New Times #91

THE GREAT ERITREAN ESCAPE

REFUGEES. REPORT. LIFE.

NEWTIMESOCTOBER 2014 > ISSUE # 91

ASYLUM SEEKERS AFRAID OF EBOLAMANY ASYLUM SEEERS ARE AFRAID OF THE DEADLY VIRUS FROM AFRICA.

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DANES OFFER HELPDANES DONATE CLOTHES AND TOYS TO THE ASYLUM SEEKERS IN THE NEW CENTER IN HELSINGØR

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MISSINGTWO SYRIAN REFUGEES WERE LOST AT OPEN SEA IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. THEIR FAMILY MADE IT TO DENMARK AND ARE NOW DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR THEM.

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ERITREANS ARE FLEEING TO EUROPE AND DENMARK IN BIG NUMBERS. WHY?

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Photo: Samout3 CC

| ISSUE # 91 | OCTOBER 2014 | NEW TIMES

Note:Some of the journalists use their real names, but some use pseudonyms because they do not want their whereabouts known by people in their home countries.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are those of the authors and the persons interviewed and not – unless stated clearly – the opinion of the Danish Red Cross.

Published by:The Danish Red Cross

Editorial Office:New TimesRed Cross House Rosenørns Allé 31, 2nd floor1970 FrederiksbergEmail: [email protected]. +45 23 34 58 87

Editor: Robin Ali Ahrenkiel El-Tanany

New Times Journalists:Yolanda, Makmoud, Sam, Kazhal, Ismael, Robert, Ahmed, Billy Hydar and Marwan.

Volunteers:Camilla Q. Madsen and Nana Fischer

Intern:Magraret Jadon

Layout:Jens Burau, supergreen.dk

Printed by:OTM Avistryk

Distributed to:Asylum centres, Ministries, Members of the Danish Parliament, public libraries, asylum and human rights organizations, NGOs, media and individuals in Denmark and abroad.

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ASIG:ASIG (Asylum Seekers Information Group) answers questions about asylum and life as a refugee. Individuals, teachers, students, journal-ists and anyone interested in asylum matters is welcome to send an inquiry. To book the group for lectures, presentations and discussions con-tact [email protected]

Support:We are a part of the Danish Red Cross adult education and training department and are sup-ported by the Danish Institute for Study Abroad. We cooperate with the Danish Refugee Council and Amnesty International.

Two things of particular inter-est has happened during the last three months. Firstly, the number of asylum seekers are heading towards a record high here in Denmark - as in the rest of Europe. Secondly, several Danish political parties are sug-gesting to limit the rights of asylum seekers.

The high number of refu-gees - especially from Syria and Eritrea - is putting an extra pressure on the Danish asylum system. Many extra beds are needed fast. New asylum cent-ers are being set up and the local communities’ respond to the new centers have been heart warmening. Especially in the city of Helsingør where the locals have flooded the new center with donations of clothes, toys, flowers and chocolates. Within the first few weeks 90 local volunteers had signed up during a Red Cross meeting in town. They wanted to help.

This hospitality does not go unnoticed among the refugees. They are grateful to tears.

Meanwhile a number of political parties have reacted to the high number of asylum seekers coming to Denmark in the first part of 2014. The Liberals, the biggest party in the opposition, suggests that asylum seekers should no longer be allowed to work or to live outside the centers. They believe that these measures

will help limit the number of asylum seekers coming to Den-mark.

The Danish People’s Party, the second biggest party in opposition, suggests that refu-gees who have been granted temporary or permanent resi-dence should be sent back to their home countries if they return to peace. The present Prime Minister have said that she is open to look into it.

It seems like asylum seek-ers will once again be a part of the focus during the coming elections in Denmark. This was also the case in Sweden where the elections were carried out in September. Here the talk was significantly different though. During the campaign the con-servative prime ministerial candidate said that the Swedes should open their hearts for the increasing number of people fleeing from war and torture around the world.

Just as the local Danes in Helsingør are doing.

Robin AliAhrenkiel El-TananyEditor

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REFUGEES. REPORT. LIFE.

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Photo: Billy Hydar

NEW TIMES | OCTOBER 2014 | ISSUE # 91 | PAGE 3

❚ Ebola first appeared in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks in Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo. The first of these was in a village situated near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name.

❚ This is the most severe Ebola out-break in recorded history. It began in Guinea and spread to Sierra Leone and Liberia. Several cases have also occurred in Nigeria, and it has hit travelers and health care workers from infected areas.

