NT#69

A magazine produced by asylum seekers living in the Danish Red Cross Asylum Centres > november 2006>issue # 69

OUTSTANDING ASYLUM FILES

Photo/Montage: Mohammed

This summer there have been a number of forced deportations of Albanians and Gorani to Kosovo.

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It is challenging for us to make a satisfactory repatriation programme, Ole Larsen, information officer at DRC.

”

THE THREAT OF DEPORTATION

By Diana In August 2006, the Danish National Police came to Kongelunden asylum centre and took Azir, a Kosovo Gorani from his room. Azir’s wife and their two children, Almer aged 13 and Zalhid aged 7, were taken by the police a few days later. According to their neighbours and friends, it happened without the family being able to gather together their personal possessions. Farhad, a neighbour, said “They were deported to Kosovo.

I don’t think they will be back”.

Similar things have happened to several families from Kosovo during the summer.

The Danish newspaper, Kristelig Dagblad reported in September that at least 40 people from Kosovo have been deported by force and 13 have left voluntarily. Some families (about 41 people) have disappeared from the asylum centres before they could be deported.

The Albanian couple, Shyqri and Elifa together with their three children - a son aged 5 and two daughters of 8 and 17 - were taken by the police from their room in Avnstrup centre; also allegedly with little time to gather their personal possessions. There are still Albanian families waiting at the centres in fear of deportation.

“Rejected Albanians are sent home with no money and they get no financial support there. Nobody is helping us, nobody cares whether our children go to school or not, or if they will receive healthcare and social support. A few people get money and support and others get nothing,” said Alboulina, a young Albanian girl facing deportation.

Those who cooperate with police in their deportation get some

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financial help; others who don’t cooperate are punished by getting no financial support.

UNMIK accepts returns UNMIK (United Nations Mission in Kosovo) is the UN organisation that supports the rebuilding of civil society in Kosovo. It receives guidelines on repatriation from the UNHCR. In March 2005 UNHCR issued guidelines that while Roma people still can not be forcibly returned to Kosovo, UNMIK should accept the repatriation of deported Albanians and Gorani on the basis of a case by case assessment.

Before 2005 UNMIK did not allow asylum seekers to be deported back to Kosovo if they had certain psychological illnesses and if their homes were uninhabitable.

But recently UNMIK changed its policy, and now refugees with these difficulties are accepted.

Linda, Alboulina, Noura and their parents came to Denmark in 2002. They claimed asylum on the basis of being members of a threatened minority. They are an Albanian-Turkish family from Kosovo.

Today the three girls are between 14 and 22 years old and they have been going to school in Denmark for the last four years. The family’s asylum application was rejected a month ago. They now face a possible deportation to Kosovo.

“No Danes will fight to keep us in Denmark for the time being, nobody will lobby to stop us being deported. The time is over when local people hindered deportation,” the mother, Suada said.

Linda Hashani who is the couple’s 22 years old daughter was devastated by the news of the latest development in the conditions in

Kosovo and that their application had been rejected. She wonders: “What kind of progress has been made in Kosovo to make our return possible? We were hoping that the Danish government would grant us the right to stay indefinitely.”

Afraid to go back ”Nobody is willing to leave; we believe that we are victims of the strict immigration policy. The Danish Red Cross and all other humanitarian organisations ask us to prepare for going back home. They give us the impression that there is nothing to hinder our deportation.

They want us to be accommodating and make our return easy,” said the father, Emriden.

Morad is a rejected Roma from Kosovo and a resident of Avnstrup.

“The threat of deportation has had a terrible effect on the asylum kids, they do not really know anywhere else other than this country. Everyone is totally devastated in the asylum centres – there is not a dry eye down there today,” he commented on a day when families were being picked up by the police and deported.

“I can’t imagine it’s going to happen. When we took the decision to seek asylum we left behind everything, we have no more links or ties with Kosovo. I wonder what motivated the Danish government to send Kosovo Albanians back home. We still can’t understand.

Imagine the situation for mentally sick people in Kosovo? How could the UN allow their departures,” Emriden added.

Aid and support The Danish Red Cross is trying to evaluate the urgent humanitar-

Photo: Mohammed

ian needs of Kosovovans on the deportation lists. Many have been in asylum centres for years and are not prepared for sudden deportation when surprised by the police: “We have tried to pay special attention and ensure that they are able to return taking the basic needs of a month’s supply of medicine and clothing,” said legal counsellor Ann-Sofie Bech.

The Danish Red Cross is also working in cooperation with the German repatriation organisation, AGEF, which has a lot of experience in receiving returned asylum seekers in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo and in helping them with jobs and education. At the moment the unemployment rate in Kosovo is 60 %.

Some people who have already returned voluntarily to Kosovo have received help from the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) there. The Danish Refugee Council received three million Kroner from the authorities to establish a housing programme and they are able to help with food packages, wood for the restoration of houses and some kitchen supplies etc. However, the aid is limited, especially for people with health problems.

“We have five to ten cases per week and we are not able to keep up with them all as resources are limited. It is challenging for us to make a satisfactory repatriation programme,” said Ole Larsen, the information officer at DRC.

Find more information about AGEF on: www.AGEF.NET Danish Refugee Council: www.drc.dk

FACTS:  Together with the Red Cross, the Immigration Service runs two departure centres: Centre Sandholm in Allerød Municipality, and Avnstrup Centre in Hvalsø Municipality.  Residents in the departure centres are typically asylum seekers who will not cooperate with the police on their departure. They have received final rejections and have not left the country by the set deadline.  Conditions at the departure centres differ from those at normal centres. The special conditions include:  Cafeteria service, i.e. residents are provided with meals three times daily (The cafeteria was recently cancelled in Avnstrup, but it still remains at Sandholm)  There are extra guards to ensure that only individuals on approved business are allowed access to centres. This means that only individuals invited by residents are admitted.  There are police present in order to ensure order and residents have to show up and sign on a weekly basis.  Adult residents are not permitted to participate in courses or work placements while awaiting departure  Residents may not relocate unless the Immigration Service permits them to do so.

MOTHER LEFT TWO CHILDREN IN WAR ZONE This summer Dounia couldn’t rescue all of her five children and was obliged to escape leaving two of them behind in a war zone in Lebanon.

cuation moment.

Dounia at the eva

By Basem

Photo: Mohammed

The recent war in Lebanon flared up suddenly with no warning. It was beyond everyone’s expectations. Bridges were destroyed and roads were cut. People lost means of transport and communication.

Thousands of Lebanese and other citizens were trapped in war zones.

Civilians were frightened. Everybody wanted to escape but they had no means of transportation, no safe roads, while bombs and explosions were heard everywhere.

Barges from other countries sailed to the Lebanese coast to evacuate and rescue their own citizens. It seemed that the diplomatic missions in Lebanon had circulated strict instructions to evacuate only their own citizens. Other Lebanese, stateless Palestinians and local people with no residence permits or visas for other countries were denied access to the evacuation boats; they were left behind to face their destiny in the war zones.

War started during visit A Danish family: Mahmoud Khatab and his wife and children were in one of the Palestinian camps in Tyre in southern Lebanon when the war flared up. They were visiting their only daughter, 35 year old Dounia who has five children.

The Khatab family decided to leave with other escapees on board a ship arranged by the Danish diplomatic mission in Lebanon. It was a hard decision to leave their daughter and her children to risk the dangers of war, but they had no choice. Dounia and her family had no visa for Denmark and they would not have been allowed into the country.

Air strikes and explosions were heard in the areas surrounding Tyre seaport. The Mahmoud and the family had to say farewell to their daughter Dounia and her five children and get on to the ship leaving for Cyprus.

The evacuation Moment “It felt terribly unfair to do this.

