resources to improve their camps. But I think it is quite different with a rich country like Denmark. The rights in the conventions are supposed to

be achieved progressively taking into account available resources. I don’t think it is appropriate to accommodate asylum seekers the way we do here. Denmark is a rich country; and people in Denmark should not live for years with only one room for an entire family. We are not doing enough for asylum seekers.” Improvements “There are discussions about improving the conditions for asylum seekers, after the focus from the media on the situation of asylum seekers and their children. I think we might see some changes in this field. I think it might be easier to go to work, but I don’t think we will see changes in the health system.” “Some conditions in the asylum centres are definitely on the edge of

the human rights. I don’t think that the government is making enough efforts to meet the rights of taking care and reintegrating the exposed children. Regarding asylum seekers, the major topics are non discrimination, freedom of movement, freedom of religion, access to court and public education and health – and of course non-refoulement . I think the discussion about the conditions for asylum seekers and refugees is not only a question about what is included and not included in the human right conventions, but also a question about assuring that the authorities are acting in a humane and dignified way.” Optimism “Amnesty will continue to work for an improvement of the conditions for asylum seekers and refugees. I

believe that asylum conditions will get better in the long run. I think that we will see some improvements after all these discussions, because the minister has said that she would look into it, but I am afraid that it will not be enough. Amnesty has brought the problems of the conditions for asylum seekers up for the politicians several times.”

DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO YOU THAT THE RED CROSS IS HANDLING THE ASYLUM CENTERS IN DENMARK? IF SO, WHY?

“The Danish Red Cross is doing very well by giving all types of support to asylum seekers coming to Denmark. For me, as an Iraqi asylum seeker who has lived for years in the asylum centers in Denmark, it makes no difference if they continue their activities or not. We are fully aware that their activities are highly affected by the tough government policies applied on asylum seekers in Denmark.”

“As far as the Red Cross is loyal to the 7 principles, it’s the right organization to accommodate asylum seekers and run asylum centers. However, there is Red Cross staff more loyal to the Immigration Service than to the 7 principles.”

“We have not dealt with other organizations running asylum centers, but I believe it would be in favor of asylum seekers if the Red Cross resigns in protest against the strict rules and the vulnerable conditions of the asylum children in the asylum centers.”

Abu Mustafa - Sandholm Nada - Fassan

“The Red Cross of 5 years ago is different than the Red Cross today. The Red Cross is losing its value and some staff behaves as if they were governmental staff and they forget that they belong to a humanitarian organization and their job is to help asylum seekers. Some staff in Kongelunden need refresher courses to always remember their job.” Adel – Avnstrup

“The Red Cross is doing a great job, but unfortunately is tightened by the government. They have a limited budget, but still trying to improve the conditions of the asylum seekers in the centres. I prefer the Red Cross to accommodate asylum seekers; at least with them we don’t smell the odour of Dansk Folkparti, they are a humanitarian organisation better than any other bodies to run the asylum centres. They do not fail to provide the basic needs for asylum seekers. ”

Mohammed - Avnstrup Salama Oude - Sandholm

“It means a lot to me that the Red Cross is handling asylum centres. The Red Cross provide rights to asylum seekers including the best types of food. I would wish that Red Cross processes asylum cases instead of Immigration Service, but life is completely different. The Red Cross is living and feeling with the dilemma of asylum seekers.”

“The Danish Red Cross has good experience in dealing with asylum seekers; therefore, it is the most qualified organization to handle the asylum centres. It is not the fault of the Red Cross that asylum seekers wait a long time in the camps, they can not be blamed for this.” Johnny Bary – Sandholm

Aljarah – Sandholm

newtimes · June 2006

5 YEARS OF ART IN ASYLUM CENTERS By Sameer

Since he applied for asylum in 2001, Ihsan Adham has spent much time painting and developing his unique and multi-artistic talents. He is a painter, calligrapher and musician.

