Matthias Sant'Ana

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  Matthias commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Refugee Detention: A Greek Tragedy

  As I had mentioned via tweet, I forwarded your post to a few friends on the ground. Here is something one of them posted back to me:

  
  

  "Concerning the link you sent me...well it is like described..[expletive] terrible. The appeals board was abolished in July. I suppose the reason was probably that while on first instance (police) the percentage of recognition was 0.5 or 1%, on appeal it reached 10% on 2008, which was a good step, but probably unacceptable for the government.  On july they abolished appeal and now refugee claims are considered by the Local chief of police after the advice of a board of 4 members (2 of them are police! 1 employee of the Ministry and 1 unhcr) which is also responsible for the interview with the refugee.  The decision is not subject to an appeal and the only thing remaining is the Council of State!  Perfect really! The unhcr decided not to participate in the asylum procedure unless the law is changed http://hosting01.vivodinet.gr/unhcr/Press_Rel/09pr32en.pdf  So we are waiting for the law to change, which I think will happen soon...we 'll see"

  
  

  So yeah, lets hope they'll "fix the law" at least.