We went and said goodbye to my daughter and her children. It was difficult for me to see my grandchildren screaming and crying. They wanted to join us on the evacuation boat. It was impossible for me to convince the children that we couldn’t take them with us. The boat sailed without them,” Mahmoud said.

When they were on board, another ferry sailed towards the ship carrying a group of people.

Mahhmoud could see his grandson, 14 year old Ihab amongst the people on board. He was told later by members of the Norwegian consulate that his daughter Dounia, together with three of her children, was on board.

When the family was reunited Dounia was crying because she had left behind two of her children: her sons, Mohammed 15 and Yousef, a three year old.

“We decided we had to leave Lebanon and that our only chance was to go on the Norwegian boats.

It was a last minute decision, we didn’t think about anything else.

The boat stopped and in the crush of people trying to get on, we heard bombs and explosions. My husband just pushed us onto the boat; I got on first with three of my children.

Suddenly the boat started to move away, while my husband and my other two children were still on the

quay. We were swept along with the crowd. The leader of the rescue team didn’t take any notice of my screams. I was shouting asking him to pick up the rest of my family. Or maybe he didn’t understand me or maybe he had urgent instructions to sail. So they remained on shore!

I was afraid that I would never see my children again,” said Dounia.

A half family Dounia and her three children are in Denmark today. They have made some contacts with the other half of the family in south of Lebanon through BBC, CNN and TV2.

Dounia is now willing to stay in Denmark and has applied for permission to become unified with her two children and her husband who are still in Lebanon.

“Now, we are okay, we are safe and we want our second half to be safe here with us. We are stateless Palestinians and we have no ties with Lebanon,” Dounia ended her talk with us.

Dounia and her children have applied for asylum in Denmark so to be reunited with her parents.

They have been housed in Fasan asylum centre, but they spend most of their time with Dounia’s parents at their home in Copenhagen. At this point Dunia does not know when she will be able to see her two missing children and her husband again. Recently some of them were granted asylum.

FACTS: The 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, known in Lebanon as the July War and in Israel as the Second Lebanon War, was a military conflict in Lebanon and northern Israel, primarily between the Lebanese Hezbollah paramilitary forces and Israel. It started on 12th July 2006 and ended when a United Nations brokered ceasefire went into effect on 14th August 2006.

Rejected stateless Palestinian asylum seekers who came from Lebanon several years ago have received letters from the police (most of them dating from 1st September 2006) stating that their deportation to Lebanon is impossible and asking the Refugee Board to reconsider their cases. Recently some of them were granted asylum.

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The Danish Authorities have been criticised in the media because of the conditions at the asylum centres. The media campaign resulted in the Danish Red Cross receiving 31 million Kr this year to amend the conditions in asylum centres, and in particular to improve the lives of the asylum children.

CHANGES FOR CHILDREN newtimes · November 2006

There are nearly 217 children who live in asylum centres; 52 of these have been approved to join Danish primary schools.

A total of 40 children are attending primary school as of October 1st.

About half of them started school outside asylum centres in August/September 2006.

Numbers of asylum children at Red Cross asylum centres aged from 6-16 years at Sandholm: 82; Avnstrup: 74; Kongelunden: 47. Of these, 28 are supposed to join Danish primary schools in October 2006.

d me am oh M : oto Ph

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FACTS:

Cross is also working on a similar offer for the children in other centres. “At the moment we have 20 pupils from Kongelunden and 8 pupils from Sandholm attending Danish primary schools and we are also trying to get children from Avnstrup access to primary schools,” said Paul Karoff, the leader of the Red Cross schools in asylum centres in Sjælland.

By Otman Recently, the asylum centres have observed some changes and improvements in the daily life for children. The Danish Red Cross has created more activities for children and their families, as well as more structure, support and help.

Classes in native languages Among the changes, asylum children are now able to learn their mother tongue at school, so they will be better prepared to manage in their native language if they return to their homeland. Currently Arabic, Serbian/Croatian and Roman/ Albanian are being offered.

Hani is a 16 year old rejected Iraqi asylum seeker. He has attended Danish primary school (folkeskole) for the last four years believing he was going to stay in Denmark. He now regrets studying Danish language, because he is facing deportation back to Iraq. Hani has a 6 year old brother and a 7 year old sister who both speak Danish very well. However, they are going to face problems at school when they go back home as they don’t know Arabic or the Iraqi culture.

“What future is waiting for us in Iraq?” Hani asked.

The Danish Red Cross has added special teaching for children with special needs and also nursery classes. It is now possible for asylum children from the age of six to attend school.

An agreement has been made with the Copenhagen municipality to have more children from Fasan and Kongelunden centres attend public schools. The Danish Red

Rise of activities The Danish Red Cross has expanded the playrooms and clubs. By making the playroom available for children aged 2-6 it is now possible to offer care to children from the age of two There is also more money for spare-time activities such as outdoor recreation, cinema visits and entertainment, as well as participation in sport clubs and for the purchase of sport equipment. Coordinators at the centres will ensure that all children get the opportunity to participate in relevant activities.

During the entire summer holidays the DRC offered additional activities for children and families such as circus, excursions in the woods, canoe tours, camp school barbecue evenings and other activities.

Asylum children were invited to open houses and culture days, Tivoli, Bonbon land, concerts, theatres, circus, barbecues, fishingtours, zoo and countryside trips, dance and music parties. It was a golden summer for children at the asylum centres.

A mother with several children living in Kongelunden centre who has preferred to remain anonymous said, “Our children are getting stressed because there are too many activities and extensive recruitment programmes. The Red Cross staff focus on the activities as if it is to show the media they have surplus funds to spend before the end of the year.”

Answering to this critique Jørgen Chemnitz, director of the Red Cross Asylum Departmen, says:

“We have suggested many improvements of the living conditions at centres. Som have been accommodated by the government and some have not. With the extra grant earmarked for children, we are now able to offer even more activites for children in the centres, than we have before - but no one is obligated to participate in any of these things. It is just an offer.

You should only let your children engage to the activities they want to. We do not want our children to get stressed from activites, we want them to have some positive experiences. As for the media focus, I have to say that the Red Cross has not invited the press to attend any activities.”

Children at Kongelunden Ayman and Mahmoud are both 13 year old asylum children, who go to Danish primary schools. They are making good progress and doing well. For some time Ayman wanted to attend Danish primary school like his friend Mahmoud who had been at public school for four years.

But Ayman only succeeded in getting permission a year ago after studying for six years at the Red Cross school in the asylum centres.

“I feel better at the Danish school; it is completely different than at the Red Cross school. I study additional subjects and have Danish friends,” said Ayman.

Mahmoud is also happy at Marbæk folkeskole at Skibby but couldn’t get any benefit from the children activities run at Kongelunden centre because he lives in the Annex.

“I couldn’t join the activities at Kongelunden because I live far away and I couldn’t join a recent trip to Lalandia with the club at Skibby because it requires extra money,” Mahmoud said.

“This year no asylum children from Kongelunden have joined any Danish schools as of the end of September,” said Mohammad the asylum seekers representative at Kongelunden.

Andreas Peter Nissen the head of Kongelunden school department explained: “We have about 46 children aged from 7 to 16. Out of these children, 19 have attended

folkeskole from the beginning of October 2006.”

“At the Red Cross School there are children from between the ages of 6-11 in the same class. This isn’t allowed in Danish primary schools.

Our children need the Danish standard of education,” said Boshra who has four children at Kongelunden School.

More support There is also now more extensive education for young people between the ages of 17-21. They are offered more possibilities for external education among young Danes.

An education counsellor will advise the young people and help them find lessons and courses according to their interests and abilities.