❚ A vaccine might be on the way. Two Americans infected with virus have recovered and have both been dis-charged from Atlanta hospital

(Source: WHO and Reuters)

FACTS ABOUT EBOLA

ASYLUM SEEKERS AFRAID OF EBOLANew Times have spoken to several asylum seekers, who are afraid of the Ebola virus

❚ Text and photos by: Ahmed

After the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa, asylum seekers in Denmark have started to fear the virus, espe-cially those who are living in Sandholm. Nowadays an increasing number of asylum seekers are coming to Sand-holm, they’re living together in one place, eating in one place, and this increases the fear of being infected. We’ve talked to several asylum seekers and the Medical Chief of Red Cross Ebbe Munk-Andersen about the Ebola virus. Here are a few interviews with asylum seekers, who are living in Sandholm and the Medical Chief of Red Cross.

MICHAEL WILLIAMS, GHANA:The first time I heard about the Ebola virus was two or three months ago. The only thing I know about Ebola is that it kills, and that is why I am afraid of it. If you get infected by the virus today, you will die tomor-row. As asylum seekers we live in Sandholm, and many new people are coming everyday. We do not know, who has it or who does not. The staff and medi-cal persons have to ensure that the new people are checked for this virus, because the asylum center is open to everybody. We eat together as a family, all in one place.

ABDIKANI EGEH, SOMALIA:I’ve recently heard about this Ebola virus on the news because it’s in West Africa and I’m from the East. That’s why I haven’t heard about it before, but the only thing I know about Ebola is that it kills people. I fear of it because I believe it could break out if someone with the virus came to Sandholm. Then it’s easy to get the virus. So I say to the health sector of our centre, that they should do the medi-cal interview on the first or the second day, when new people are coming.

ALI ABDIRIZAK, SOMALIA:I watch people dying because of Ebola on television. I do not know how to prevail over this and that creates fear in me. Eve-rything is possible. There might be infected asylum seekers who come to the asylum centres. I consider Ebola one of the worst diseases because you die so fast. I would say that the health sector in the refugee camps should quickly check people’s health.

MEDICAL CHIEF OF RED CROSS: NO REASON TO PANICMedical Chief of Red Cross, Ebbe Munk-Andersen says there is very little risk for the Ebola virus to enter the Danish asylum system

❚ By: Ahmed

How big is the risk that the Ebola virus will be found in Danish asylum centers?

The risk is very small. We cannot exclude a person from West Africa with Ebola if he comes to Denmark. But the risk would only be present, if the person comes directly from the home country with a journey time of less than 21 days. Infec-tion spreads through bodily fluids, so health care profession-als will be at greatest risk of becoming infected. The board of health considers the risk of infection to other communities as very small.

What does the Red Cross do to avoid the virus in the centers?

Symptoms of Ebola out-breaks are flu-like: sudden fever, muscle aches, general

fatigue, headaches, and neck pain. This is followed by vom-iting, diarrhea and sometimes severe bleeding from the inner and outer orifices. Health care professionals inform people at risk about the disease by medi-cal reception and is also aware of the signs of disease during these. Otherwise, there are no special requirements.

What should asylum seekers be aware of?

Residents in the asylum cent-ers should consult healthcare professionals if they have been in physical contact with sick people from West Africa during the trip to Denmark. There is no reason to feel panic.

❚ Ebola is not transmitted through casual contact in public places with people who do not have signs of sickness.

❚ You can not get Ebola by handling money and goods.

❚ Mosquitoes do not transmit the Ebola virus.

❚ The Ebola virus is destroyed by fat solvents such as hand soap, alcohol, sunlight or drying.

OBSERVE THIS:

If asylum seekers get symptoms that resemble the symptoms of Ebola, contact the clinic (during the day) or the emergency doctor (outside normal working hours).

AFRAID? CONTACT THE CLINIC


❚ By: Yolanda, Robin El-Tanany and Camilla Madsen

Former Eritrean asylum seeker “David” tells about living condi-tions in Eritrea. He prefers to remain anonymous for consid-eration of his family in Eritrea.

FORCED MILITARY DUTYDavid explains that the mili-tary duty for many eritreans is a life long job: “Military duty is required when you turn 18 years old, both male and female. The service is officially 18 months, but it is rarely respected. No one know how long they will stay in the military. It can be up to old age of 65,” he explains.

METHODS OF TORTURE Amnesty International have evi-dence that the regime’s torture methods are widely common and systematic. Many of the methods have names like “the Helicopter” and “Jesus Christ”. Torture methods that are well known in the Eritrean society. The most common of these tor-ture methods are about bind-ing body and limbs together in anomalous positions for a long time without food and water.According to a report from Amnesty International people deserting the army are sys-tematically tortured. A former detainee talks about his experi-ence:

“Ermias…escaped twice. After four days free in his second escape attempt he was caught ...10 guards surrounded him and two other captured escapees…They

beat them in front of us until

they were vomiting blood. They tied them in ‘helicopter’ method for 55 days outside in the heat. Ermias’ skin color changed, his body swelled

and he couldn’t walk. For the first two days he was refused food, but the prisoners fed him. I don’t know if he is still alive.”

