Cyprus-Forum.com

[zan]

Who was it that said that the EU will protect us all. We have rights under the EU. Like most countries it's a case of do what you want and then hold the EU ransom with your veto. Sad but true.

‘Humanitarian law doesn’t work like this’
By Leo Leonidou

THE LAW Commissioner has called into question the government’s immigration policy after receiving a series of complaints from people who have been arrested and deported.

Lena Koursoumba, who is also the President of the National Institution for the Protection of Human Rights (ETHNOPAD), yesterday told the Cyprus Mail that she wondered “how the authorities could keep on doing this”.

“A recent Supreme Court ruling backed up a new EU directive, and is to be implemented early next year, clearly states that people living in Cyprus for more than five years have acquired rights as long-term residents and can’t just be kicked out of the country.

Koursoumba added that she was due to speak to relevant authorities to get their side of the story in the coming days before she made a full statement and expressed her position on the matter.

“Humanitarian law doesn’t work like this – human rights are an important area of the law and the cornerstone of all fields of the law. When looking at whether a person should be deported, it is very important to consider a variety of factors, for example whether that person has children and what their rights are.”

According to yesterday’s Politis newspaper, Jordanian Maher Ghazi Ahmed Bashkhuj is the latest victim of the Immigration Department. The paper states that Bashkhuj arrived in Cyprus late last year and applied for political asylum on December 23, 2004. By August 19 this year, his application was still under review.

On August 26, he married Latvian woman Diana Paparida in Elia Latchi near Paphos when the Immigration authorities advised him to withdraw his application. He was assured that as he was marrying an EU citizen, he would be free to live with her in Cyprus.

In early September, he was arrested and detained as an illegal immigrant and was deported back to Jordan 24 hours later. He was not even given the opportunity to take his personal belongings with him.

The paper states that Paparida has since been asking the authorities to correct what she sees as their mistake but has had no response.

She is currently in a private clinic in Paphos where she is about to give birth to their child.
On Monday, it emerged that two men, a Chinese and an Iranian, who were married to Cypriot women were arrested and detained within half an hour of each other in Larnaca, prompting their lawyer to hit out at the Immigration Services, who he accused of misleading vulnerable people.

The lawyer for the two men, Andrew Klydes, told the Cyprus Mail that both men were arrested on the grounds that they had withdrawn their applications for political asylum, therefore becoming illegal immigrants. However, they had withdrawn their applications after being advised to do so by the authorities.

“The way is see it, the powers that be mislead people and don’t inform them of the consequences of their actions. What logical person would withdraw their application for political asylum if they knew that this would lead to their arrest and deportation?” said Klydes.
“Many of these people are uneducated and poor and the authorities take advantage of them. Both men had the right to remain in Cyprus as they are married to Cypriot women.”

Koursoumba said that at the moment, she could not comment on whether or not the authorities are entrapping and tricking people.

“This is something I will look into when I speak with the Immigration authorities.”

Last week, the parents of a British woman whose Bangladeshi husband was recently deported, hit out at the authorities, accusing them of sub-standard procedures and unacceptable behaviour.

They have reported the case to the EU and the UN and say action must be taken to stop the authorities “riding rough shod over procedures that are required.”

[Kifeas]

Well, if the RoC has violated (it seems to have) any human rights and /or other laws of the EU, it should be fined and punished!

[Eric dayi]

Well, if the RoC has violated (it seems to have) any human rights and /or other laws of the EU, it should be fined and punished!

Yep, they should but how does that help the victims?

Opps I forgot, you don't won't to speak to me, never mind, I just will not expect a reply then!

[Eric dayi]

zan, the EU will do as much as the UN did for us during 1963 and 1974, nothing, nothing what so ever.

[cypezokyli]

i read the same thing in politis.
its a shame. in a country where the law works on the its ok re koumpare, they find stupid excuses to kick people out when his child is about to be born. its discusting.
how can one take that joy from a parent?

[Eric dayi]

"the Immigration authorities advised him to withdraw his application. He was assured that as he was marrying an EU citizen, he would be free to live with her in Cyprus." but when they do as advised by the Authorities, they get arrested and kicked out.

SO much for EU's guaratees of Human Rights for all minorities!

You know, I am just wondering if that is a warning for all Turks who want unification and believe the EU will guarantee their Human rights, hmmmmm...could it be that the GC's are saying, look we can do what the hell we like and the EU can't touch us?

Could be, could very well be!

[cypezokyli]

the EU can touch everyone. but it usually takes long.

[Eric dayi]

the EU can touch everyone. but it usually takes long.

It's like in the movies, the cavalary always arrives when it's all over and there's nothing left to do. Fat lot of good it does to the victims.

The thing is, why is that these kind of things are only happening in Greek controlled EU countries? Take a look at Greece for instance, immigrant workers with valid work permits are only given a couple of weeks to visit their home countries and must be back by 31/12 or they will loose their permits? They are not even allowed to celebrate the New Year with families back home! Why for Gods sake, what difference does a couple of days make? Does any other EU country behave like this? Maybe they do but I haven't yet heard about it.

[cypezokyli]

i ve got a friend from bulgaria whose visa is over on 23 of december.
she cannot renew it before hand so she has to stay here till the 23 because she was told that it is not possible to get an appointement while she still ahs a visa.
she would have been already at home by now.
its just some laws are so stupid