The Danish Red Cross is able to strengthen efforts to support children with special needs as well as those parents who find it difficult to carry out their parental role to the full. Mahmoud is a 13 year old child with diabetes who recently started to receive Kr. 344 each month to cover the extra cost of the special food he needs. The Danish Red Cross helps improve the quality of daily life by helping to relieve the pressures, psychological and social.

“From August 2006 we began to fund special care for pupils who need attention because of their behaviour problems. At the Red Cross schools we have a coordinating teacher whose task it is to visit the Danish schools, keep in contact with other teachers and following up on the progress of the asylum children,” said school leader Paul Karoff.

It seems that daily life is improving for the children in the asylum system, but the core problem for asylum seekers – the many years of waiting in the centres - is not solved. The Danish Red Cross has constantly reported that “The living conditions at asylum centres are not suitable for a waiting time of more than one year for adults and six months for children.”

The Red Cross has also stated that regardless of the improved conditions for children the recommended time limit of one year has not changed.

“A LIFE IS NEEDED, NOT NEW FURNITURE.” It seems that most asylum seekers are not satisfied with the latest

decisions by the Danish government. The decisions are improving daily life for those in the camps but they avoid dealing with the real issues facing asylum seekers.

By Jawad Since April 2006 the rules and conditions for asylum seekers have been strongly criticized in the media, by politicians and by NGOs. The debate has resulted in some extra grants being issued by the Danish government to improve the life in the asylum camps. The authorities granted a total of 37 million Kr. for improvement in the conditions for asylum seekers and especially their children in 2006.

The Danish Red Cross has been able to make improvements of the daily life for asylum children. They have started a number of initiatives which can make the conditions at asylum centres better. A number of special conditions at Avnstrup departure centre were cancelled. For example, the Cafeteria service and the daily three meals were stopped.

Rejected asylum seekers now get an average of Kr. 43 per day; they can cook for themselves and buy for their needs. The Red Cross will also renovate common facilities, rooms and buy new furniture.

“Closing the cafeteria at Avnstrup allowed us to buy our own food and other private needs from financial support. However, what is most important after a long stay of five years is having legal status

in Denmark,” said Jaafar an Iraqi asylum seeker living in Avnstrup.

Outstanding cases “We are living for years in asylum centres. We did not protest in order to get the furniture replaced, and the common facilities renovated.

Our concerns are not in improving the bathrooms, toilets, kitchens and rooms. We don’t want more working hours in the playrooms and clubs for our children. We want stability and a normal life like other human beings. We are asking for an amnesty for those few hundred asylum seekers left who have been confined for many years in the asylum centres,” said Dr. Taha, an engineer and a rejected asylum seeker who has been living in Denmark for more than five years.

The outstanding cases of asylum seekers have been the subject of protests, complaints, and demonstrations. Many memoranda have been sent to the Danish governmental bodies and political parties.

The media has focused on the same outstanding asylum cases and the suffering of asylum families in the camps. The major asylum centres received visits by Danish immigration officials, including the Minister of Immigration and Integration, Rikke Hvilshøj.

However, the debates have not changed the legislation, which determines whether asylum seekers can get asylum in Denmark or not. It means that there will still be many rejected asylum seekers living in asylum centres for a long time. Many asylum seekers consider the new decisions as propaganda to absorb the criticism.

“The new decisions are partial solutions to the problems of asylum.

We believe none of these decisions have brought just and final solutions for the majority of the asylum cases which have been outstanding for many years,” commented Salem, a rejected Iraqi asylum seeker living in Avnstrup.

Satisfied and optimistic On the other hand, some asylum seekers consider the decisions a positive and good step towards solving the outstanding asylum cases.

“It’s good that our children can go to Danish schools in the municipalities and our young asylum boys and girls have the opportunity for external education among young Danes,” said Mohammed, a rejected asylum seeker in Kongelunden.

In Norway all families with children who have attended school for the last three years were granted residences as per a

new rule issued on the 1st September 2006. Furthermore, the Norwegian government plans to end all outstanding asylum cases by the end of this year. In October 2005 Sweden granted amnesty to more than 10,000 rejected asylum seekers. Spain and France did the same, and granted amnesty to hundreds of thousand asylum seekers who had stayed illegally for many years.

“Will the Danish government do the same? This is a priority. Isn’t it time to find an end to the asylum cases which have been outstanding for so many years? ” Salem and other asylum seekers asked.

In a recent article from the magazine, Kirkens Korshær the secretary general of the Danish Red Cross, Jørgen Poulsen said, “The long stay in asylum centres is so destructive for that group of asylum seekers who cannot return home that one ought to give them residence permits. We must do something in the cases where human beings have been here for many years. The government can solve this issue, but it is doing nothing. This is no large group we are talking about, less than 1000 asylum seekers. We ought to be generous and find a solution for these people, instead of breaking them,” he said.

FACTS: As of September 30th 2006, the estimated number of asylum seekers to be housed in accommodation centres was 2,074. A total of 10 accommodation centres were in service around the country. 502 asylum seekers lived in Avnstrup, the majority, 325, are Iraqis, 82 are Kosovans, 36 are Somalis and 59 are of other nationalities.

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WAR AGAINST REFUGEES The European Union is working to block asylum seekers and refugees from reaching Europe rather than helping them to get the protection they ask for.

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Commentary by Sameer Sometimes as events rush on, it’s important to look back, to consider history. September 11th is a date of great significance to Americans. Normal life in Palestine, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan and other third world countries is one of occupation, war, civil war, poverty and hunger. Refugees are the outcome of war and poverty. It seems the major burdens of refugees falls on the shoulders of third world countries, rather than the civilized and industrial nations.

Consider in particular the result of the recent wars and civil wars taking place in Iraq, the Middle East and Africa. The old war continues between the Israelis and Palestinians. However, the recent war between Israeli and the Lebanese Hizb Allah has ended with a ceasefire, but with hundreds of thousand refugees. The invasion of Iraq began on March 20th 2003 and was termed “Operation Iraqi Freedom”. Today the civil war in Iraq leaves behind millions of displaced people and refugees. There are dead bodies and sectarian bloodletting.

The civil war in Somalia and Sudan continues for years with the same outcome: “refugees” The catastrophe of refugees Besieged families trapped in lockedup camps are in many cases down to one meal a day, eaten by candlelight. Yet their desperate conditions go largely ignored by governments who seem to be accustomed to the sufferings of refugees in the name of security.

“Wake up!” shouted the young Palestinian journalist Mohammed Omer from Gaza on San Francisco’s “Arab Talk” radio. “The Gaza people are starving. There is a real humanitarian crisis. Our children are born to live. Don’t these people have any heart? No feelings at all?

The world is silent!”

Refugees from Africa march out of towns and toward the hills in a direction away from war and starvation. They have no idea about life in Europe. Refugees walk thousands of kilometers; they arrive completely destitute, they need help. A long journey, in miles and in days; many had no time to gather sufficient supplies for the arduous journey ahead.

They left behind nearly all their belongings: They left their fields of wild peas and jasmine, their mountain lilies that grew between the barley and the wheat. They left their olives and oranges, lemons and apricots.

Refugees from Afghanistan at asylum centers told stories of people

who went along dirt tracks, camel trails, and open country. The earth was baked hard and hot along the “donkey road.’ The refugees quickly shed their suitcases, and then their outer clothing. Water ran out early.

When they came to a cornfield, some sucked the moisture out of kernels of corn. A refugee woman told, “We arrived at a well with a broken rope. Women removed their dresses to dip them in the stagnant water below so that children could drink from the cloth”.