NO OFFICIAL TRIALSAccording to “David”, there are rarely an official trial. If some-one is caught trying to escape the country he is put in jail and can stay there for a very long time. Since there are no offi-cial records, nobody can find out where the detainee is.

Most of the prisons are situ-ated on “very bad, hot places”,

where people are tortured both physically and mentally.

In a report from Amnesty International a man talks about being in detention in the Adi Abeto prison in Eritrea:

“We were beaten and mostly were tied in the ‘helicopter’ position and tortured in groups of 10 to 15. We were tied up day and night, except for three short food and toilet breaks. I was tied up for two weeks. One of us got very ill with bronchitis and there was no medical treat-ment… Some got paralysed in the arms and legs.”

To the question whether David himself have experienced torture in an Eritrean prison he doesn’t want to go into detail but simply says “yes”.

ERITREANS FLEEING FROM TORTUREEritrean asylum seekers are entering in higher and higher numbers. Forced military duty and systematic torture methods are everyday life for many Eritreans

❚ Eritrea has no constitution or func-tioning legislation

❚ President Isaias Afewerki has been in office since 1991

❚ Military training is obligatory from 18 to 40 years old

❚ Since 2012 men in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s have also been compelled to perform military duty

❚ 305.000 people have fled Eritrea over the last decade

Source: Human Rights Watch, World Report 2014 and UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)

ERITREA:

780 ERITREANS ON PAUSE IN DENMARKA Minister decision makes Eritrean asylum seekers wait for indefinite time

In the beginning of the year ten Eritreans came to Denmark every month to seek asylum. In June the number increased to around 500 per month. In August the Danish Minister of Justice, Karen Hækkerup, decided to pause the case pro-cessing of Eritrean asylum seek-ers due to the sudden increase. The Minister cannot say any-

thing about when the case processing will start up again as she will wait for a Danish fact finding mission to make a report on Eritrea before starting up again. New Times has asked for an interview with the Minis-ter about this issue, but she did not have time.

According to the organisa-tion Refugees Welcome 780

asylum seekers are now on hold in the Danish system, wait-ing for indefinite time in the asylum centers. Refugees Wel-come also informs that all Eri-treans in Sweden are granted asylum (around 2000 this year). In Norway more than 90% gets asylum (around 2.200 this year).

Both the “Helicopter” (above) and the “Jesus Christ” (right) are tying methods used to torture Eritrean prisoners. These draw-ings were made by former pris-oners who are now refugees.

Refugee boy in Eritrea (Photo Samout3 CC)


THE NEWCOMERSMany extra beds are needed fast for the rising number of asylum seekers in Denmark. Red Cross is busy and locals have flooded a new center with donations of clothes, toys, flowers and chocolates.Meet the grateful newcomers and some of the donating local Danes.

Photo: Billy Hydar


LOCALS OFFER HEARTWARMING HELP TO ASYLUM SEEKERSDuring a visit at the newly opened asylum center in Helsingør our reporter met with many local Danes who donated love, time, clothes and toys to the asylum seekers

❚ By: Billy Hydar

I paid a visit to the center on Esrumvej 145 in Helsingør, to check on the conditions on the center itself and to meet the newcomers.

In a recently abandoned, nicely located, huge building that used to be a hospital, right in the big heart of the city of

Helsingør, an asylum center was created in about six days so that it can fit the asylum seek-ers and their basic needs.

On my way I was stopped by a Danish guy with Middle Eastern look, who offered me directions. I found out that he was helping the Red Cross sup-port the asylum seekers.

The new asylum center in Hels-ingør (Photo: Billy Hydar)

HE MADE A FACEBOOK PAGE TO HELPWhen 20-year-old Samir Hariri heard about the new asylum center in Hels-ingør, he decided that he wanted to help

❚ By: Billy Hydar

How do you help?I help them by collecting clothes, shoes and other things they need. I helped to set up a Facebook page called “Indsam-ling til Asylcenter Helsingør” to spread the word to my friends - both ethnic Danes and mixed - to unite everyone to help the asylum center.

Why are you helping the asylum seekers?I feel that it is good that these asylum seekers have a shel-ter they can call home, and I would expect the same help I’m giving, if I was in their sit-uation. It is also an obligation from my religion (Muslim) to help others in need no matter of their ethnicity.

