Bishops’ Conference asks for refugee amnesty at Christmas

Prime Minister Erna SolbergPrime Minister Erna Solberg.Photo: Berit Roald / NTB scanpix

In a letter to Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Norwegian bishops ask that the government suspends return of refugees and asylum seekers over Christmas.

Bishops’ Conference also requests that the authorities consider the current return practice again.

– We are now increasingly concern about the depictions of how communities and parishes are reaching the young asylum seekers during night time, put them in handcuffs, detained without being able to say goodbye to someone while they get instructed about final rejection and that they should be returned promptly, states in the letter to the Prime Minister.

– Lawyers Association has pointed out that the law is broken in the eagerness to achieve political goals.

Staff at reception says that the fear of forced return, self-harm and escape are new symptoms to deal with.

Ombudsman and Immigration warns also against the new practice that unaccompanied minors are not given the opportunity to be resettled, but must remain in reception for a long time, it added.

Wednesday there will be demonstrations and protests in 17 Norwegian cities against the government’s asylum and immigration policies.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today