Iranian asylum seekers on hunger strike outside UNHCR office in Athens - Greece August 2010

Iranians, one with his mouth sewn shut, went on hunger strike on 28th July after their asylum applications were rejected.

Giorgos Tsarbopoulos, head of the Athens UNHCR office, said the refugees' despair 'stems from the enduring problems of the asylum system.'

Tsarbopoulos said the UN refugee agency would resume its role in assessing asylum applications if the government re-establishes appeal committees.

Upon arriving at Greece, Iranians who are seeking political asylum are given a Red Card. This card identifies them as someone whose application for political asylum is pending.

Every six months, these cards must be renewed to keep their asylum applications current and valid.

The Greek police regularly abuses and mistreats the refugees and openly accepts bribes to expedite the renewal process.

The Greek officials have openly expressed to Iranian refugees that because the Greek government has close political and economic ties with the Islamic Republic, it is unable to approve the refugees' applications for asylum.

Text source/read more: http://www.iranian.com/main/2010/aug/asylum-seekers-greece and: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=412450703694

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• UNHCR
• athens
• greece
• iran
• iranians
• asylum

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