Professor Ihsan Adham has studied music and art with Professor Karl F. Mess at the "Hochschule für Musik und Darstellendekunst" in StuttgartGermany. He is holder of a master grade in calligraphy and was a professor at the College of Arts in Baghdad University. Adham also plays the flute, was a member of the Iraqi national symphony orchestra and worked with The Danish Sommer Chamber Music Group. He has made art for many exhibitions in Germany, Iraq and the Arab world. Music & exhibitions Ihsan Adham fled Iraq with his wife and two sons. In Denmark, he was moved between different asylum centers around the country for the last five years. Although he is a rejected asylum seeker, he always

made close contacts with the Danish community in the area of his asylum centre. In Lolland Falster, he made good contacts with artists and institutions. He was a flute player with two orchestras: Storstrøms Symfoniorkester and Hjemmeværnets Musik Korps, as well as, the Vejle Baroque Ensemble and other music groups. His art works of his asylum time were exhibited in galleries and different places in Denmark and were handled by the Danish media on several occasions. For instance, “One man exhibition” was shown in Sandvig, Bornholm 2001-2002, Jelling Town Hall, Mollen-Jelling Gallery 2005, and most recently in Fredericia 2006. Recently, Prof. Ihsan Adham has supervised a project at the Red Cross School in Jelling under the

title Wall Deko Art and the works were designed and painted by young students. Reply button Despite his talents in the arts, life as an asylum seeker has been difficult for Adham and his family. Adham`s wife explains that their life in Denmark is like a woman in labour without delivery. “I hit the wrong reply button. I speak with my five senses but the law does not allow me to work and I can not sell any of my paintings. I draw, paint and play music for free in Denmark. I present gifts. I am afraid to be sent back to Iraq with empty hands after being for years in Denmark,” says Ihsan Adham to the New Times. An overview of Ihsan Adham`s works and paintings at his website: http://www.ihsanadham.dk/

REFUGEES AT A PUBLIC SPACE An art project in cooperation between the

Review by Simon

Danish Red Cross Culture house, Thorvald-

On one of the outside walls of the museum is an old wall painting displaying the Danish sculpture Bertel Thorvaldsen’s return to Denmark in 1838. It shows the celebration that was made for him by the citizens of Copenhagen after his stay in Rome. The two art students were assigned to decorate a temporary facade while the original is undergoing restoration. Their work of art had to have a thematical link with the old wall painting of Thorvaldsen’s return. To fulfill this task the artists contacted the Danish Red Cross Culture house to arrange a meeting with some asylum seekers and get the story about their arrival to Denmark displayed in public. At the start, the artists’ agreement was to collect written stories from asylum

sens Museum and two students from the Royal Danish Academy of Art was revealed Friday, May the 17th of May – and is visible on the facade of Thorvaldsens Museum for the next two months.

seekers, and blow them up on the 35 meter long wall to be read by people passing by. But as a final result of the cooperation between the Danish Red Cross, Thorvalsens Museum and the artists, the temporary facade is now decorated with the drawing of a child, illustrating the war in Bosnia and the travel to Denmark as a refugee who arrived in the former asylum enter Flotellet. Child drawings The drawing was made by 12 year old Jasmin from Bosnia. He is now in his early twenties and has obtained residency; working as a mechanic he was married the day after the opening of the drawing. The original drawing by Jasmin was put on the basement wall in the Danish Red Cross Culture house, but none of the users of the house or its employees knew what had

happened with Jasmin after he received his residence permission. The artists traced down Jasmin after a minor detective operation to ask if he would accept the use of his drawings on the wall. Jasmin gladly agreed to get his long forgotten child drawings magnified on a 35 meter wall in the centre of Copenhagen. Also Jasmin has given interviews and had his picture taken, so that his whole story can be found on the internet on www.jasminstegning.dk. On this site the stories of less fortunate asylum seekers can be found, together with Danish and international statistics, from the time of Jasmin’s arrival to the present, concerning refugees and asylum seekers. In addition, links to the Danish Red Cross, Geneva Convention and Human Rights WebPages can be found. To Visit The project will have been exciting and packed with various ideas from the three very different participants, when it all comes to an end. Not all of the ideas were made public, but agreement has been made in a relatively short period of time, from late April till Friday 17th of May. For those who want to take a look, Thorvaldsens Museum is placed on Bertel Thorvaldsens Plads 2, just beside Christiansborg. Entrance is free on Wednesdays and all other days a ticket costs 20 kr for an adult. On Mondays the museum is closed. More information clicks onto www.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk.

newtimes · June 2006

2006 – ENERGY SAVING YEAR

2006 is the year where we in the Danish Red Cross, Asylum Department have decided that from the 1st June to the 31st December, we will make savings of