During the recent war there were stories from Lebanon of mothers who became delirious and left their babies, stories of a strong young man who carried his grandfather on his back like a sack of potatoes, of a man who took the gold from his old wife and left her to die, and of the old father or grandfather who had been left behind. Someone threw a cover over a woman’s body; refugees would pass dead babies and live babies, all the same, abandoned on the roadside or in ditches. Someone talked of having seen a baby still alive on the bosom of a dead woman.

Sight of refugees in Darfur Thousands of refugees in Darfur squat in the shade of their small straw huts, mostly women, children, and the elderly. The tiny makeshift shelter provides little protection from the desert’s chilly night time winds. Donkeys mill about, and under the shade of a nearby thorn tree a few women display an assortment of root vegetables, millet, peanuts and spices in the encampments only market.

On April 8th 2006 Daniel Pepper described in the Sidney Morning Herald how Khalia Daoud, a mother of six fled, from Chad to Darfur. She has received little help from aid agencies, which are reluctant to travel amid the increasingly dangerous security situation. Still, she is glad to be free from the violent turmoil in her village.

“It seems as if we are welcome here. No one has harassed us yet,” she said. But the trouble from which she fled may have followed her. Chadian rebels have begun launching cross-border attacks on their home country.

More than 200,000 Sudanese have died, and another 2 million have endured famine and displacement.

denly came up again, when Otto Schily, the German minister of the interior, proposed –with the quick agreement of his Italian colleague Pisanu - to build so-called “reception camps” in North Africa for boat people. In the beginning of October the Italian government started to send boat people stranded in Italy to Libya, where they were put into camps, financed by Italy, until their deportation.

Human Rights Watch said in a report released on September 13th 2006 that the Libyan government subjects migrants, asylum seekers and refugees to serious human rights abuses, including beatings, arbitrary arrests and forced return.

Bill Frelick, director of refugee policy for Human Rights Watch said in Rome on September 13th 2006 for Human Right News: “The European Union is working with Libya to block these people from reaching Europe rather than helping them to get the protection they need”.

With regard to the freedom of movement for refugees and migrants, Schroeder, the German chancellor, declared on the 15th October 2004 on German television, “There is no life without

mobility and mobility is brought about by energy. “Refugees should be supported in their countries of origin, which means they should be deported back and prevented from entering “fortress Europe”. This shows the inhumanity of the EU refugee policy, but also its internal contradictions.

Access is denied Measures and precautions to prevent the refugees from reaching Europe are adding to the massive collective punishment of refugees. The measures cause further degradation of the refugees already desperately impoverished living conditions and deny them any ray of hope.

Access to Europe is denied to asylum seekers and refugees.

The numbers of refugees coming to Europe is dropping due to the strict immigration rules and the war against asylum seekers and refugees.

Europe is causing blackouts, laying sieges, also ‘breaking the rules’ laid down by the UNCHR. Enshrined in Article 14 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the right ‘to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.’

FACTS: Globally, the number of refugees at the end of 2005 reached an estimated 8.4 million persons.

During 2005, a total number of 668,000 first instance or appeal applications for asylum or refugee status were submitted to governments or UNHCR offices in 149 countries. The number of applications during 2005 decreased by two per cent compared with 2004 when 680,000 applications were lodged globally. Most claims were registered in Europe.

Rejection of Refugees The first European projects for refugee camps in areas of war and crisis and at the borders of the EU were developed - not accidentally!

In July 2004 these projects sud-

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Photo: Mohammed

SABBAH’S CASE Sabbah Alsadi is an Iraqi who fled to Denmark seeking asylum in January 2001. He is currently in Sandholm and is a rejected asylum seeker in phase 3 facing possible deportation. Sabah says that the immigration authorities are aware of the fact that he lost 13 members of his family in a vessel which sank while it was carrying Iraqi refugees to Australia.

Sabbah said angrily, “I have lost many things in Denmark during the last five years. I can’t work and I can’t go back home. I have no ties anymore with Iraq. It’s not safe, and getting worse. I wouldn’t have a chance to work and live there.”

Sabbah said that he is psychologically ill and is being treated in Denmark. “The killing in Iraq is based on identity and religion. I can’t go there and risk my life.”

THE UNSAFE RETURN TO IRAQ…..

By Sameer & Abdel Aziz Reports from the UN, international organisations and NGOs continue to emphasize that Iraq remains unsafe. The percentage of Iraqis granted asylum in Denmark has been much lower during the last four years. Since January 2004 the Immigration Services and the Refugee Board have restarted processing cases of Iraqi asylum seekers. This was after a period of suspension.

Nonetheless, the vast majority of cases have been rejected. Rejected Iraqi asylum seekers remain in Sandholm and Avnstrup centers for many years with no option other than to stay until a safe return to Iraq is possible.

Voluntary return During 2004, 141 Iraqis with permission to remain in Denmark returned voluntarily to their country. Denmark provides assistance to those who want to return voluntarily and does not mandate or return Iraqis by force, but it does promote voluntary return as a durable solution.

The European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) represents

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a network of 80 organisations in 30 European countries. They have made guidelines for the treatment of Iraqi asylum seekers and refugees in Europe. Dated March 2006, the guideline says, “Promotion of voluntary return should only take place when an assessment of the situation in Iraq shows that the necessary conditions of return in safety and dignity exist, including “physical, legal and material safety’’.

Although there have been many protests and complaints by rejected Iraqi asylum seekers, it seems that the Danish government is not willing to find a favorable solution for these people. They are counting on some positive changes in the security situation that may allow a safe return to Iraq.

“The situation in Iraqi remains such that it is unsafe to return and there is no consideration given to the possibility of granting temporary residence in Denmark. We have to stay and live under tough conditions in the asylum centres until we can return safely to Iraq,” said Shalak, a rejected Iraqi asylum seeker, who teaches computer skills at the Danish Red Cross Culture House in Copenhagen.

The “forced” return Denmark is not forcibly returning any Iraqi nationals to Iraq.

“The authorities in Denmark are generally coercing asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected to return home by withdrawing cash support, moving them to one specific asylum centre and/or routinely asking them to report to the police. Special financial repatriation packages have been launched to act as incentives to Afghan and Iraqi asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected to return to their home country, which include offering around $2000 and counselling,” reported ECRE. “The Danish government is aware of the facts and has information on the situation in Iraq. It is unsafe to return to Iraq; nonetheless we are under pressure from the Danish police to sign for a voluntary return under unsafe circumstances.

We have to show up regularly to report to the police. Every time they ask us whether we have changed our minds about signing, as if the situation in Iraq has changed and it’s safe now but we don’t want to go back!” said Jaafer, a rejected asylum seeker living in Avnstrup.

The unstable security situation in Iraq has become manifestly worse

FATCS:

over the past two years. Rejected Iraqi asylum seekers remain in Denmark without a solution despite widespread recognition of the unsafe conditions across their country.

“We are under pressure and punishment because we are not willing to return voluntarily, because the situation in Iraq is too unstable.” said Jamal, a rejected Iraqi asylum seeker living in Sandholm.

Cannot be returned The case being made by a great number of Iraqi asylum seekers in Denmark is as explained by AbuMustafa, who is a rejected Iraqi asylum seeker living with his family in Avnstrup: “Denmark is unable to return most of us due to the unsafe conditions in Iraq. Yet, the Danish authorities do not grant any kind of protection status or other legal status to my family awaiting return and we are then left in an asylum centre, in an irregular

situation, with few or no rights and without any possibility of receiving support or permission to work in order to survive.”

“It seems that the Danish government needs more dangerous events to occur in Iraq before it will re-consider the Iraqi cases. Will this be ongoing while we remain in asylum centers?” asked Jamal a volunteer in the cafeteria in the Culture House.

“We will not go home because of the war conditions in Iraq. We are unable to leave Denmark. Iraqis are staying at Avnstrup and Sandholm because they have no other choice.