Samir Hariri is currently study-ing Architectural Technology and Construction. If you search on Facebook for “Indsamling til Asylcenter Helsingør” you will find Samir’s page.His parents are from Palestine but he has always lived in Hels-ingør (Photo: Billy Hydar)

Chocolate boxes and a postcard to the new asylum seekers from a local family in Helsing?r. The postcard says: “Welcome to Denmark. All the best wishes for a good future. Best regards, a family in Helsingør” (Photo: Billy Hydar)


FAMILY DONATES CLOTHES AND TOYSA mother with her daughter drags a huge trolly of toys, clothes and sheets. Everything are contributions for the asylum seekers

❚ By: Billy Hydar

The Danish family, born and raised in Helsingør, includes three children. The father, Andreas Devos and the mother, Christina explains their motives of helping.

Why do you help asylum seekers and not Danish people who are also in need of help?I want to help people as much as I can, and I have helped Danish people before, but these people are in much bigger need. I am not thinking whether they are Jews, Muslims or Christians - or whether they are Danish or not. They are people in need of help. Thats what they are to me.

How do you feel having the hospital to be reopened as an asylum center in this region?This hospital building was not being used, so why not use it for

a good cause like this? I think this center helps us feel more about each other, and it helps us to find out how we could help each other by any means.

What do you have to say to these newcomers in that building?I would like to tell them that they should never lose hope about returning to their own homeland, and that they could rebuild it with their energy and powers. Make it a country like they want it to be. If they choose to stay here, I hope that they can give themselves the chance to integrate and be one of us.

I also want to urge the Danish Red Cross in this region to organize an activity or a pro-ject where our kids and our soci-ety here in Helsingør can spend time together with the asylum seekers so we can know more about each others. “The asylum seekers are people

in need of help”, says Andreas Devos. (Photo: Billy Hydar)


GRATEFUL TEARSTwo sisters who have just arrived after a long escape from Syria cry of gratefulness for the Danish welcome

❚ By: Billy Hydar

How did you come here?We came on small boat. We arrived in Italy and came all the way to here.

Why Denmark?Denmark has a good reputation for human rights. We wanted to feel human again.

What are your plans if you are granted asylum in Denmark?We want to continue our mas-ters and become integrated socially, culturally and aca-demically. We want to be what we couldn’t achieve in our country.

What do you wish for the most? We have really been wishing for any sort of activities so we can show our appreciation and gratitude to the society in Hels-ingør. They have treated us like

family, and we want to give them something back. We feel at home here.

We also wish to show the real image of the Syrian people and arabs in general. We apol-ogize on behalf of the immi-grants here who didn’t succeed to make the best image, and therefore we want to correct this view. We want to volun-teer in social work to repay the amount of help that we have received.

Do you have any messages?Our message, would definitely be directed to the Arab world; we have been treated like ani-mals among our own people. We are treated as humans among European people. We just want to say how big the shame is to be helped by a stranger, and being humiliated by a person you are closely related to by eth-nicity.

Asmaa (left) and Iasmaa cry grateful tears for their reception in Denmark. But they have been treated like animals by their fellow Arabs on their journey to safety. (Photo: Billy Hydar)

The high rise in asylum seekers entering Sandholm is making it difficult for the staff to keep up

❚ By: Ismael

Eva is a Red Cross staff member in Center Sandholm. She is one of the first people to receive new asylum seekers in Den-mark. And they come in big numbers now.

Usually how many people arrive in Sandholm on a daily basis?In normal days about 25 persons.

And now?About 80 persons arrive every day to Center Sandholm. The majority are from Syria and Eri-trea. All the Eritreans who arrive are young and without family just like a lot of the Syrians.

How busy are you?We are so busy that we get help from asylum seekers who have been living in Sandholm for a long time. They have experience and they help out

with translation and other things.

The refugees never come within a specific time. They come at different times in the day and in the night. That makes the work complicated. We have to receive them and register them and after that we must give them rooms for sleep-ing and off course give them food to eat. In the day it is a lot easier than at night.

How many staff members receive all this people in the Sandholm reception?Before there were four staff members, one in the recep-tion at the gate and three in the office. But the number of asylum seekers entering Sand-holm have tripled. We now have one extra staff member. We could use more, but unfor-tunately we cannot afford to engage more staff.

Eva is carrying boxes of sheets and pillows to hand out to the arriving asylum seekers. Despite the increased workload in Sandholm Eva still wears a smile. (Photo: Ismael)

570 asylum seekers came to Denmark in January. In July the monthly number was 1720.

