Equal Legal Aid’s Post

As Matteo de Bellis says: "Under this deal (...) the right to seek asylum, including access to fair and effective asylum procedures, would be significantly curtailed in view of the physical distance between people detained in Albania and the authorities and others playing a key role in decisions affecting them — such as asylum commissions, lawyers and judges. Serious questions remain unanswered, such as, will people be able to receive quality assistance from a lawyer of their choice, particularly when legal assistance and interviews are done exclusively remotely? The crux of the matter is that Italy is picking and choosing the bits of EU law it plans to apply, putting aside guarantees offered by EU law, such as the obligation to avoid arbitrary, automatic detention for asylum applicants, and ensure alternatives are available." https://lnkd.in/edadQeQW

Italy's detention deal with Albania will harm people and violate the law. In pursuing it, the Italian government is picking and choosing the bits of EU law it plans to apply, putting aside guarantees offered by EU law - such as the obligation to avoid automatic detention for asylum applicants. I wonder: how much longer can the European Commission pretend this is not the case? Isn't it obvious that, in following this approach, the Meloni government is not only laying the ground for a host of human rights violations, but also offering a dangerous blueprint for other governments? A few observations on the matter, on EUobserver. https://lnkd.in/eh_7BGUH

🅶🅴🆁🅼🅰🅽 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 ➟ '𝐒𝐘𝐑𝐈𝐀 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘' 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐏𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.📢 ►A German court has ruled that 𝐒𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 for the first time, a move that will pave the way for deportations and could affect the status of thousands of Syrian nationals.◄ ►The new ruling, which was delivered by the Higher Administrative Court (OVG) in Münster, found that 𝐒𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.◄ ►𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭’𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. The ruling comes after Danish authorities reached the same conclusion in 2021. Sweden, in turn, ruled in 2022 that some parts of Syria are safe enough to begin rejecting asylum claims and proceed with deportations.◄ ►The new ruling from the Münster court not only paves the way for deportations, but 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤. This stance has seen even violent migrants, many who have been convicted for assaults, яαpe and even murder, being “tolerated” in Germany and allowed to remain.◄ ♦𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳: Credits to source attributed where possible. Information not verified and is shared for awareness only; Constitutes an opinion and fair use. We don’t endorse hate speech, violence, or fake news of any kind.♦ (Source: Remix News) Educate—Share the truth—Silent no more #antisemitism #standwithus #humanrights #germany #inspireil https://lnkd.in/eSXuEVed

The need to tackle impunity in the use of #EnforcedDisappearances in #Venezuela The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela (FFM), established by the UN’s Human Rights Council in 2019, concluded that Venezuelan authorities use arbitrary deprivation of liberty as a weapon to silence political leaders or public figures who are perceived as critical of the government, including journalists, trade union leaders, and human rights defenders and civil society activists. It is imperative that the Venezuelan authorities take immediate steps to put an end to enforced disappearances as a tool of repression. The international community must also play a role in addressing this issue. It is crucial that the human rights organs of the UN and OAS, governments, and civil society groups continue to monitor the situation in Venezuela and put pressure on the authorities. Read the ICJ op-ed article by Carlos Lusverti: https://lnkd.in/eAmXmD4c