2006 – Energy saving year

5% of the energy bills, (electricity, heating and water). 2006 is the year where we in the Danish Red Cross, Asylum Department have To from this end, weJune needtotothe enlist help of everyone, residents staff. decided that the 1st 31st the December, we will make savingsand of 5% of the energy bills, (electricity, heatingenergy and water). We will create an intensive saving campaign, involving our school chilTo this end, we need to enlist the help of everyone, residents and staff. dren, a road show travelling around to all the asylum centres, posters displayWe will create an intensive energy saving campaign, involving our school children, a ing energy information, and much more. energy road show travelling around to all saving the asylum centres, posters displaying saving information, and much more. Watch this space for more information!!! Watch this space for more information!!!

2006 �� 12/31 �� 6/1 �� 2006 �� . (�� – �� – �� ) �� %5 �� . �� - �� . �� – �� 2006 – er energi sparerår år i asylafdelingen 2006 – er energi sparer i asylafdelingen

2006 er året hvor Dansk Røde Kors, Asylafdelingen har besluttet at spare 5 % på 2006 er året hvor Dansk Røde Kors, Asylafdelingen har besluttet at spare 5 % på el, el,og varme varme vand.og vand. For at støtte op om denne beslutning, vil vi hermed opfordrer og medarbejdere til at opfordrer give en hjælpende hånd. For at støtte opalle om beboere denne beslutning, vil vi hermed alle beboere og medarbejdere til athjælp give en hånd. stable en intensiv spare-kampagne på Vi vil med frahjælpende vores skolebørn Vi vil med hjælp fra vores skolebørn stable en intensiv spare-kampagne på benene. Virundt vil bl.a. rundt på alle energi spare roadhænge show, vi vil Vi vilbenene. bl.a. tage på tage alle centre med et centre energi med spareetroad show, vi vil plakaterhænge op omplakater hvordanop man på man energien ogpå meget meget omsparer hvordan sparer energien ogmere. meget meget mere. Hold øjne og øre åbneHold for mere øjne information og øre åbne!!! for mere information !!!

newtimes · June 2006

Y A D E E G U F WORLD RE

special was adopted by a ne Ju of th 20 e Th . pression of Refugee Day fugee Day as an ex June 20th is World Re ld or W as n . tio bly Resolu fugees in the world re of n tio la UN General Assem pu po t a, host to the larges solidarity with Afric ay the focus is to: D e ge fu Re displaced persons; ld d or an W es On ge fu re of ions; about the plight their current situat d an - Raise awareness es ge fu re n te ation of forgot Internally Displaced d an es ge fu re t - Highlight the situ ec ot ation of states to pr - Reinforce the oblig s, stand up comece en er nf co Persons. as ch ating with events su d Danes will The world is celebr Asylum seekers an . es ic rv se l e 28th ia or d mem y on the quay on th da re ltu dians, concerts an cu a h ug ro t-Adult t in Denmark th Asylum Departmen e th celebrate the even s, os Cr d Re h nhagen. by the Danis lture House in Cope Cu of June, organized e th d an nd lla ( VUA ) Sjæ s especially Vocational Training day where we focu is It y. tr en , ee fr to all with ere will be free food Th s. er nt ce The event is open um yl bands ung people in the as ill be the following w e ag st on children and yo n O e! or m eam, candy and a barbecue, ice cr others: along with various

��

newtimes · June 2006

��

Legal Letters is your direct way to learn more about asylum seekers and the law. Anna Bloch Langskov

LEGALLETTERS , an experienced legal counsellor at Dansk Flygtningehjælp, will do her very best to answer all your questions.

Since the answers given in Legal Letters are based on relatively limited information about your specific case I would like draw your attention to the individual counselling at the Danish Refugee Council, Borgergade 10 in Copenhagen, which takes place every Wednesday between 1 -3 pm. You must speak Danish or English or bring someone who can interpret for you.