RISING NUMBERS

HIGH NUMBER OF ASYLUM SEEKERS MAKES STAFF VERY BUSY

What does it mean for the asylum seekers?They are waiting for a longer time before being registered - about three hours or more. It depends on the number and if it is in the day or in the night.

Also, we don’t have much time to listen to the asylum seekers’ problems and wor-ries.

How do you feel about your work now compared to before? Before it was a normal work without any difficulty, we worked at ease. But now with all these people it’s not easy to follow up. Every hour, every day and every night we receive asylum seekers. We feel the pressure and it’s stressful. But personally I love my job. I love helping others so I force myself to take it easy and to be patient.


MISSING

A heartbreaking story from a Syrian family who came to Denmark four days before this interview. They travelled to Italy over the sea when the tragedy happened

❚ By: Billy Hydar

“We were too many on a small fishing boat crossing the sea with smugglers. We were found by a Filipino ship, who gave us food and vests. The people who stayed at the bottom of our boat - the ones who had paid less to be smuggled - heard of the ship offering help, and they went up on board. Then all balance was lost. The ship started sinking. People tried to survive by swimming, jumping into the sea or holding onto a piece of wood. We saw people exhaust-ingly swimming, and people failing to reach the lifeboats. We also saw bodies. Some of us were saved, some were not. Many were lost. 500 people were missing. I lost my daughter and my son’s wife.

FROM ITALY TO DENMARKMy wife had to stay in the hospital in Italy for one week. She was devastated not knowing about our family members. We asked the Italian authorities, the italian Red Cross, but no one could tell us anything. We stayed a little in Italy, where we were offered all the basics, and treated really nice. Then we decided to continue and come here. We came very exhausted to Sandholm and asked for asylum.

If you have any information about the two missing women please con-tact Red Cross staff or New Times.

Please help. Bachir Saayed shows pictures on his phone of his lost daughter Inas Saayed (left) and his son’s wife Marah Saayed. (Photo: Billy Hydar)

❚ Every year, countless families across the world are separated by conflict and disaster.

❚ The Tracing Service in Denmark is part of the International Red Cross Red Crescent global tracing network, which aims to re-establish contact between separated family members and clarify the fate of the missing.

❚ If you want to contact the Red Cross Tracing Service use this email [email protected] or call at 35 27 87 90

DO YOU NEED HELP FINDING LOST FAMILY MEMBERS?

Danish authorities were super nice with us, and they are still treating us very humanely. We are very grateful for the efforts, but we desperately urge anyone on Danish soil who can help us find my daughter and my son’s wife. It is very heartbreaking not to know their fate.

WE NEED HELP I am Bachir Saayed and my family member Sham Al-Kaboon, urge for help to find and get anything information for our members, and God will bless anyone who can offer us help, and they will be very much appreciated. My daughter’s name is Inas Saayed 18 years old, my son’s wife is Marah Saayed 19 years old.”


❚ By: Billy Hydar

Zachary Whyte has specialized in asylum seekers in Denmark. He holds a postdoc position in the Department of Anthropol-ogy at the University of Copen-hagen, and has produced sev-eral papers concerning asylum seekers in Denmark. We asked him five central questions.

What are the biggest reasons for the citizens of a nation to leave their country of origin? The main reason people leave their countries is to reach safety, to find a place where they can build a livable life. The majority of asylum seekers and refugees end up in neighbouring coun-tries. Relatively few make it to Europe and of these even fewer make it to Denmark.

Why Denmark?There are a number of reasons asylum seekers end up in Den-mark. Some have family or friends here. Social networks are very important both for decid-ing on where to go and for how well people adapt once they get there. Others simply go where they can, letting the smugglers decide. Still others were trying to get somewhere else (often Sweden), but were stopped by police in Denmark and so forced to apply for asylum here under Dublin regulations.

What is important for refugees to integrate well in Denmark?

Refugees integrate very differ-ently in Denmark depending on a number of factors. One factor is their social networks. It helps refugees - and indeed all for-eigners - a lot to have a network to help them orient themselves in Denmark, to help them with the language, to help them navigate the Danish bureau-cracy. This network can consist of either friends and family already living here, or people they meet once they have been placed somewhere, like for example their new neighbours.

Another factor is their edu-cational background. Having skills that are useful in Den-mark and having a good com-mand of English make things a lot easier for people, not least in their dealings with their munic-ipal caseworkers. Now many refugees still find it difficult to get to use their skills and to have their educational achieve-ments recognised, which can lead to frustration and anger. But all things being equal, these people are still better off, than those refugees without the edu-cation and language skills. If nothing else they tend to have an easier time learning Danish, which is obviously important for communicating with Danes and reading letters and signs, but also for getting permanent residence, Danish citizenship, and access to the university.