Why doesn’t the government grant temporary residence visas until we can return safely? At least then we could live a normal life.” said Abu-

Shaker a rejected Iraqi asylum seeker, who has been living in Avnstrup for many years.

ECRE recommends that Denmark maintains or grants legal status to all Iraqi nationals facing repatriation until the time of their departure from the host country. This status should include rights to housing, health, employment, and education. Iraqis, who, despite all the security concerns, are not granted refugee status or some form of subsidiary protection should not be returned. They should be granted a legal status (temporary or permanent, depending on their circumstances), which gives them their human rights and a dignified standard of living in the host country.

“

I prefer to die slowly in Denmark rather than to die quickly in Iraq.

Raed.

”

The situation in Iraq (ECRE March 2006) There is currently no effective infrastructure in place in Iraq to uphold the rule of law and protect human rights.

In addition, instability due to increased violence, lack of basic services, housing shortages and high unemployment severely hinders the country’s ability to absorb those who return.

There are high civilian death tolls (more than 600.000 persons according to the latest statistics), displacement of the civilian population, urgent humanitarian needs for water, food, and shelter, low public confidence in government officials, high rates of criminality, a lack of a properly functioning judicial system, a weak local security system, kidnappings of civilian Iraqis and widespread corruption.

Many people cannot enjoy their socio-economic rights, due to slow reconstruction and a lack of, or unstable, supplies of proper health, education, water, electricity and other facilities.

ECRE’s guidelines on the treatment of Iraqi asylum seekers and refugees in Europe are available online at www.ecre.org

RAED’ S STORY Raed Abdallah, a 33 year-old Iraqi asylum seeker came to Denmark in August 2001. He is rejected in phase 3, and facing deportation. “I was wounded by bullets during a pursuit by the security men of Saddam’s regime in 1993. My father was executed in 1986 by the Iraqi regime and I have been persecuted after him,” said Raed who regularly visits Vejle hospital due to his old injuries and the bullets which are still in his body. The doctors do not recommend removing the bullets, as they are afraid they may cause paralysis in the process. Raed uses orthopaedic shoes specially prescribed for his feet.

Raed added, “I went to Sweden in 2006 to seek asylum there, but I was returned to Denmark. My case has not been reconsidered and I can not go back to Iraq for fear that the clans will take their revenge.

There was an assassination attempt on my brother”. Raed is a certified invalid and unable to work. “I have no place and no shelter. I have no future. I prefer to die slowly in Denmark rather than to die quickly in Iraq,” ended Raed.

Photo: Mohammed

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9

Hunger strikes make no difference to government policy. At the same time hunger strikes seem to be the last resort for some asylum seekers.

A REMAINING OPTION?

By Mohen In July this year a group of six Iranian asylum seekers went on hunger strike in Christiansborg Palace square. They called for serious consideration to be given to their asylum cases. They also requested that some changes be made in the Danish Aliens Act dealing with asylum seekers. They received support and solidarity from many Danish organisations and individuals and attracted some public attention to their cases.

“We are not receiving humane treatment and the immigration authorities are not dealing with the asylum cases fairly. Asylum seekers are kept in camps for years and then the majority of them are sent back home to dangerous situations where their lives are at risk. We are not criminals and not terrorists,” said Masyd, one of the Iranians who took part in the hunger strike.

Another of the Iranian hunger strikers, Shariff Shoukari said, “It depended on the willingness of the Danish government, whether they would consider our request to reopen the Iranian cases, or whether our hunger strike would end with our deaths.”

The effect of protest After a 46 day hunger strike, the Refugee Board agreed to reconsider the cases of some of the failed Iranian asylum seekers. The foreman of the Danish Refugee Board, Bent Ove Jespersen, said that the decision to reconsider the cases will not

lead to any changes in the way Iranian asylum seekers are dealt with.

Leif Bork Hansen, a priest who has taken a personal interest in the cases of Iranians who are denied asylum in Denmark, commented on the Board’s decision to reconsider of some of the cases. He told the newspaper, Politiken, “It’s a breakthrough. It’s the most extreme form of democracy and it works. Now I am going to continue dealing with the other denied asylum cases, one by one, until we can get those changed too”.

A Danish activist Nicola Ravden said, “When asylum seekers and campaigners create attention about individual cases, it frequently results in the deportations being postponed or the cases being reconsidered with a positive outcome. This is not only the case in Denmark, but all over Europe. Constant campaigning and protest are thus important tools in the fight to support individual refugees in their struggle to stay. In Denmark, thousands of people have been waiting for years in secluded refugee camps with limited contact with Danish society or any means to attract attention to their predicament. In such cases, the most extreme form of protest – namely hunger striking - does seem to be the only remaining option”.

Risking lives Many asylum seekers believe the government is giving the impression that asylum seekers have to go to the lengths of hunger striking to get their cases heard. Farhad,

a Kurdish rejected asylum seeker now living in Kongelunden centre after five years of moving between different asylum camps said, “The government should reconsider the outstanding cases of asylum seekers who have been waiting in Denmark for many years. They should not wait until these people reach a point where they become so desperate that they can find no other option other than to go on hunger strike and risk their lives.”

The Iranian group’s hunger strikes were triggered by the suicide of another Iranian asylum seeker on the 19th June 2006 at Hansholm asylum centre in northern Jutland.

37 year old Majid Samari committed suicide after receiving a rejection to his asylum case after 11 months of waiting. By committing suicide, Majid Samari left behind his wife and his 5 year old child without a father.

“People have to die to get the attention of the authorities and the general public. It’s too late for our friend who died. We had to think what we could do to save other asylum seekers,” said Masyd.

A place in democracy?

Sharam, an Iranian activist said, “Hunger striking is a cry for help.

The people who do it are willing to risk and if necessary take their own lives to get their cases heard by the public and government officials.”

He added that the Danish government needs to take strong action on the asylum policies now. It can’t leave people waiting for years for

Photos: Mohen

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their situation to be resolved with no opportunity to work or to do something with their lives.

Hardy Hansen, a foreman who works for the Union for Peace and Reconciliation commented to Politiken at the end of the strike, “Hunger strikes work because they put the focus on a single person. But the politicians also know quite well, that they can’t send people back to Iran at this point in time”.

The Danish authorities have repeatedly rejected hunger striking as a legitimate means of protest.

However, for each case that reaches the public there are many more cases that remain undisclosed and beyond the public gaze.

The Danish media is very reluctant to report hunger strikes as a means of getting public attention and demanding changes. It took the Iranians 26 days of hunger strike outside the parliament before anyone took notice and 46 days before they achieved any result. A very dangerous and risky situation for their health.

According to Rasmus Jønsson, political expert and a professor from Roskilde University, a hunger strike is hardly accepted as a way of changing anything in a representative democracy.

“Hunger strikes have been seen before; it has become a traditional way of protesting and therefore cannot attract much media attention.

Furthermore this act of protesting does not harmonize well with Danish traditions,” he said to Nordjyske Stiftstidende in July.

the deaths of thousands of children worldwide and hindering the chances of peace.

By Sonia Millions of children around the globe are directly and indirectly involved with war. The majority of people would hope that children would be the most protected in war, but there is much evidence to suggest that this is not the case.

As soldiers, children are often considered the most expendable.

During the Iraq-Iran war child soldiers were sent out in waves ahead of the troops over the mine fields.

The advantage of using children as soldiers is that they are easy to manipulate and they do as they are told.

Media showed photographs depict children sending messages on tank missiles close to a heavy artillery base.

Children who are raised in a country at war are often taught to support it. This is through political and religious leaders, education programmes and within the family. Through propaganda they are taught to solve disputes through violence.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child states “that every child has the inherent right to life.” Instilling the desire to kill and die violates this fundamental right.