Nordea bank has refused to open an account saying that they have received strict instruction not to open a bank account for an asylum seeker. Is it a new law issued by the Danish parliament or there is another authority for issuing laws concerning asylum seekers? I have contacted Nordea’s head office and talked to a legal adviser. He could inform me that there is no law saying that you – as an asylum seeker – can not open a bank account in Nordea. Nordea, however, needs to receive documentation regarding your address for example and there are also certain limits regarding loans and other forms of services provided to you. Therefore, I will advice you to contact your bank again and inform them of this. Isn’t funny that Ministry of Integration and Immigration advise an advocate in a letter that the Immigration Service didn’t answer them yet after 9 months and as soon as they have an answer they will contact him? Can we charge the

Danish authorities for keeping us waiting for a long? There can be many reasons why the processing of an application for asylum or a humanitarian residence permit takes a long time. There is no upper limit as to how long time it can take the Danish authorities to process a claim for asylum or a humanitarian stay. The authorities might for example need to gather information or process new information that might have come to their attention. However, you should of course know why your case has been prolonged. I therefore advice you to contact the relevant authorities and ask them what is happening in your case.

My teeth and mouth are infected and it is getting worse and worse, I can not eat other than liquid food. Dentist recommended quick treatment and surgery. The Immigration Service didn’t like the dentist’s quotation. They are negotiating with the center for months. What should I do? Anyone staying in Denmark as an asylum seeker is entitled to receive medical attention if it is urgent and necessary. It is the Immigration Service that decides whether operation or other medical treatment is needed for. I do not know the precise details in your case but I will advice you to contact the staff at the asylum center where you are staying and ask for further documentation regarding your medical condition and send these documents to the Immigration Service.

I have a stateless Palestinian friend with a permanent residence in Czech Republic. Does he need a visa to Denmark? Whether your friend is allowed to travel to Denmark on a visit depends among other things on what kind of residence permit he has. The rules regarding visas and visits to other European states are regulated by the EU. I will therefore advice your friend to contact the Immigration authorities in the Czech Republic or the Danish Embassy in Prague for advice.

Does the Danish law allows forcibly deportation of asylum seekers, without any assurances that the recipient country will allow serious and independent monitoring of the respect of their fundamental human rights as prescribed by the UN Refugee Convention? The Danish authorities have a duty to secure that a person is not send to a country where his or her life would be threatened on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, in other words well founded fear of persecution. Furthermore, Denmark cannot send a person to a country where he or she faces a death penalty, risk of being subjected to torture or other degrading or inhumane treatment or punishment, or risk of being returned to a country where there is a risk of being subjected to the above mentioned treatment or punishment.

We are a rejected Iraqi family. It’s our 8th year in Denmark. Is there any Danish law considering the long staying time to grant a residence in Denmark? I understand that 8 years is a very long time to stay in Denmark as rejected asylum seekers. However, since it is the opinion of the Danish authorities that Iraqis can return to Iraq if they wish there are no prospects of receiving a residence permit in Denmark – even if you have stayed here for 8 years. It is only in cases where a rejected asylum seeker has worked with and helped the police in returning home and this still hasn’t been possible for more than 18 months that the asylum seeker has the possibility of receiving a temporary residence permit – and yet it is dependent on an evaluation of the prospects of a future deportation by the police.

I am cooperating with police in my deportation for more than 22 months and receiving no financial support. I eat at Avnstrup and receive no money at all. I have contacted Immigration Service, police. In 2005 the Danish government implemented new regulations for the payment of cash allowances to asylum seekers directed at those asylum seekers who do not live up to the obligations required by the immigration law. The programme is primarily intended for cases where asylum seekers have received final rejections of their applications for Danish residence permits, have not left the country by the date ordered, and who are not willing to leave the

country. It is possible for the Immigration Service to remove an asylum seeker from the food allowance program if they choose to cooperate with police on their departure. It is difficult for me to comment on your specific case but I can tell you that in principle, if you are a rejected asylum seeker and you are cooperating fully with the Danish authorities on your departure you should receive allowance. I will therefore advise you to appeal the decision to the Ministry of Integration and if possible to include documentation stating that you are cooperating, ex. signed papers from the police.

