Press release
of December, 10th 1998
Algeria on the Human Rights Day 1998:
PRO ASYL demands new unvarnished situation report
Algeria on the Human Rights Day 1998
Abschiebungen nach Algerien stoßen in Bonn auf Kritik (FR 21.12.1998)
Algerien: Hintergrund (Dezember 1998)
siehe auch: algeria watch
Translation-Info
This is a machine translation by the IBM-supported PERSONAL TRANSLATOR plus. It is slightly edited by combining its results with the translation of SYSTRAN. But you should not rely on it. If you want to use a translated text append or reference the original text.
In view of the latest reports about terror and massacre in Algeria on the evening before the International Day of Human Rights demands the Nation-wide Human Rights Organisation for Refugees PRO ASYL from the Foreign Minister Fischer, to submit a new progress report, which names unvarnishedly the widespread human rights violations and the various situations of persecution by state and non-state agents.
„Just the example of Algeria clarifies, that the previous official and legal restriction of the German asylum law on persecution by the state falls short“, said the spokesperson of PRO ASYL, Heiko Kauffmann.
The last situation report on Algeria has shown, that Islamistic groups would be accused one-sidedly of terrorist activities, while the question of state participation in terror by hidden operations of the secret service or otherwise wouldn’t be taken serious. A differentiated judgement of the human rights situation could lead to a changed decision practice of the Federal Office for the Recognition of Foreign Refugees and the administrative courts. About 98% of the asylum applications of Algerians were turned down in the year 1997, merely in 9 cases (0.4%) deportation obstacles were identified. The supporters of Islamsitic groups are seldom recognised as refugees, because they aren’t believed in or persecution by the state is taken as admissible criminal punishment. Who flees from attacks of armed groups will not be protected due to the fact that he/she doesn’t flee from state persecution.
Kauffmann reminded, that the High Refugee Commissioner of the United Nations (UNHCR) has repeatedly pointed to this protection gap also, which wouldn’t correspond with the Geneva Refugee Convention..
PRO ASYL appeals to the Foreign Minister Fischer to start a reorientation with the example of Algeria of the refugee and human rights policy. A continuity with the former government cannot be given here.
