• Sweden edition

Amnesty slams Sweden over refugee policies

Published: 28 May 09 08:12 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/19712/20090528/

Shortcomings in Sweden’s refugee policies and the country’s dismal record at bringing reported rapes to trial have come in for criticism by Amnesty International in its 2008 annual report.

The United Nations Committee Against Torture has previously criticized the long times asylum seekers must wait in detention centres before being deported from Sweden after having their claims for refugee status denied.

In addition to referencing the UN criticism, Amnesty also pointed out that Sweden lacks any defined time limit for how long rejected refugee seekers can remain detained while awaiting deportation.

Also regrettable in the eyes of Amnesty is the falling number of approved Iraqi asylum cases following a controversial Migration Court of Appeal ruling which found that Iraq is no longer in the midst of an armed conflict.

An agreement between Sweden and Iraq from February last year which allows Sweden to forcibly return Iraqis who have had their asylum claims denied is yet another point on which Amnesty voiced its disapproval.

Amnesty also has concerns about figures showing that only 12 percent of reported rape cases in Sweden are ever tried in courtroom.

The lack of systematic and independent research into rape case investigations by police and prosecutors “hampers attempts to increase protection for those who have survived rapes”.

Amnesty once again referenced the UN torture committee for its complaints that Sweden lacks national statistics on domestic violence, and urges Sweden to boost effort to combat violence against women and children, as well as so called “honour violence”.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

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08:28 May 28, 2009 by Moln
"honour violence" for those unfamiliar with the term is beating torturing or murdering women or girls "guilty" of becoming suspect of not being pure repositories of the family honour - for example, the crime of BEING raped, or being caught in a room with a male not a relative, or seeking divorce or marital separation, or seeking an education, ...
10:03 May 28, 2009 by antoniolgj
"...criticized the long times asylum seekers must wait in detention centres before being deported from Sweden."

I think the Amnesty is quite right on this one. They should be deported on the next day...
10:23 May 28, 2009 by Playmaker
I agree. Why does Sweden not return them right away. And was there any honor violence in Sweden before the mass refugee immigration? I personaly belive that the rape statistics will go down and domestic violence also. Which in turn will give the police more time to work on some of the other cases. I sure would like to see the data of Sweden before the mass of refugees. It would nice to compare.
12:27 May 28, 2009 by taytelbaum
"... Being caught in a room with a female, who is not a relative," and she scratches out his eyes... With her husband in the background thinking, "Well that gives them something to do, while I'm busting my ass for our little co- existence.." Honour Killings!
12:32 May 28, 2009 by tigger007
whatever happen to honesty!!

why would u let people in sweden,if u have no place for them nor planing on keeping them in sweden? u can't let a family set up shop(5yrs or more) and let their kids get used to being in sweden. sweden gives these families a false since of hope,they may think it's cool and they will stay. BOOM! the swedish gov. says it 's time for u to go. they should let families know within 2yrs or less,if they are gonna stay in sweden. well in rape cases anybody from anywhere can commit rape! it's a case of giving into the flesh(SIN)and not a race or refugee nor an immigrant thing!
13:19 May 28, 2009 by tewodros
May GOD beless them as they don't know what they are doing ...and it is really also secrate for asyulm seekers why they are doing this . ....may be finincial advantage... we don't know still the reason...needs more resarch ..

let us leave that for GOD... every thing is in the hands of GOD... he will pay them the reward as they are feeding thousends of refugees in the camp day and night just like pig ..
14:36 May 28, 2009 by eZee.se
@tewodros,

you're a moron.
16:20 May 28, 2009 by magic1964
Amnesty is the trojan horse of Islam in Europe...just a bunch of communist wanabee...
20:48 May 28, 2009 by byke
swedens getting slammed from every direction at present and based on laws and agreements that sweden has signed and the reality of poor management and ignorance of many state agencies I am glad sweden is being held accountable for its breaches. Yes, every case has different merits but it appears that all the breaches sweden has been making is finally catching up with them.
22:46 May 28, 2009 by tewodros
ezee.se ur out-dated and far-fetched too..
23:23 May 28, 2009 by refugee
@ezee ... i guesses ur one of those refugee whose natural thinking ablity is declined below zero as ur eating these man made artificial fatty chicken day and night , closed ur neuron transition to use ur brain ,plus being idle in the country side of refugee camps ....far from information .Please wake up before changing again to ur fathers Homo erectus
23:27 May 28, 2009 by Mamoshka
I read about a report on BBC that many refugee families pay more than 10000 dollars per person for smuggling from Iraq for ex.

Would it be better if the Swedish goverment would get their hands on this money use it to start a small buisness for every refugee.

There are things that can refugees do like cooking for Swedish people, helping in their communities for free (that would make them useful).

There are problems in intergration in Sweden i agree.

And racist parties use it to enter politics.

that's the bad with this.
00:23 May 29, 2009 by Mib
Integration is only successful if the finances exist, if the political will exists and the PC brigade don't get involved. Real integration is NOT about creating ghettos in the suburbs of Stockholm. It's about placing refugees across all areas. Of course, its a 2 way street and refugees should be expected to learn the language and to learn about the Swedish culture. The relevant groups are necessary to ensure that refugees have real access to counselling etc to help them recover from problems that we could never dream of. But, they must not jump queues for housing etc...however, the stupid rental system means that it would take a lifetime for anyone to get a property in the centre of Stockholm. So, it is more complicated than this forum can cover. That is why financial and political will is absolutely necessary.

Finally, all jobs must be randomly tested by a Government dept. to minimise discrimination against non-Swedes. How do you expect people to integrate if it is 100 times harder to get a job they are qualified to do.
00:43 May 29, 2009 by Kaethar
Ridiculous... what's taking so long? Nothing worse than being in limbo.
17:57 May 29, 2009 by Nordland88
People in Sweden need to consider the tiny size of their population compared to the vast numbers of people in the third world. At last report only 9 million people live in Sweden. There are cities in India or China that are hardly known by name in the West that have larger populations. If the doors are left open little Sweden will very soon sink under the weight of masses fleeing hunger, oppression, war and etc. Help people where they live now, but don't try the impossible, letting them all move into your country. If that happens Sweden would soon be little different from where the refugees fled, just another wretched overcrowded corner of the planet. The best immigration policy is to let in only a very few highly skilled or educated people. Even with that standard there will be large numbers and a need to be highly selective. As they say, it is time to face facts squarely.
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