Comments on: Now Holland http://deviousdiva.com/2008/07/08/now-holland/ The only thing necessary for the persistence of evil is for enough good people to do nothing. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:23:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Panayote Dimitras http://deviousdiva.com/2008/07/08/now-holland/#comment-94707 Panayote Dimitras Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:53:47 +0000 http://deviousdiva.com/?p=1320#comment-94707 Here is the full article. Since all that started with the GHM - Norwegian NGOs action that led to Norway's suspension of referral to Greece of Dublin cases (that was followed by the UNHCR subscription to it mentioned below), we are pleased that pressure is added, though we regret that in many cases like here it took court action to reverse refugee agency policies and not refugee agency decisions. DON'T SEND ASYLUM SEEKERS BACK TO GREECE: DUTCH COURT Received Monday, 7 July 2008 15:42:00 GMT http://www.ttc.org/200807071542.m67fgni16200.htm THE HAGUE, July 7, 2008 (AFP) - A Dutch court has blocked Netherlands authorities from sending asylum seekers who entered Europe via Greece back to that country for case processing, citing serious flaws in the Greek refugee system. The district court in The Hague found in favour of a Somali complainant who had sought asylum in the Netherlands, but whose application was refused because Greece had been her point of entry to Europe. "The court is of the opinion that ... the Greek asylum procedure has so many shortcomings that" it may be unable to meet its obligations under international refugee conventions, said a copy of the judgment on the court website on Monday. EU regulations say refugees must seek asylum at the country that is their first port of call. But Greece came in for stinging criticism from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in April, with the UNHCR saying that asylum-seekers "face undue hardships in having their claims heard" in Greece, and said no country should send asylum-seekers back there. In a statement, the Dutch court said: "... it seems that Greece does not process these (asylum) applications, or does not do it properly. "The risk exists that Greece is acting in contravention of the Refugee Convention and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights. The rights attached to these conventions are of such importance that asylum seekers cannot be exposed to the risk." "The court ... ruled that a certain category of asylum seekers cannot be sent back to Greece." While Greece has objected to "unfair" criticism from the UNHCR, three countries -- Norway, Sweden and Germany -- have already said they would suspend the return of asylum-seekers to Greece. Dutch authorities have until recently maintained they would send the refugees back. Here is the full article. Since all that started with the GHM – Norwegian NGOs action that led to Norway’s suspension of referral to Greece of Dublin cases (that was followed by the UNHCR subscription to it mentioned below), we are pleased that pressure is added, though we regret that in many cases like here it took court action to reverse refugee agency policies and not refugee agency decisions.

DON’T SEND ASYLUM SEEKERS BACK TO GREECE: DUTCH COURT
Received Monday, 7 July 2008 15:42:00 GMT
http://www.ttc.org/200807071542.m67fgni16200.htm

THE HAGUE, July 7, 2008 (AFP) – A Dutch court has blocked Netherlands authorities from sending asylum seekers who entered Europe via Greece back to that country for case processing, citing serious flaws in the Greek refugee system.

The district court in The Hague found in favour of a Somali complainant who had sought asylum in the Netherlands, but whose application was refused because Greece had been her point of entry to Europe.

“The court is of the opinion that … the Greek asylum procedure has so many shortcomings that” it may be unable to meet its obligations under international refugee conventions, said a copy of the judgment on the court website on Monday.

EU regulations say refugees must seek asylum at the country that is their first port of call.

But Greece came in for stinging criticism from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in April, with the UNHCR saying that asylum-seekers “face undue hardships in having their claims heard” in Greece, and said no country should send asylum-seekers back there.

In a statement, the Dutch court said: “… it seems that Greece does not process these (asylum) applications, or does not do it properly.

“The risk exists that Greece is acting in contravention of the Refugee Convention and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights. The rights attached to these conventions are of such importance that asylum seekers cannot be exposed to the risk.”

“The court … ruled that a certain category of asylum seekers cannot be sent back to Greece.”

While Greece has objected to “unfair” criticism from the UNHCR, three countries — Norway, Sweden and Germany — have already said they would suspend the return of asylum-seekers to Greece.

Dutch authorities have until recently maintained they would send the refugees back.

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