A third factor is their health. Some refugees suffer from mental or physical problems -

or both - which can make their adaptation to life in Denmark difficult.

A fourth factor is the help they can get from the munici-pality they are assigned to. It makes a great deal of difference to refugees’ prospects if they have friendly and competent caseworkers.

A fifth factor is the state of the local economy, where they are living. If there are jobs avail-able, refugees can earn livings, which is good for both their finances and their sense of self-worth, and more easily gain permanent residence and even Danish citizenship.

Will the new generation of refugees in Denmark make an impact in Denmark for the next 10-15 years ?I hope that the children of the refugees already in Denmark will indeed leave their mark on Denmark. Their parents have arrived here in difficult circum-stances but often motivated in these hardships by a strong desire to offer their children the chance of a better life. I have heard and read of many cases, where refugee parents work very hard to give their children the best chances in life, pushing them to get a good education and so on.

Now these children can also face problems: they often do not have a great deal of money, because it is difficult for refu-gees to find jobs, they can face

discrimination, they can be forced into uncomfortable situ-ations in mediating between their parents and Danish soci-ety and bureaucracy.

But all in all, I think refu-gees and their children could provide an important boost to both the economic and cultural life of Denmark, now and in the future.

How many refugees per native danish citizen are there in Den-mark compared to the neighbor-ing countries?There are relatively few refu-gees in Denmark compared to countries like Sweden and Norway. It is hard to find the precise figure, but UNHCR is publishing a list that gives some insight. According to that list, Denmark has 412 natives per refugee, while Sweden has 107, Norway 119, and Germany 144. So basically Denmark hosts about a quarter to a third of the number of refugees that our neighbours do, when you account for population size.

It is worth remembering, though, that these figures are at least three years old. In that time, the gap between Denmark, and the other three countries I mentioned, has likely widened, as Sweden and Norway in par-ticular have recognised many more refugees than Denmark in that period.

Zachary Whyte thinks ref-ugees and their children could provide an important boost to both the economic and cultural life of Den-mark (Photo from Copen-hagen University).

Why do asylum seekers

come to Denmark? New

Times has asked a pro-

fessor in anthropology

WHY DENMARK?


Photo: Jens Burau


ASYLUM SEEKERS ARE HOMELESS IN ITALYMany asylum seekers go through Italy on their journey from either Syria, Eritrea or other countries south of Italy. But conditions are harsh for asylum seekers in the South European country. New Times talked with an asylum seeker who has experienced it

❚ By: Kazhal

Ali is a 30-year-old asylum seeker from Iran. He went to Italy two years ago to seek asylum. He ended up living in the street, struggling to get food and shelter. He now lives in Avnstrup asylum center in Denmark, hoping to be able to live here.

What happened to you in Italy?When I entered Italy I went to a police office and told them I am asylum seeker.

The police gave me an address in a city called Ancona and told me there is camp for asylum seekers there and that I should go there. I went there but they did not accept me because there were no empty rooms.

The camp was not very big. It was just one building with three floors and 60 rooms. It was very dirty and messy. I guess 350 persons were living there.

What did you do then?I asked the Red Cross staff for help. They told me: “Sorry, we cannot help you more than this. We do not have enough rooms for all the asylum seekers coming here”.

I went back to the police office, but they told me there were no other empty camps. They took my fingerprints and told me to come back later for an interview.

How long did you wait for your interview day? I waited for six months.

What did you do in that period? I lived in the street for a long time. I could not find any place to stay. I got a lot of experience about sleeping in the streets. I

learned from the other home-less people that it was neces-sary to find black jobs to survive. And to find a space to hide your bag with your belongings when you were working. I looked for a black job. I searched for a space for hiding my bag. I found one and I was later offered a day-long job at a restaurant. After seven hours I came back to take my bag and my things but I couldn’t find it. It was gone. Someone had stolen it. I had lost both my ID card and my few other belongings. I had to be strong.

People living in the street are happy if they can find money for just a meal. And people live in constant risk of deportation. I saw the police deporting many Somali and Sudanese people. I slept under a bridge for three months. I finally succeeded in finding a black job in a pizze-ria and my boss allowed me to sleep there. Then I went to my interview at the police station and I was given a permission to stay in Italy for six months. But the government did not offer any help to refugees.

After your permission was your life better?No, because there are no white jobs for refugees in Italy. There is crisis in their economy and no work.

After a while I decided to came to Denmark for a better life and to study at university. Denmark is a country where humans. I hope I can make a successful life in Denmark.


The welfare provisions for asylum seekers in Italy are bad. Many end up living in the streets like this man in Firenze, Italy. (Photo: Art Crimes / CC)


So far this year the Danish Refugee Appeals Board have rejected 2000 asylum seekers.

