Asylum Procedures
How does an asylum seeker become a recognised refugee?
EU countries are working to create a Common Asylum System by 2010. Currently, an asylum seeker can face very different chances of being recognised as a refugee, depending in which EU country he/she lodges an application. Access to an asylum interview, legal assistance and interpretation, the quality of decision making in the first instance, and the application of concepts such as safe country of origin are some of the issues which can determine whether an asylum seeker receives the correct decision on their claim.At 19, Hedja was the oldest of three children accompanying their father to visit relatives in Germany. While abroad the situation in Iran prevented their father’s return and the family were obliged to seek politcal asylum in Spain – the first EU country they had entered. Five years on, Hedja's father and youngest brother have been granted refugee status, but she and another brother have not.
Habib left his home in Afghanistan at 16, when Taliban activists punished his village by closing down the only school and carrying out routine attacks on the inhabitants. Habib fled after being badly injured in one of the attacks and is now living in Greece.
Ahmed arrived in Poland in 1986 to study, but applied for asylum ten years later, following the outbreak of the civil war in Sudan. With no access to legal advice he did not realise he could appeal the rejection of his asylum claim.
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.
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.
Nadezda fled political persecution in Ukraine in 1996. She applied for asylum twice in the Czech Republic before finally being granted protection seven years after her original claim.
Mahdi was tortured by Iran's secret police and fled to the Netherlands in 2000. His asylum application was rejected and in fear of being sent back to Iran, he fled to Denmark. He has since been returned to the Netherlands and is now living without status.
Fema arrived in the Netherlands in 1998 with her husband and three children, fleeing persecution in Sudan. The family endured a long asylum procedure and were finally granted refugee status in 2003.
Ali is a qualified engineer from Chechnya who fled to Poland with his family in 2003. He was granted tolerated status, but feels insecure and alienated from Polish society.
