Afghan asylum seekers are fleeing from Norway

Police LiberalsPolice Immigration Detention Centre on Trandum at Gardermoen in Jessheim.: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB scanpix

The arrests of 73 Afghans a couple of weeks ago has led to tremendous fear among Afghans in Norway and several have fled, according to Vergeforeningen (Unaccompanied Minors’ Guardianship).

‘The situation is completely untenable, and not everyone understands what has happened. The police action spread fear and confusion, and many Afghans have now gone underground’, said Ine Johannessen of Vergeforeningen to the newspaper, Dagbladet.

She said some have gone to ports in various European countries, while others have gone underground in Norway.

Vergeforeningen believes they are vulnerable and may end up in prostitution or doing forced labor.

Police arrested 73 Afghan men for immediate send-off at immigrant-reception centers across the country in an operation two weeks ago.

While 11 were released because the Police Immigration did not consider there was a risk they would evade expulsion, 62 were sentenced to imprisonment in Oslo District Court.

Many of the reasons for expulsion are that the men are older than they have specified; they have been given an age estimated to be over 18 years. Only five of the detainees had entered a date of birth before the year 1991.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today