FACT

POEM OF DEPORTATIONThis poem was written by one of the rejected asylum seekers who is being deported

out of Denmark. His case was not considered credible by the Danish authorities

CREDIBLY SPEAKING

Our heart ached ladies and gentlemen,Welcome to our board,

This is the board members speaking,On behalf of our caring and careless crew,

just like we did in a zoo,for his number was large too,

killed Marius but,this time it’s a human being. We would like to inform you,

Due to our carefulness peaking,Your case is no longer our bureau,

Please extinguish all your pain, hurt, losses, and any heart blood leaking,

Unheeding to your respect and love,For the land you have come to,

The world is now on fire, so our DF too,Remain seated and PAS PÅ,

Some turbulence is expected ahead,Fasten your seatbelts,

You’re on your own NU!Wish you a pleasant Deport.

❚ By: Billy Hydar

Photo: Billy Hydar


I CRIED AT THIS MUSEUMI cried tears of happiness at the David Collection Museum in Copenhagen. The museum shows how art and religion have a common goal; that the world should be a better place

❚ By: Kazhal

I am an asylum seeker and I am an artist. So I decided to visit one of the many museums in Denmark.

I chose the the David Collec-tion in Copenhagen, because it also shows art from my home country Iran. The people in the museum are very careful with the art pieces. In this way the history of my country will remain. At the same time this is a new opportunity for me, because in my country it is very expensive to go to the museum. The entrance here is for free.

UNITYThe exhibition shows its visi-tors that the ancient artists had a worldly message. They emphasize the importance of religious unity and the common features in all divine books. The message is that

all of the religions (Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Bahai etc.) are one voice. All of them are about God and love.

RELIGION SHOULD NOT LEAD TO WARWhen I looked and understood, I cried for myself at the exhibi-tion, because humans in this century go to war based on reli-gious grounds and try to take over more of the earth. They kill because they think the earth belongs only to them. But reli-gion was given to the people, because it should lead to peace and not war.

People in this century are in war with each other and not paying attention to the peaceful message of art. Art has no coun-try, no religion - its message and beauty is for everyone. Art doesn’t have a race, it doesn’t discriminate. Art and religion

have a common point and that is that the world should be a better place for humans who are all children of God on Earth.

IMPORTANT TO SAVE THE ARTIt is important that we save the art, so people can see the impor-tant messages, that I think come from God. Artists are creative souls and the soul has a connec-tion to God. The most important message is: Don’t make war, make love.

I am happy that this collec-tion is in Denmark, because it is the history of the world, and it is not different even though we are from different places in the world. I hope that our chil-dren will understand the true message of art and religion in the future and live a life in peace.

These decorations are from an 600 years old mosque. The decorations both include the Jewish star and the Christian cross. (Photo by: Kazhal)

You can visit the museum in Copenha-gen between 10-17. Mondays closed. Entrance is free. Check out the website for more information: www.davidmus.dk

VISIT THE MUSEUM


TRAMPOLINE HOUSE MOVES TO NEW ADDRESSThe Trampoline House does not just have a new address. It also has lot more space for activities Address: Thoravej 7, ground floor in

the north west part of Copenhagen. You can take bus 5A from the Central Station.Tuesday 1–7 pmWednesday 1–7 pmFriday 1–11 pm (last Friday of the month closed)Saturday 2–5 pm (women only)For further details visit the Trampo-line House on Facebook or go to www.trampolinehouse.dk

ADDRESS AND OPENING HOURS:

and some Danish people learn-ing Arabic. It is a place where anyone can go and feel comfort-able and at home because of the friendly atmosphere.

MORE SPACEMoving to the new location, which is 360 m2, has given the Trampoline House more than enough space and this will enable the house to have both Danish, English and Arabic classes running at the same time. There will be a separate room for counseling from the lawyers as well as the Refugees Welcome. There will still be a main hall where people can hang out and enjoy their time with friends, a small garden facing south, where they plan to set up boxes of flowers, and

❚ By: Robert Hugh Sams

The Trampoline House relo-cated to its new address before the summer holidays and the staff hope to have finished all renovations by the end of this month. The house has been active the last four years and is still going strong, helping asylum seekers who feel lost and misplaced. You can find tai-lors, barbers, masseuses, cooks, legal counseling, students learning Danish and English -

a place for grilling to enjoy the sunny days.

EXHIBITION AREAThere is also a new exhibition area called CAMP (Center for Art on Migration Politics) and this will consist of art from all over the world and also from camps. They will also be starting a bicy-cle shop for people to maintain their bikes. The exhibition area will also be used for people who want to play indoor sports like table tennis as well as foosball (table football).