Media showed children in events pretending to be suicide bombers wearing explosive belts.

Children are too young to understand the meaning behind their actions and children who grow up surrounded by violence begin to see it as a permanent way of life.

The children may not be able to make the connection between missiles and the death of human beings and it has been reported that parents are often proud to have their children dressed up as pretend suicide bombers.

Violation of rights Carol Bellamy, executive director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on the UN Security Council to ensure that all those who violate children’s rights in times of war - whether governments, rebel groups or corporations - are held accountable.

In ‘Youth For a Change Magazine´ written by a group of young people from 5 countries, Katrina Fenton aged 19 reported, “The brainwashing of children and deception of innocent, impressionable children begins as soon as they are capable of mental comprehension. They are taught to profess belief in, the teachings of whatever authority is present. Children can not, nor should not, be expected to recognize the fundamental laws and overwhelming corruption of a large portion of the authority they are led to revere. Children are more often than not incapable of resisting such blatant psychological manipulation by those they are taught to respect, admire and follow” The 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child states a child should be brought up “in the spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity.” Teaching children to hate goes against this right and the chance for peace in these countries will be a lot harder to achieve.

Martin Teicher, a lead researcher

at Harvard, reports that sadistic parents infect their children with the same trait. Whether it comes in the form of physical, emotional, or sexual trauma, or through exposure to warfare, famine, or pestilence, stress can set off a ripple of hormonal changes that permanently wire a child’s brain to cope with a malevolent world.

Through this chain of events, violence and abuse pass from generation to generation as well as from one society to the next.

Hate and ignorance Children’s beliefs are formed by their parents and their surroundings.

Children are innocent bystanders who inherit the suffering and war created by the generation before them. Children in war are taught to act out of hatred and ignorance toward other people and this will have to change in order to prevent further damage of children and society.

Until children cease from being involved in the political situation the chances for peace will be difficult.

TEACHING CHILDREN TO HATE

manipulated to support war. This is causing

WAR PROPAGANDA:

In many war-torn countries children are

FATCS: “Only as we move closer to realising the rights of all children will countries move closer to the ideal we aspire to” - Kofi A. Annan Secretary, General of the United Nations.

For nearly half of the 2 billion children in the world, childhood is starkly and brutally different from the ideal we aspire to.

UNICEF estimates that more than two million children have died as a result of war in the last decade and that another 12 million have been left homeless. At least 6 million children have been seriously injured or permanently disabled.

Meanwhile, between 8,000 and 10,000 children continue to be killed or maimed by landmines each year.

Photos: Polfoto/AP

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11

Ali has finished HF with a grade of 9.5 but faces difficulties in entering a university because he is an asylum seeker. Asylum seekers are denied higher education due to the lack of residence permits and money.

Photo: Mohammed

ASYLUM SEEKERS CAN’T GO TO UNIVERSITY

By Mustafa Ali Alghanemi is a 19 years old Iraqi asylum seeker. Ali was 14 years old when his family came to Denmark seeking asylum. During the last five years he has learned Danish and joined Katedral skole in Nykøbing F., then he went on to VUC (adult education classes) in Vejle and Rasborg Vejle. Whilst his family sought asylum, he concentrated on his studies and finished all of the available classes at HF (a qualification equivalent to the final school leaving exam). He tried to put aside his family situation and the fact that he had been denied asylum in Denmark.

The DTU aim An asylum seeker who successfully completes the 10th class of primary school with an average grade of 8 and over may request help from the Danish Red Cross (DRC) to study for the HF exams. Ali finished his studies successfully and with the help from the DRC scored 9.5 in the HF exam, which is well above average. Ali’s exam grade was enough to get him into the Danish Technical University (DTU), if he only had residence or was able to be self-supporting for the duration of his studies.

Ali wants to join DTU to become

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an engineer. He has not decided which specialty yet; he just wants to go to university to get a higher education. Ali is ambitious and would like to obtain a PhD afterwards.

But he is unable to continue studying in Denmark. The Danish Aliens law does not allow asylum seekers to study at the state’s expense nor does it give them the right to work.

Asylum seekers have to pay for their own studies. Ali has tried to obtain a work permit. He has tried to get a study permit to train as a Pharmacist assistant. He has also applied to study at DTU - but all attempts have been rejected by the Immigration Service.

Ali is knocking on all doors, hoping one will open to him.

“I have received a negative answer from Immigration Service.

They will not grant me a residence permit to enable me to study at the state’s expense. But I shall keep my attempts to reach my goal. I will not surrender. I shall do everything possible to integrate in the Danish society,” Ali added.

In order to get access to university, Ali must have a residence permit like other students or DKR. 100.000, which is the official estimated cost for every academic year.

How is Ali going to study at DTU with no money and no residence permit?

The residence aim Danish tax-payers shouldn’t finance the education of foreigners, even if this is a matter of great concern for Ali and other asylum seekers who have no right to work in Denmark.

Ali explained that he is well qualified to study at a Danish university.

He speaks Danish well, he knows Danish history and culture and he has now lived in Denmark for five years. Ali has well educated parents and a lot of Danish friends. Furthermore Denmark is in need of more engineers. “Was is my fault I was put in phase 3, and denied my right to a higher education?” Ali asked.

So why won’t the authorities reconsider his case? Why not give Ali asylum so he can continue his studies? If an asylum seeker with such capabilities isn’t allowed residence and asylum, then who is? ”The Ministry of Integration has a policy of not giving asylum to Iraqis. There is an argument that Denmark is helping to provide peace and democracy in Iraq. Because they are rebuilding Iraq they think they can send everyone back. But things are in a terrible state in Iraq and the fact is that it is not safe at all,” Ali said.

Isn’t it a better idea to strengthen the Iraqis waiting in Denmark for peace in their home country, so they can make a difference when

they are able to return? Wouldn’t it be better to send back an educated engineer who can make an impact in the rebuilding of his country?

Instead of sending back a grown up man with no qualifications, who can’t be of any use in the country he hasn’t seen since childhood?

“I need residence to study at the state’s expense, or I have to get the money from other sources. My family needs stability as well during this tough period for Iraq,” Ali explained.

Warnings from Iraq Iraqis’ asylum cases are a current topic of debate in Europe and Ali’s case is common to asylum seekers wanting to continue higher education in Denmark. Ali’s father who is an artist and musician explained: “We can’t go back to Iraq. Our family and colleagues are receiving warnings and threats from terrorists. We have notified the prosecutor at the Refugee Board about the latest development in our case; however we are still waiting for an answer. We are worried and scared.

I heard the news that one of my exstudents, a son of a colleague, was kidnapped recently and the rest of the family ran away after a clash.

The terrorists are carrying out their threats; they are committing many crimes by killing, kidnapping and raping.”

FACTS: Asylum seekers over the age of 18 who have not received a final rejection of their application for asylum can participate in courses designed to maintain and augment both their general skills as well as their trade or professional skills.

The courses are held at, or in association with, the asylum centres.

Education is a fundamental human right, set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Human Rights Covenants which have the force of international law.

The Danish Aliens law stipulates: Foreigners can get a residence permit for the purpose of studying in further or higher education. They must pay themselves if they wish to take the exams. Normally, they can get permission just to attend lectures and group teaching.

ASYLANSØGERE PÅ VEJ MOD ARBEJDE

want2work is a project that helps asylum seekers upgrade their qualifications through attending studies and having work placements. Some young people have managed to succeed in getting an education and others ended up getting stuck in the system because of the laws regarding asylum seekers. Here are some of their stories:

THE CONCERNS OF AN ASYLUM WOMAN

Nizrin

Born 1963.

Asylum seeker in Denmark.

Formal education as cook and waiter.