ASK US Any questions? Write your question to: n New Times DRC Culture House Strandgade 100E 1401 København K newtimes@redcross.dk Please feel free to ask anonymously. You can also contact: n Dansk Flygtningehjælp Legal Councelling Unit – Asylum Department Borgergade 10 Postbox 53 1002 København K Webpage: www.flygtning.dk E-mail: advice@drc.dk Free legal counselling for asylum seekers every Wednesday 13-15 You need to present you questions in Danish or English

newtimes · June 2006

FUNNY ASYLUM STORIES By Sameer We don’t know whether the following asylum stories are true or if they are rumors. They have been told and promoted by asylum seekers in the centers and some of them may be noted in police reports. We have no evidence or documents to support them, but we find them funny! The last story about the honesty of an asylum seeker is a true story.

Riding a duck In an interview with the police for checking the route, Yasir an Iraqi ex-asylum seeker told them that he came from Iraq to Denmark riding on a duck. The policeman then asked Yasir to seriously tell him in a logical way how he came to Denmark. Yasir insisted on his previous statement and asked the policeman to accompany him outside the office to show him the duck who brought him to Denmark. The police went out with him and found no duck. Yasir commented that the duck has dropped him in Sandholm and it may come again with another asylum seeker.

On board a camel e Danish police at An asylum seeker told th on a camel to DenSandholm that he came him where he left mark. The police asked seeker answered the camel. The asylum and he can show somewhere in Sandholm e policeman accomthem the place. When th er out of the police panied the asylum seek the asylum seeker office to see the camel, lm shouted and near the gate of Sandho had stolen the camel. screamed that someone

By parachute An asylum seeker told th e Danish police that his parachute was land ed in Sandholm and he found himself obliged to apply for asylum. He has no other story to tell about the selected route to Denmark.

The dream ani asylum seeker It was a dream, an Afgh e: “I slept in Afghanisaid to the Danish polic ndholm. I don’t know stan and woke up in Sa how it happened.”

The honesty of an asylu m seeker Hillerød police were ha ppy to come to Sandholm, this time for good and not because of any trouble. Sarbaz Jawad Kader, an asylum seeker at Sandholm had found tw o personal wallets in a drawer that he bought from a second hand shop. He could identify the owner from the content of the wallets. He called the owner, who was happy to know that her wallets were found in her old dr awer. She received her wallet back and wi th the police present, counted the money insid e to be 23,500DKK. Sarbas received a gift of 3000DKK from the owner for his honesty. So me weeks later, two Danish doctors came to visit Sarbas and his family offering help , and showed their interest in having hone st people like Sarbas in Denmark.

Published by: The Red Cross Asylum Department Editorial Office: DRC Culture House, Strandgade 100E 1401 Copenhagen K, Denmark Tel. 3296 0088; fax: 3296 0058 E-mail: newtimes@redcross.dk

Editor-in-chief: Henrik Ravn Managing Editors: Osama Al-Habahbeh and Isabel Fluxá Rosado Staff: Sameer, Mohammed, Diana, Abdul-Aziz, Sergei, Kumar, Mustafa, Jawad, Jihan, Mads, Mohin, Simon. Translation and Proof reading: Patricia, Eva, JoAnna.

Food box receiver A rejected asylum seek er, who was a heavy smoker, took his food bo x and went to buy cigarettes. He went to a supermarket and asked the cashier for a box of cigarettes and then emptied the conten ts of the food box on the conveyer belt. He as ked the cashier to select items in exchange for the cigarettes because he had no mone y to pay for them.

oss Neutrality of the Red Cr seekers in Sandholm There were two asylum t a star in the sky. having an argument abou e sun while the other The first one said it’s th d Cross staff passed said it’s the moon. A Re settle their arguby and they asked him to ed that he must apply ment. The staff answer y of the Red Cross in the principle of neutralit ot be a part of argusuch a case and he cann ment.

Lay-out: Jens Burau Printed by: OTMAvistryk Distributed to: Danish asylum centers, ministries, members of the Danish Parliament, public libraries, asylum and human rights organisations, NGOs, medias and individuals in Denmark and abroad.

ISSN: 1397 6877 The opinions expressed are those of the authors and the persons interviewed. DRC cannot be held responsible for any other opinions. All contributions are very welcome from readers and others who take an interest in the issue of

asylum. The Editorial Board reserves the right to edit these materials according to editorial and space considerations. This publication is based on the Red Cross principles of humanity, independence, impartiality, neutrality, voluntarism, universality and unity.

ASYLANSØGERE PÅ VEJ MOD ARBEJDE

newtimes · June 2006