Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner Dunja Mijatović has warned of escalating harassment and violence targeting individuals and organizations that provide aid to asylum seekers in Europe. Her report highlights concerning trends across several countries. Mijatović cites instances of threats, property destruction, arson and bomb attacks against refugee support groups, with a bombing of a migrant aid office in Cyprus early January exemplifying the violence risks. She notes aggressive confrontation from authorities toward helpers in some member states as well. The commissioner links these troubling developments to member states increasingly addressing migration as a security issue, deploying military assets…

The recent arrival of over 40 asylum seekers in Western Australia who were swiftly transferred to offshore detention in Nauru sparked predictable political outrage and debate. However, the rhetoric from leaders like Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton negates the humanity of people compelled to seek refuge. It overlooks that seeking asylum is a basic human right. Too often, those fleeing violence and persecution become politicized pawns while the empathy of local communities goes unrecognized. Politicians echo dangerous language about “border security” when discussing oppressed people desperately searching for safety. But their motivations are survival, not politics.…

The Greek government granted legal residency status to 3,405 undocumented Bangladeshi migrants in 2023, under a bilateral agreement signed with Bangladesh in 2022. Thousands more residency applicants are awaiting decisions. The agreement, signed in April 2022, aimed to provide a pathway to legal status for irregular Bangladeshi migrants already residing in Greece as of February 9, 2022. To qualify, applicants needed valid Bangladeshi passports, proof of residence, and proof of employment if seeking to retain residency rights. According to data from Greece’s Ministry of Migration and Asylum, over 10,300 Bangladeshis applied for regularization under the agreement in 2023. While 3,405…

Law enforcement authorities from Germany, France, and Belgium conducted large-scale raids on Wednesday against members of a suspected migrant smuggling network. The raids were part of a coordinated operation by Europol and Eurojust, the EU’s law enforcement and judicial cooperation agencies. Over 15 individuals were arrested in Belgium and France based on European arrest warrants issued after an 18-month joint investigation. The suspects are believed to have smuggled migrants from France to the UK using small, low-quality boats to cross the English Channel. The investigation focused specifically on an Iraqi-Kurdish network accused of smuggling Middle Eastern and East African migrants.…

The UK government has introduced new immigration rules banning migrant care workers from bringing their children and partners with them when they come to work in the country. The changes, announced by Home Secretary James Cleverly on February 19th, are part of the government’s plan to “deliver the biggest-ever cut in migration.” The new rules, taking effect on March 11th, will prevent visa sponsors in the adult social care sector (SOC occupation codes 6145 and 6146) from being able to bring dependents to the UK. The ban applies to new migrants coming to fill care worker and senior care worker…

Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has issued a stark warning to the United Kingdom concerning its proposal to implement a Rwanda asylum law. Expressing deep-seated concerns about the potential ramifications of the UK’s plan on the rule of law and human rights standards, Turk particularly highlighted the importance of upholding UN Human Rights. Turk’s cautionary statement comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions within Rwanda itself. The Rwandan government has recently sounded alarms about the possibility of an impending conflict with neighboring nations. This heightened state of alert underscores the delicate geopolitical landscape within the…

Abraham Tesfai, a 34-year-old Eritrean migrant turned activist, shares his harrowing journey from fleeing Eritrea to becoming an advocate in Bologna, Italy.After escaping his homeland due to oppressive conditions and the risk of persecution, Tesfai journeyed through Sudan, Libya, and the Mediterranean Sea. His experience mirrors the perilous path endured by many migrants seeking refuge in Europe. In Sudan, Tesfai encountered both hospitality and hostility, ultimately finding temporary shelter in a refugee camp before relocating to Khartoum. Despite the challenges posed by oppressive regimes and human traffickers, he pressed on, driven by the hope of securing a better future. The…

In Berlin, the distressing rise in refugee attacks is unveiled through newly released government data. Shockingly, authorities recorded 2,378 crimes against refugees or refugee shelters in 2023, nearly double the figure from 2022. This highlights a troubling escalation in violence targeting vulnerable populations. The sharp rise has sparked concerns over rising anti-immigrant sentiment fueled by far-right rhetoric and restrictive policies. 2023 saw the most attacks on refugees since 2016, along with the highest number of crimes against refugee shelters since 2017. 313 of the recorded incidents involved violent assaults, while 219 individuals suffered injuries. Critics link the surge to crackdowns…

A 31-year-old American man has admitted to attacking two women, one fatally, near Germany’s famous Neuschwanstein Castle in June 2023. As his trial began Monday, the defendant expressed deep remorse but conceded to the murder, rape and attempted murder charges against him. The victims, both 21-year-old American students visiting Germany after graduating university, were hiking near the Marienbrücke bridge on June 14th when the assailant approached them. Allegedly persuading them to follow him off trail, he then pushed one woman down a slope and strangled and raped her unconscious. When the other woman intervened, he shoved her down the ravine…

In Greiz, Germany, the small town in the eastern region has introduced a controversial prepaid cards debit system for allocating benefits to asylum seekers instead of cash, aiming to prevent them from sending money abroad or falling victim to human traffickers. Under the new scheme, asylum seekers receive the bulk of their €496 monthly benefits via prepaid cards, specifically a prepaid Mastercard that can only be used at stores within Greiz. About €100 is paid out in cash for additional expenses. Over 200 of Greiz’s 730 asylum seekers have transitioned, with more to follow. Proponents like local administrator Martina Schweinsburg…