In Denmark: Internal work placement in the cafe at the Red Cross Culture House. Participated in workshops: PC, drivers license and first aid. Took Danish classes at VUC. Now speaks Danish well.

In August 2005 he was accepted on the first module at KTS (Copenhagen Technical School) in the Construction line as a carpenter. He finished his first project with the grade 10 on the Danish 13 point scale. He found an internship at a company in order to continue his education. However, it was not possible to take it because asylum seekers are not allowed to receive payment/salary.

Muhamel

Born 1983.

Asylum seeker in Denmark since 2001.

12 years of school in home country.

Studied economics.

In Denmark: Took Danish classes at VUC. Now speaks Danish well. In August 2005 he was accepted on the first module at KTS (Copenhagen Technical School) in the media graphics line. He was among the first four out of 80 students who found an internship so he could continue his education. He did this on his own, and on equal terms with the other students. However, it was not possible for him to accept the internship he was offered because asylum seekers are not allowed to earn a salary. He then applied for a residence and work permit through the Immigration Service’s job card arrangement. However, this was rejected.

Ali

Born in 1972.

Asylum seeker in Denmark since 2003.

Educated doctor. Six years experience as a specialist In Denmark: Workshops in business and PC. Has taken classes at the language school. Speaks Danish fairly well. His asylum case is complicated and he might not be able to use his medical skills in Denmark. His spouse and child already have residence in Denmark and he lives with them. But he is in fase 3 – a rejected asylum seeker.

Najib

Born 1981.

Asylum seeker in Denmark since 2001.

Studied for high school exam in home country.

In Denmark: Has learned Danish very quickly.

Accepted at DTU (Danmark Tekniske Universitet) in 2003. Got residence in December 2004.

Continues his studies at DTU.

Mirvan

Born 1980.

Brother of D. Asylum seeker in Denmark since 2001.

Studied for high school exam in home country.

In Denmark: Has learned Danish very quickly.

Got a final rejection to his asylum case in the fall of 2004. Interrupted his studies at DTU about a year later because of the rejection. Participated in the want2work hairdresser course from August to October 2005.

From August 2006 all foreigners outside the EU and EEA have to pay for their education at university level in Denmark - about 100,000 DKK per year.

The names of these cases have been changed by the editorial board.

Photo: Jens Burau

An asylum mother with two children tries to cope with the difficulties of being a widow in an asylum centre full of residents with a similar background.

By Jihan Nedal Salman is a Kurdish Iraqi.

She fled to Iran during the IranianIraqi war and got married to an Iranian man. She came to Denmark in 2001 with her two children while her husband remained in Iran.

Nedal has a mentally sick child so she sought treatment and schooling for her child in Iran. However, she had no success because there were no special schools and the doctors recommended her to seek treatment somewhere in Europe.

Nedal noticed her child’s condition deteriorating so she left her home and came to Denmark. Tragically, Nedal’s husband died in a car accident 45 days after her arrival here.

A widow in Iran According to Nedal, the death of a husband in Iran is generally a crisis for the widow who has to adopt roles with which she is not familiar and who has to depend on herself to maintain her self-esteem. “Women in Iran are regarded as human beings, but they have less status than men.

When my husband was alive I was a wife and a mother, and nothing else. My mother believes that I have sinned and that God is pouring anger and punishment over me by taking away my husband,” said Nedal.

“If I go back I will have to keep a sad face and dress in black clothes all the time. I would not be allowed to laugh, or have any fun!” She continued.

Nedal says that she was exposed

to heavy pressure both from her husband’s family and from her own as well. She explained, “I felt like a victim between wild animals, each trying to bite my flesh. My family and the relatives of my deceased husband falsified documents while I have been in Denmark and they took over all my own and my husband’s property. Officials are easily bribed in Iran. All things died with my husband”.

There is nothing left for Nedal in Iran; she has no more resources and economic means. She also has an obligation to find treatment for her child as well as securing a good future for both her children. She doesn’t want to go back, and she is not willing to live as a third class citizen in Iran.

A hard life “I have been in a very difficult situation here in Denmark for the last five years. There has been a lot of pressure on me and my children. I am a widow living in a small room, with communal toilets and kitchen. I live alone, depressed and frustrated in an isolated society within the asylum camps in Denmark,” she smiled and added, “Why do we face a tragedy?

We have been waiting a long time with hope, but we were rejected.

Our case was reopened and we were rejected for a second time.”

Nedal wants to live a normal life in Denmark and to be treated like any Danish woman trying to save her sick child. She is currently on the deportation list and feels

stressed due to the police threatening to take her back to Iran at any time. Nedal tells us about her concern.

“A police officer showed me the gate of the big jail in Copenhagen, where they imprison those who refuse to cooperate with going back home.”

Suicidal son Nedal has been rejected by the Iranian embassy; they won’t accept her because she is an Iraqi. Nonetheless, the police are trying to find a way to send her back home. Meanwhile, she lives with her two children in Avnstrup. She has now spent more than five years in Denmark and doesn’t know what will happen next.

She does nothing but eat, drink and sleep, all the time reflecting on her situation, just as all the rejected asylum seekers who urgently need their cases dealt with do.

Nedal said that her sick son is not allowed to go to a conventional school because he is not a normal child; he has tried to commit suicide four times. He is under 24 hour surveillance by her and by the Red Cross staff. The 16 year old boy spends most of his time lying on a bed without any special programmes or activities he can be involved in.

Finally, Nedal cried and asked, “Where do I go with my children?

What is the solution to our situation? Is there any safe place to go and live in peace with my small family?”

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Representatives of asylum seekers from Avnstrup, Sandholm, Kongelunden and Fasan met with the committee for Foreigners and Integration Policy at the Danish Parliament

ASYLUM SEEKERS AT THE PARLIAMENT on the 10th October 2006. At the same time,

By Mohmmed

there was a demonstration by about 300 asy-

Asylum seekers demonstrated about their rejected asylum cases and appealed for an amnesty.

“It is not fair to keep asylum seekers with their children for many years at asylum camps. Those asylum seekers living in camps for many years should be enabled to have a normal life in Denmark,” said Hussein, the representative of asylum seekers in Kongelunden.

“The majority of rejected asylum seekers in Denmark have already left the country either voluntarily or forcibly. There are now less than 1000 left who have been held captive in asylum centres for more than five years. They cannot leave the country for certain reasons; also the Danish police cannot send them back home.

Those asylum seekers are victims of the strict Danish immigration policy and should be compensated by granting them an amnesty,” said Rashid Gargari, an asylum representative from Avnstrup.

lum seekers to call the attention of the public and the Danish authorities to the many years that they have been waiting.

“

We brought

the committee’s attention to the hundreds of rejected asylum seekers whose cases are still outstanding.

Leria

”

Seeking a positive solution “We brought the committee’s attention to the hundreds of rejected asylum seekers whose

cases are still outstanding. Some asylum seekers have been here since 2001, or even longer. We asked the members of the parliament for a positive solution to the outstanding asylum cases as has been done in other European countries,” said Leria from Bosnia, representing asylum seekers from Sandholm.

The demonstrators outside the parliament building were anxious to hear what happened at the meeting.

Bibjeet, representative from Fasan, the women asylum centre, said, “We handed our memorandum to all the political party representatives after the meeting and we expect the Danish parliament will consider the outstanding asylum cases and issue a fair decision. There should be an end to the outstanding asylum cases in Denmark”.

“The politicians took notes and said not to expect any answer during the meeting. We talked face to face for the first time and we hope the meeting will bring positive results soon,” said Sameer one of the asylum seekers’ representatives.

