Published : 19-07-2022
A number of Palestinian refugees from Syria in Denmark slammed the Palestine envoy for dragging its feet over their applications for Palestinian-Authority passports.
A number of refugees said they submitted demands more than one year ago but have received no reply so far.
Activist Mahmoud Abdul Kader accused the Palestinian envoy to Denmark of withholding passports of Palestinians coming from displacement camps in Syria and Lebanon.
Over recent months, Denmark has received accusations of double standards vis-à-vis migrants and asylum seekers. As the war in Ukraine triggered a mass exodus of refugees, countries have opened their doors wide to Ukrainians, offering a warm welcome that has historically been denied to other populations fleeing conflicts across the globe, particularly Palestinian refugees from Syria.
That contrast became more stark in recent months, when European governments have been accused of shunning desperate asylum seekers from Syria, even as they strive to be hospitable to asylum seekers escaping violence in Ukraine. European leaders have also described Ukrainian refugees as less of a threat and more deserving of help than others.
Denmark, which has some of the toughest anti-immigration legislation in Europe, passed a law that offers Ukrainian refugees expedited residency and work permits, giving them access to the education and health care systems. The law came as Syrian and Palestinian asylum seekers have been languishing for months in deportation centers in Denmark, after the country started revoking their residency permits in 2019.
In 2016, as many refugees fled conflicts in the Middle East and Africa to Europe, Denmark passed a law requiring newly arrived asylum seekers to hand over valuables, including jewelry and gold, to help pay for their stay in the country. Ukrainian refugees are exempt from that law.
A number of Palestinian refugees from Syria in Denmark slammed the Palestine envoy for dragging its feet over their applications for Palestinian-Authority passports.
A number of refugees said they submitted demands more than one year ago but have received no reply so far.
Activist Mahmoud Abdul Kader accused the Palestinian envoy to Denmark of withholding passports of Palestinians coming from displacement camps in Syria and Lebanon.
Over recent months, Denmark has received accusations of double standards vis-à-vis migrants and asylum seekers. As the war in Ukraine triggered a mass exodus of refugees, countries have opened their doors wide to Ukrainians, offering a warm welcome that has historically been denied to other populations fleeing conflicts across the globe, particularly Palestinian refugees from Syria.
That contrast became more stark in recent months, when European governments have been accused of shunning desperate asylum seekers from Syria, even as they strive to be hospitable to asylum seekers escaping violence in Ukraine. European leaders have also described Ukrainian refugees as less of a threat and more deserving of help than others.
Denmark, which has some of the toughest anti-immigration legislation in Europe, passed a law that offers Ukrainian refugees expedited residency and work permits, giving them access to the education and health care systems. The law came as Syrian and Palestinian asylum seekers have been languishing for months in deportation centers in Denmark, after the country started revoking their residency permits in 2019.
In 2016, as many refugees fled conflicts in the Middle East and Africa to Europe, Denmark passed a law requiring newly arrived asylum seekers to hand over valuables, including jewelry and gold, to help pay for their stay in the country. Ukrainian refugees are exempt from that law.