In the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) statement, in the case of T.M.N. against Lithuania, the main focus is on the issue of the deprivation of liberty of asylum seekers. On July 5, 2021, the minor applicant was detained in the vicinity of the Lithuania-Belarus border by border guards and immediately expressed a desire to seek asylum in Lithuania. The applicant was considered vulnerable due to several factors: being a minor, her status as a victim of a sexual crime, and a diagnosed autoimmune disease. At the initial registration stage, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) recognized the applicant as a vulnerable person, as an unaccompanied minor. Despite this, like other asylum seekers, her freedom was restricted for more than a year. Judicial review of the decision's legality in the asylum case was not conducted, as state-guaranteed legal assistance was not provided. The applicant was not informed about the progress of her asylum application. Upon regaining her freedom of movement, the applicant, like the vast majority of other asylum seekers, attempted to leave the country but was detained at the border and sentenced to imprisonment for the use of a false document. After serving her sentence, the vulnerable applicant was detained for an additional three months due to her attempt to leave. The actual detention of the asylum seeker, recognized as a vulnerable person, for more than 16 months during which her asylum application was not properly reviewed, reveals significant gaps in the implementation of domestic legal norms and international obligations, elevating deterrence and other migration policy objectives above the protection of children and vulnerable individuals. The case was initiated in court by the Human Rights Monitoring Institute together with the professional association of lawyers ReLex Law Firm as one of the strategic cases aimed at judicial assessment of fundamental flaws in the application of law within the Lithuanian migration and asylum system and correction of flawed institutional practices. For more information, click here: https://lnkd.in/dBXqcsZ4 Associated photo by Khaled Akacha I Pexels

🚨 URGENT 🚨 Saudi dissident and activist Abdulrahman al-Khalidi is at imminent risk of deportation. Al-Khalidi was involved in the 2011 demonstrations in eastern Saudi Arabia. Fearing for his safety, he fled in 2013 to Turkey. In 2021, he headed to the EU seeking asylum, to no avail. Since then, he has been detained in Bulgaria awaiting a court decision to determine whether he would stay in Europe or be deported back to Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, his asylum case has now been rejected by Bulgaria's State Agency for Refugees. His deportation to Saudi Arabia is a "matter of days or hours", we told Middle East Eye's Dania Akkad. Describing his detention in Bulgaria as a "slow death", Abdulrahman may face torture and even the death penalty if deported to Saudi Arabia. Yesterday, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee urged authorities to refrain from deporting him, citing the human rights abuses he will likely face. MENA Rights Group is currently working with EU and UN mechanisms to prevent Abdulrahman's refoulement. We reiterate our call on Bulgarian authorities not to deport him, to grant him asylum and immediately release him from his unfair detention. https://lnkd.in/dTu6NS_Q #humanrights #bulgaria #saudiarabia #deportation #migrants #asylumseekers #refugees #eu #europeanunion

If you have been residing in Poland for a long time, you might be eligible for citizenship by residency. In most cases, this length of time is 10 years, however it can sometimes be dropped down to 2 or 3 years, depending on your situation. Read our latest article to learn more! Link: https://lnkd.in/dRudtmmi #polishcitizenship #poland🇵🇱 #citizenship #family #polish #dualcitizenship #polska

The International Human Rights Clinic of Seattle University School of Law and the Kino Border Initiative have published a new report, Fleeing Terror in Southern Mexico: Why Numerous Guerrero Refugees Qualify for Asylum.   Our Human Rights Clinic and KBI interviewed, in both the U.S. and Mexico, over 25 refugees from #Guerrero, #humanrights experts on #Mexico, and the Honorable Nestora Salgado, the national senator from Guerrero. We also conducted extensive factual and legal research into the current situation in Southern Mexico, and draw upon more than 15 years of experience working in the region.    The report concludes that numerous #refugees from Guerrero should qualify for #asylum under U.S. law.

Facing the asylum interview can be intensely emotional, but it's crucial to convey your truth effectively. Be open and genuine; this is your moment to make an impact. #dalalmehtalaw #immigrationlawyer #asyluminterview #immigrant #usaimmigration #deportation #trauma #daca #usvisas #uslaw #greencard #waiver #uscis #citizenship #naturalization #permanentresident #adjustmentofstatus #undocumented

Censorship & propaganda are the tools of fascists. If the silent majority remains silent than history will continue to repeat itself. The world is slowly changing and not for the better. Power and wealth without wisdom leads to disaster. The internet is the last bastion of free expression but gradual changes are being implemented which limit ideas and thoughts that differ from the popularized media narrative. People must understand that they are the real power. The rich and powerful are nothing without us. We cook their meals, serve their meals, drive their cars, fly their planes, pilot their ships & even die for their false premise of perpetual fear and national pride. Please view Gunter: Truth will vanish Thank you Kelly Kramer.