FACTS: The text of the memorandum handed to the political parties’ representatives at the Danish Parliament: To: members of the Danish Parliament We are less than 1000 asylum seekers who came to Denmark in the year 2001 or before. We have been rejected based on the strict immigration rules that came to effect after our applications. You call us rejected asylum seekers who must leave the country. We are human beings put in asylum centres for many years. We are the victims of the strict immigration rules. We suffer in a country known for its democracy.

Last week, we saw the reactions, protests and demonstrations of Danes against lowering the budget for nursery and kindergartens. We have been living with our children in asylum camps under miserable conditions for more than 5 years.

Our only options proposed to us has been the choice between voluntary or forced return.

We are people in need of protection in the form of a residence permit to allow us to practice a normal life as prescribed in international refugee and human rights law.

We ask for amnesty regardless our cases because of the many years living with our children in asylum camps.

10th of October 2006 Representatives of asylum seekers at asylum centres

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Legal Letters is your direct way to learn more about asylum seekers and the law. Jakob Lemke,

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

If an asylum seeker succeeds in entering USA or Canada, can he/she apply for asylum there, without having the risk of being returned to Denmark? Is the Dublin Convention applied, or is Denmark considered a safe country?

The Dublin Convention does not apply to relations between Denmark and the USA. As to the question concerning Denmark being considered as a safe third country, it depends on the American legislation, but it seems Denmark is considered a safe third country by the USA, just as the USA is considered a safe third country by Denmark. This means that if an asylum seeker from Denmark travels to the USA without a visa or any kind of residence permit, and is picked up at the border (i.e. at the airport) by the police, he will be returned to Denmark. But if he manages to cross the border and enter the USA and applies for asylum, his asylum claim will be processed in the USA. What influence does the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Human Rights or Amnesty International have on the Danish national police and the Immigration Service policy of the government?

The DRC has a monitoring function concerning the decisions taken by the police and the Immigration Service, in order to make sure that the rights of asylum seekers, according to the Danish Alien Act and Denmark’s commitments under international law, are not being violated. DRC’s attention is often

drawn to problematic cases by the asylum seekers themselves. When, for example an asylum seeker approaches DRC with a problem, a caseworker will assess whether something can be done in the individual case or not.

DRC tries to influence the government’s policy by writing responses to the government’s hearing requests. This means that when the government passes new legislation on the area of asylum seekers and refugees, DRC is always asked to give its opinion on the matter.

However, this does not mean that the government will follow DRC’s recommendations. Additionally DRC also appears in the media to comment on different questions or cases, raised either by DRC or by others.

If asylum seekers, especially those whose cases have been outstanding for many years, feel they have not been treated justly, what do you recommend them to do?

If you have not received a final decision in your case, I advise you to contact the relevant authority responsible for your case and ask for the status of your case. If you are assisted by a lawyer, he/she will be able to give you a detailed update on the status of your case.

Otherwise if you have difficulty ascertaining where your case is in the asylum procedure, you are welcome to come to the open counselling at DRC, Wednesdays between 13.00 – 15.00 or contact us at advice@drc.dk for assistance in approaching the authorities.

If you have all ready received a final decision in your case, it is very difficult to have it reopened

in Denmark. You should however consult with your lawyer if you have had one. In other cases you are welcome to approach the DRC who may be able to help clarify outstanding questions.

The police escorted 2 to Lebanon and they esteem that 2 returned to Lebanon on their own. The report does not mention whether there were Palestinians among the aliens deported to Lebanon.

The national police have issued two identical reports on two identical cases of stateless Palestinians who are on the voluntarily deportation list. Both reports state it is impossible to send them back to Lebanon. One got a residence, while the other didn’t. What are you comments on this matter?

Groups of asylum seekers after failing to get their outstanding cases reopened by sending memoranda, strikes, demonstrations and protests, are thinking about hunger strikes to get the attention of authorities and the public, as an Iranian group did recently. What other means are available to use?

I do not know the exact details of the cases, but if they are as you describe them and both have been in Denmark for the same amount of time, I would advice you to notify the relevant authorities – in this case the Immigration Service – and to write a complaint in which you compare the two cases and list all the arguments supporting your view.

An advocate at DRC wrote to me 2 years ago to say that the Danish police had informed him that it had became possible to deport Palestinian families to Lebanon.

We haven’t heard of any rejected Palestinian families being deported. Do you follow such cases?

According to a police report concerning the status on the deportation of aliens, 21 aliens were returned to Lebanon from Denmark in 2005.

Of these 21, the police monitored the departure of 17 to Lebanon.

I think it is truly unfortunate, if you have come to the decision that you are compelled to go on a hunger strike in order to get attention on your situation. If you feel your case have been treated wrongly e.g. the Refugee Board has overlooked, or not taken in to account, some relevant facts in your case, you are welcome to visit the Danish Refugee Council, Wednesdays between 13.00 - 15.00, where you can get legal counselling about your options.

I am an asylum seeker from Sudan and my case is still running. I know about the strict immigration laws in Denmark. I feel I would have better chances of residence in the USA because they accept Sudanese and Somali. Do I have the right to apply for asylum in USA while my case is still running or I have to wait until I get rejection?

Please see the answer for question number 1 – it does not matter whether you are applying for asylum or if your case has been rejected.

There are some banned books in Arab countries.

Is it possible to get these books in Denmark, and how?

You can find most books in the libraries in Denmark. If the book you are seeking is not available, it is normally possible to order it through the library – just ask at the desk – or you may be able to buy it over the Internet.

ASK US Any questions?

Write your question to: n New Times DRC Culture House Strandgade 108 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 · November 2006

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In Europe we have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time.

We spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too often, and pray too seldom.

We‘ve learned how to make a living, but not a life; we’ve added years to life, not life to years.

We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour.

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We have more degrees, but less common sense; more knowledge, but less judgment.

We feel with asylum seekers and refugees, but make strict immigration rules to keep them away from us. We call for integration and isolate them in asylum centres for years.

We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner space. We’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice.

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Published by: The Red Cross Asylum Department Editorial Office: DRC Culture House, Strandgade 108 1401 Copenhagen K, Denmark Tel. 3296 0088; fax: 3296 0058 E-mail: newtimes@redcross.dk

We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait; we have higher incomes, but lower morals.

More leisure and less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition; two incomes, but more divorce; fancier houses, but broken homes.

Spend more time with your family and friends, eat your favourite foods and visit the places you love.

Remove from your vocabulary phrases like “one of these days” and “someday”. Let’s write that letter we thought of writing “one of these days”.

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We have more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too little and lie too often.

We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.

We write more, but learn less; plan more, but accomplish less.

RLD IN 2006

By a reader of New Times

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We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies, but have less communication. We are long on quantity, but short on quality.

That’s why I propose, that as of today, you do not keep anything for a special occasion, because every day that you live is a special occasion.

Life is a chain of moment of enjoyment, not only about survival.

Let’s tell our families and friends how much we love them. Do not delay anything that adds laughter and joy to your life.

Editor-in-chief: Henrik Ravn Managing Editors: Sameer, Osama Al-Habahbeh and Isabel Fluxá Rosado.

Staff: Sameer, Mohammed, Diana, Abdul-Aziz, Sergei, Mustafa, Jawad, Jihan, Basem, Otman, Sonya, Mohen.

Translation and Proof reading: Patricia.

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.

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These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men and short character; steep profits and shallow relationships.

Search for knowledge, read more, sit on your front porch and admire the view without paying attention to your needs.

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Use your crystal goblets. Do not save your best perfume, and use it every time you feel you want it.

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Every day, every hour, and every minute is special. And you don’t know if it will be your last.

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

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If you’re too busy to take the time to send this message to someone you love, and you tell yourself you will send it “one of these days”. Just think…”one of these days “, you may not be here to send it!

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

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newtimes · November 2006