The new building of the Tram-poline House. Photo: Robert Hugh Sams

REFUGEES WELCOME MOVES TO TRAMPOLINE HOUSEOne of the counseling organisations for asylum seekers, Refugees Welcome, moves to the Trampoline House, and will have open office three hours a week from 16-19 on Tues-days. The organisation offers free legal coun-seling to all asylum seekers and to people living underground. The staff all have deep insight in asylum law and work voluntarily for the organisation.

Rådgivning og hjælp til flygtninge

(også under jorden) hver tirsdag kl. 16-19

Ring på tlf. 5055 8011 eller mød op i

Trampolinhuset, Thoravej 7, Kbh NV

– medbring alle dine papirer, og gerne din egen tolk

REFUGEES WELCOME

www.refugeeswelcome.dk

[email protected]

Advice and help to refugees

(also under ground) every Tuesday 16-19h

Call phone 5055 8011 or show up at

Trampoline House, Thoravej 7, Nørrebro

– bring all your papers and a translator if you need one

FREDERIKSSUNDSVEJ

(BUS: 5A + 350S FROM NØRREPORT STATION)

GLA

SVEJ

THORAVEJ

SNØRREBROSTATION(F-LINE)

REFU

GEES WELCOME

– bring your familie

s

املشورة و مساعدة الالجئني )للغير نظاميني ايضًا(

كل ثالثاء ما بني الساعة 16-19

اتصل علی الرقم 50558011 او

احضر بشكل شخصي علی العنوان

Trampoline House, Thoravej 7, Nørrebroاحضر جميع االوراق و الوثائق التي معك مع مترجم اذا كنت بحاجة له

1 Hello. My name is Ali from Soma-lia. My question is, I got posi-tive from the Immigration Ser-

vice and I don’t understand what the papers say. I can’t ask the Red Cross because I can’t speak English. Some people have told me I have got two years asylum only. I worry about the time after two years. What will happen after two years?”

1Dear Ali, Congratulations on the positive outcome. The answer to your question depends on the

type of residency you got. There are many different types, such as asylum, family reunion, work etc. If you get asylum in Denmark, the residency is valid for max 5 years with the pos-sibility of extension. The permit will state the duration of valid residency. The extension is normally not dif-ficult to obtain, but it is your own responsibility to apply for it before the original permit expires. But as mentioned, there are many differ-ent kinds of residency. I recommend you book a video conference with us through the staff at your center, since we will be able to book a translator and go through the papers with you.

2 I am an asylum seeker from Iran. I have been rejected. They tell me I have to go back. Do I have to go back

to Iran? When is it possible for me to apply for asylum again in Europe? I have heard that you can apply again after six months. Other people say 18 months.

2 Hello. When an asylum appli-cation is rejected, the asylum seeker will have to return to

his own country. In some cases, the police can deport you by force if you don’t leave voluntarily. Iran will not normally accept people who do not come voluntarily. This means that the police have difficulties forcing rejected Iranian asylum seekers back. Sometimes it can happen if you have a valid Iranian passport, but even that is rare. This does not mean that you are allowed to stay in Denmark. You cannot apply for asylum again once rejected. Not after 6 or 18 months. Only if decisive new information sur-faces in your case, or if the situation in your home country changes dramati-cally will the Refugee Appeals Board consider reopening your case, and this is rare. There is a rule where you can theoretically obtain residency after 18 months of continued coopera-tion about your return, but where the

return is impossible for the foresee-able future, even with your full coop-eration. This is extremely rare, and only a few permits – if any – are given according to this rule every year. You can talk to the staff at your center about counseling for rejected asylum seekers about return, which we or the Red Cross are happy to offer you.

3 I am a Sunni asylum seeker from Baghdad, Iraq. Had my last negative from court of appeal four months

ago. The present situation in Iraq does not need explanation. Is it possible to apply again to the court of appeal?

3 You are quite right; the situa-tion in Iraq is alarming. Cur-rently we have no information

that the Refugee Appeals Board has reopened similar closed cases from Iraq, but we are following the devel-opments closely as they unfold. At the moment, the police can’t carry out forced deportations to Iraq and have not been able to for some time. You are more than welcome to book an appointment with us from the center or to visit us a Wednesday in our offices for more counselling.

We sent your ques-tions to the lawyers at the Danish Refu-gee Council. Here are their replies

ASK A LAWYER

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? WRITE TO:

New Times,Red Cross HouseRosenørnsallé 31, 2nd floor1970 Frederiksbergor email us at [email protected] feel free to ask your questions anonymously.

New Times #91

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