Refugee Stories Project - Detention

Azekel

editor — Thu, 24 May 2007 12:56:45 +0000

Summary

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.

Body

Azekel, 43, left his home in Angola because his life was at risk. He fled the country without knowing where he was going and ended up in Belgium. Since he was smuggled into Belgium on an Italian visa, he was subject to the Dublin Regulation – the EU procedure for allocating responsibility to an individual member state for processing an asylum claim - and after two months in Belgium he was transferred to Italy.

Azekel was detained on arrival in Belgium in spite of his trauma and poor health. He received no information about the asylum procedure or the Dublin Regulation and had no opportunity to appeal the decision to transfer him. Azekel has now been recognised as a refugee and tells the story of his confusing encounter with Europe and its asylum system.

“If I could write my history as a refugee, I would only ask the persons governing the country that they should change their mentality.. their conscience. First of all their conscience.”

Links 1

Dublin II Regulation

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Hadish

editor — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 17:15:12 +0000

Summary

Hadish fled Eritrea after being imprisoned for campaigning for a democratic constitution. He crossed the Mediterranean sea when he failed to find protection in neighbouring African countries and was detained on arrival in Malta.

Body

Hadish loves his country very much. As he talks about the beauty and riches of Eritrea, it is clear he feels it would be much too dangerous to return in the current political climate.

"I was very lucky, because I managed to survive here in Malta - the rest of my friends that were detained with me [in Eritrea], some lost their life; others no one knows their whereabouts."

Hadish will not rest until there is stability in Eritrea but he is patient. Until he can return, he does what he can to support his family, he looks out for fellow nationals and he works tirelessly to raise awareness about the problems asylum seekers are facing in Malta.

His experience of being detained as an asylum seeker shocked him, but the reactions he has encountered since he was released have troubled him even more.

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Cecilia

editor — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:27:59 +0000

Summary

Cecilia is 29 and fled Sudan in 1995 after witnessing the murder of her family. She is living without status in Belgium and is terrified of being sent back to Sudan.

Body

Cecilia lives in fear of being sent back to Sudan. She became a refugee when she saw her mother and father murdered in front of her and ran away with no destination in mind. She ended up in Belgium. Terrified of being deported, she claimed asylum but then hid from the authorities. Seven years later she was taken to a detention centre and kept there for four months. She was then released, and is still without any status.

Cecilia talks about being treated like ‘an animal' in a detention centre, and about the bewilderment she feels as a vulnerable person asking for safety in Europe.

"I cannot remember all the things I've gone through these years...if you have a serious wound that has healed long term - you cannot describe what it looks like anymore."

Links 1

ECRE on detention

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Barry

editor — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:05:08 +0000

Summary

Barry fled political persecution in the Democratic Republic of Congo and claimed asylum in Belgium. When his application was refused he was detained with his wife and small baby.

Body

Barry, 28, arrived in Belgium from the Congo in 2002. With his wife and small baby, he was detained pending repatriation following the refusal of his asylum claim, but subsequently released. He had been politically active in the Congo, and continues this in Belgium, both for those still in the Congo, and for the rights of asylum seekers in Belgium.

Barry talks here with feeling about being locked in prison with his small baby, and of the lack of dignity and culture of disbelief inherent in the asylum system.

"I immediately changed my opinion of Europe...What really scared me was the prescence of new born babies at the centres."

Links 1

ECRE on detention

Links 2

detention in Belgium

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Solomon

editor — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 17:32:17 +0000

Summary

In his late fifties, Solomon escaped political imprisonment in Ethiopia 13 years ago. He eventually found himself in Malta, where he was detained for eight months and has since been denied refugee status.

Body

As a member of the opposition party in Ethiopia, Solomon was imprisoned twice without charge. After managing to escape from prison, he fled first to Somalia and then found work in the United Arab Emirates, sending his earnings home to support a wife, three children and his father. But he had no legal status and when he was expelled from the UAE for not holding a valid visa, he decided Europe was his only hope. He paid $1200 for passage to Italy, and ended up in Malta when the boat ran out of fuel.

Solomon was detained on arrival in Malta and released after 8 months in consideration of his age. His application for asylum has been rejected and with no permission to work, he worries about his family trying to survive without his support.

"The last time I saw my family was in 1993. It’s been a long time. My children were very small, now they are grown."

Links 1

Malta

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detention

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return

Links 4

protection beyond Europe