LawyÂers take legal action befoÂre the EuroÂpean Court for Human Rights
YesÂterÂday evening three lawyÂers coopeÂraÂting with PRO ASYL, a local Greek lawyÂer and the Greek CounÂcil for RefuÂgees appliÂed for inteÂrim meaÂsuÂres at the EuroÂpean Court for Human Rights (ECHR) in StrasÂbourg in order to stop the immiÂnent deporÂtaÂtiÂon of a SyriÂan perÂseÂcuÂted by ISIS from Greece to TurÂkey. This is the first case under the EU-TurÂkey Deal reaÂching the ECHR.
The SyriÂan proÂtecÂtion seeÂker used to work in the oil indusÂtry in Syria. On 25 March, he was sought out in his apartÂment by ISIS emisÂsÂaÂries who demanÂded that he returÂned to Syria to work for ISIS oil proÂducÂtion theÂre. The proÂtecÂtion seeÂker who is also at risk becauÂse of his homoÂseÂxuaÂliÂty fled head over heels by jumÂping from his kitÂchen winÂdow. He reaÂched LesÂbos on 29th March.
After being interÂviewÂed by the EuroÂpean AsylÂum SupÂport Office (EASO) on 6 May, his asylÂum appliÂcaÂtiÂon was deeÂmed inadÂmisÂsiÂble. His reasons for seeÂking asylÂum were not examiÂned. Now deporÂtaÂtiÂon to TurÂkey is looÂming. WitÂhout any heaÂring, the Greek AsylÂum Appeals ComÂmitÂtee deciÂded not to stop the deporÂtaÂtiÂon. Right now, the proÂtecÂtion seeÂker is being detaiÂned on LesÂbos. TogÂeÂther with Greek and TurÂkiÂsh lawyÂers, PRO ASYL is runÂning the RefuÂgee SupÂport ProÂgram in the AegeÂan (RSPA). Within this conÂtext, Greek lawyÂers have lodged a comÂplaint befoÂre the ECHR in order to stop the deporÂtaÂtiÂon to Turkey.
PRO ASYL accuÂses the EuroÂpean UniÂon of deportÂing proÂtecÂtion seeÂkers to TurÂkey while out-leveÂring the rule of law and refuÂgee rights. More than 3000 perÂsons are currÂentÂly detaiÂned in Greece under inhuÂmaÂne conÂdiÂtiÂons and pracÂtiÂcalÂly witÂhout access to legal remeÂdy. PRO ASYL denounÂces theÂse cirÂcumÂsÂtances as a scanÂdaÂlous vioÂlaÂtiÂon of human rights, even if it was posÂsiÂble to make an appeal in this parÂtiÂcuÂlar case.
The EU-TurÂkey Deal depriÂves refuÂgees of proÂtecÂtion. TheÂrÂeÂfoÂre PRO ASYL has initiaÂted a camÂpaign addresÂsed at the GerÂman ChanÂcellÂor AngeÂla MerÂkel: “The ChanÂcellÂor has decisiÂveÂly initiaÂted the EU-TurÂkey Deal. Now injuÂsÂtiÂce hapÂpens right in front of us”, criÂtiÂciÂzes PRO ASYL direcÂtor GĂĽnÂter BurkÂhardt. BurkÂhardt calls on ChanÂcellÂor MerÂkel and the Greek Prime MinisÂter TsiÂpras: “Stop the EU-TurÂkey Deal! ProÂtecÂtion seeÂkers like the SyriÂan homoÂseÂxuÂal must not be deporÂted to Turkey”.
The EU-TurÂkey-Deal has led to a human rights disÂasÂter in the AegeÂan. This was obvious to the EU, the GerÂman governÂment and all obserÂvers of the situaÂtiÂon beforeÂhand. PRO ASYL hopes that the ECHR will stop the deporÂtaÂtiÂon and that the rightÂlessÂness will be ended.