REFUGEES IN GREECE
Feb 27th, 2008 by admin
Greece recently suffered a major blow with the news that Norway has suspended the return of asylum seekers to the country on grounds that their rights may be violated.
Norway’s unprecedented decision was recently announced by Terge Sjeggestad, the director of the Norwegian Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) a quasi-judicial body under Norway’s ministry of local government and regional development.
The reason for the action is because refugees in Greece live in extremely unpleasant and problematic conditions, very often described as very serious.
The sad fact is that the state does not take into account their rights and many become victims of persecution and human rights violation. This has made Greece to lag behind other EU member states on a wide range of issues, including asylum procedures. At this point, rectifying these problems should be paramount focus and if Norway has taken the initiative to address it, then a solution is possible.
Moavia Ahmed from Sudan has lived in Greece as a political refugee for seventeen years. His take on the situation.
Greece is a not open to refugees, especially political refugees, because the environment is not conducive. Also, the country does not offer facilities that are recognized by international laws to which it is a signatory.
The state makes it difficult for the people, which is why refugees are almost nonexistent in comparison to other European countries. The intent is to create an environment that will make it impossible for them to make a home in the country. Again, this is because Greece can accept workers but not refugees. So, many people who are here in Greece are recognized as workers but they are actually refugees. It is a complex situation.