Local employees for Norway in Afghanistan who did not apply for asylum in connection with the application scheme in 2015 can have their application processed now.
“In connection with the processing of cases according to the 2015 instructions, ten people were rejected due to compelling reasons. It is not planned to process these applications again,” Minister of Justice Monica Mæland (H) wrote in an email to NTB on Monday morning.
“On the other hand, there are groups that were not covered by the 2015 instruction. There are also people who have been local employees who, for various reasons, chose not to apply in connection with the application scheme in 2015. These groups can now be processed in light of the serious situation,” she added.
Complete reversal
The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan on Sunday. At the same time, the government has been working hard on the very difficult case of around ten Afghans, most of them cleaners, who worked for the Armed Forces in Afghanistan for several years and who have had their wish to come to Norway rejected.
That provoked strong reactions in the political space in Norway.
The government has repeatedly refused to make a new assessment of these cases, which several opposition parties have requested.
SV pressures government
The Socialist Left Party’s (SV) Karin Andersen says the government’s turnaround is, to put it mildly, overdue, but that she is relieved that the government now sees the need for new assessments.
“We will continue to put pressure on the government to ensure that we do not fail those who have helped us,” the parliamentary representative said.
“Now, there must only be new and completely clear assessments,” she added.
66% of those surveyed in a survey conducted by Kantar for Forsvarets forum believe that Norway should grant a residence permit to all Afghans who have worked for Norway in Afghanistan.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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