Greece Pass Law To Increase Punishment For Rejected Asylum Seekers, Speed Up Deportation

Greece don pass new law wey go make punishment for people wey dem reject their asylum request strong well as the number of migrant wey arrive for their southern borders increase this year. The new law wey Greek parliament approve on Wednesday talk say anybody wey enter the country without paper, and wey come from country wey EU don mark as safe, must either go back home by dem self or dem go face detention for at least 24 months and fine wey reach €10,000. The law come at a time when migrant wey dey enter Greece from Libya through Crete and Gavdos don increase again, even though migration don reduce since the 2015–2016 crisis period wey millions run come Europe from war and poverty for Middle East and Africa. The new policy na part of the plan of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis conservative government, wey don already expand the border fence with Turkey and increase sea patrol as e take office in 2019.

Migration Minister Thanos Plevris talk for parliament on tuesday say Greeks get right to protect their land, and say that one strong pass the right of person wey dem don reject him asylum to remain illegally. But UNHCR don express concern, say the law fit punish people wey really need protection. Dem beg Greece make dem use fast-track asylum system wey go help separate who really need help and who no qualify. Athens talk say dem still dey follow legal process, and say since July wey dem suspend asylum for some migrants, hundreds of irregular migrants don already go back their country. Dem still get plan to return more people go Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Egypt this month. But human rights organisations still dey accuse Greece say dem dey do illegal “pushbacks” for land and sea borders. Earlier this year, EU border agency Frontex don even confirm say dem dey investigate 12 cases of possible rights violation by Greek authorities.