Italy
The number of asylum applications in Italy has risen sharply in the last three years. Although the majority of applicants come from African countries, there has been a significant rise in the number of people arriving from Serbia and Montenegro. Italy has transposed the EU Directive on minimum standards for reception of asylum seekers.
Azekel
Azekel. fled his home in Angola without knowing where he was going, and ended up in Belgium where he was put in detention, despite his poor health. Since he was smuggled into Belgium on an Italian visa, he was subject to the Dublin Regulation.
Kasim
Kasim is 39 years old and fled political persecution in Iraq in 2001. He sought asylum in Sweden but after four years he was sent back to Italy, where he had first arrived, under the EU's Dublin Regulation.
Omid
Omid is a 21-year old Iranian. After being confined and tortured for five days by the Iranian police, he managed to escape and take refuge in a town near his home. Seeking protection, his journey took him through Turkey, Italy, France and Spain. He was finally granted humanitarian protection in Portugal.
