Published : 10-03-2021
The Association of Refugees’ Rights in Sweden has initiated a legal action against the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in response to the latter’s apathy regarding Palestinian refugees who have been denied asylum in Sweden.
The statement said a memorandum will be passed on by lawyers and human rights activists to the UNHCR to speak up for Palestinians whose asylum applications have been turned down.
Over recent months, the Swedish Migration Agency has turned down applications for humanitarian asylum by Palestinian refugees fleeing Damascus, claiming the city is a secure zone and the refugees can safely return to it.
A number of Palestinian refugees told AGPS that the Swedish migration authorities turned down their applications for visas which they had submitted in 2019.
A refugee said he had appealed the Agency’s decision, saying his family had been chased down by the Syrian security forces and once they return to Damascus they will be arrested.
Human rights activists said Sweden no longer considers Syria an unsafe place for refugees. In order for visa applications to be accepted, the refugee should provide proofs of personal threats.
Last year, a new debate was opened by the migration committee at the Swedish parliament to determine post-coronavirus migration policy in the kingdom. The proposed draft law seeks to replace the temporary asylum law that will remain into effect until next summer.
Official Swedish statistics indicate that 3,296 Palestinian asylum-seekers categorized as “stateless” received citizenship documents in Sweden in 2019.
The Association of Refugees’ Rights in Sweden has initiated a legal action against the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in response to the latter’s apathy regarding Palestinian refugees who have been denied asylum in Sweden.
The statement said a memorandum will be passed on by lawyers and human rights activists to the UNHCR to speak up for Palestinians whose asylum applications have been turned down.
Over recent months, the Swedish Migration Agency has turned down applications for humanitarian asylum by Palestinian refugees fleeing Damascus, claiming the city is a secure zone and the refugees can safely return to it.
A number of Palestinian refugees told AGPS that the Swedish migration authorities turned down their applications for visas which they had submitted in 2019.
A refugee said he had appealed the Agency’s decision, saying his family had been chased down by the Syrian security forces and once they return to Damascus they will be arrested.
Human rights activists said Sweden no longer considers Syria an unsafe place for refugees. In order for visa applications to be accepted, the refugee should provide proofs of personal threats.
Last year, a new debate was opened by the migration committee at the Swedish parliament to determine post-coronavirus migration policy in the kingdom. The proposed draft law seeks to replace the temporary asylum law that will remain into effect until next summer.
Official Swedish statistics indicate that 3,296 Palestinian asylum-seekers categorized as “stateless” received citizenship documents in Sweden in 2019.
