Somali refugees protest against Forced Deportation outside The Hague

**European Knight** · 12-24-2014, 11:46 AM

Dozens of Somali asylum seekers have protested against the Dutch government’s plan to forcibly deport a number of Somali refugees whose their asylum claims have been rejected.

The protest which took place in The Hague – political and administrative capital of the Netherlands called for an end to the forcible deportation of refugees back where their lives or freedom are threatened. ‘’ We came here for protection, not to be treated in this way. Our lives are in danger if we are sent back and we might end up being killed,’’ said one of the asylum seekers.

Netherlands is renowned for having one of Europe’s most rigorous regimes on migrant issues. It has become extremely difficult for non-EU migrants to enter the Netherlands legally or to receive a temporary residency permit. Undocumented migrants (and their children) who succeed in entering are deprived of basic human and civil rights. In particular, the frequent and often long imprisonment of undocumented migrants has been fiercely criticised by human rights organisations such as Amnesty International.

Somalia government clearly refused to receive refugees who have been forcibly deported. Human rights and advocacy groups have voiced their concerns on deportation of Somalis seeking for asylum, saying that it represents a clear violation of international refugee conventions. The United Nations high commissioner for refugees has continuously said that many parts of the war-ravaged country remains unsafe due to threats from the militant group and human rights violation such as rape

Tens of thousands of Somalis fled the country after the Central Government was overthrown in 1991 and civil war emerged. Most went to neighbouring countries but large numbers sought sanctuary in Europe and North America.

http://horseedmedia.net/2014/12/19/s...ide-the-hague/