It is surprising that whenever a Finnish government tightens immigration policy, it washes its hands by stating that it’s common practice in the EU or Sweden. Is it? If a landmark decision last month by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is anything to go by, the government’s hardline stance on returning asylum seekers to a “safe” country like Iraq is more than questionable.
The controversial case in Sweden, involving three Iraqi asylum seekers and the Swedish government ended in a favorable ruling for the Iraqis.
Writes the Daily Express:
“The controversial case could set a precedent for the remaining 27 member states after the court’s refusal to accept the national judgement.Sweden ordered the deportation of the trio after turning down their asylum claim in 2011. Decision makers ruled although there is an ongoing terror threat in Iraq, the danger is not such that it effects every person in every town. But the family fought the government in the highest court and have won the right to remain.”
Even if a lot of people were surprised by Sunday’s Helsingin Sanomat story about the tough line that the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) concerning Iraqi asylum seekers, we weren’t.
One recent victim of Migri’s policies is Mohammed Khulbus Idnan, a former Iraqi asylum seeker who returned to his country and was shot by militias.
Pictures of Mohammed Khulbus Idnan in hospital after returning to “a safe” country like Iraq.
After meeting with many asylum seekers and workers at asylum reception centers, it was clear that Migri had in place a “fast-track” system to send back as many asylum seekers as possible to countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia.
After the Helsingin Sanomat story was published on Sunday, there was nothing than denials from Prime Minister Juha Sipilä that the government wasn’t pressuring Migri to make as many negative decisions as possible.
The denial by the prime minister is highly incriminating.
(UPDATE 5.9) Social Democrat MEP Liisa Jaakonsaari blames directly the government for Finland’s hardline stance.
Jaakonsaari tweets that “it’s despicable to blame the Finnish Immigration Service when in fact [the hardline stance on asylum seekers] is government policy.”
(UPDATE 6.9)
It appears that Khulbus Idnan isn’t Migri’s only victim. The Facebook posting below was published on Monday.
Thank you Tino Singh for the heads-up.
Another posting on Monday in Migrant Tales tells about a young Iraqi asylum seeker who attempted to take his life because Migri had forced him to lose all hope.
