October 2006
Some stories
Two landmark asylum judgements
Two important cases, reported this week, vindicate the rights of refugees to recognition and fair treatment.
26 October 2006 (316 words)
Remembering Nasser Al Shdaida
Last week in Burgess Park, south London, the Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers (SDCAS), held a memorial service and tree planting ceremony for Syrian asylum seeker, Nasser Al Shdaida, who took his life earlier this year after his asylum claim was refused.
26 October 2006 (310 words)
Profiling Muslim students is unlawful in Germany
British universities are being asked to inform Special Branch of the suspicious behaviour of 'Asian-looking and Muslim' students. But a court in Germany has already ruled that profiling Arab students, in the name of countering terrorism, is incompatible with the German Constitution.
19 October 2006 (300 words)
Deported asylum seeker condemns Home Office from Iraqi Kurdish hospital
IRR News has been forwarded two letters from Iraqi asylum seekers who were deported last month on a military flight.
18 October 2006 (708 words)
Kenny Peter's inquest points to asylum failures
On 15 September, an inquest found that yet another asylum seeker had taken his life in detention. Unusually, in such cases, in addition to a self-harm verdict, the jury also listed the numerous ways in which the system, supposed to care for vulnerable detainees, had failed to do so.
5 October 2006 (1883 words)
After the Swiss referendum
Nearly 70 per cent of those who voted in a referendum in Switzerland on September 24 said yes to reform of immigration and asylum laws. But the committee formed to oppose laws, which, according to UNHCR are amongst the harshest in Europe, has announced that it will build on the support of the 32 per cent of the electorate which opposed the laws to create a more progressive approach to asylum.*
4 October 2006 (731 words)