Greece criticised over treatment of asylum-seekers

A Swedish migration court has refused the extradition of an Iraqi asylum-seeker to Greece, following concerns that he would not receive proper treatment in the Mediterranean country.

According to EU rules in place since 2003 – the so-called Dublin II Regulation - the first EU member state that a migrant enters should be the one to examine his or her asylum application.

Before asking for asylum in Sweden last November, the Iraqi man had fled to Greece from his home country and then returned to Iraq for a brief period.

Referring to the Dublin II rules, Sweden's Migration Board - the body responsible for the investigation and receiving of asylum seekers as well as for decisions concerning visas - had decided to extradite him to Greece.

But the man, who is handicapped, appealed the decision to the migration court, arguing that conditions for asylum seekers in Greece are particularly difficult for handicapped people.

The court subsequently ruled in favour of the applicant, annulling the deportation and saying that it was up to Sweden to assume responsibility for his case, Sweden Radio reported on Tuesday (11 March).

The decision comes a few weeks after Norway – which together with Iceland is a signatory to the Dublin agreements without being part of the EU – became the first country to suspend the return of asylum-seekers to Greece following concerns about possible breaches of their rights.

"For us, this is first and foremost about ensuring asylum seekers' rights," said Terje Sjeggestad, head of the Norwegian agency in charge of refugee cases and appeals UNE, according to Norway's Aftenposten.

Human rights NGO Amnesty International has also criticised the "poor conditions in which immigration detainees are held in Greece, and the lack of legal guarantees with regard to examination of their asylum claim," and has called on the country to put in place more effective asylum procedures.

Greece has currently the lowest rate of asylum-seeker application approval in Europe.

It gave the green light to only 0.61 percent of demands last year, 0.84 percent in 2006 and 2005, and 0.3 percent in 2004, according to data from the UN's refugee agency, the UNHCR.

Afghans and Iraqis fleeing war make up the bulk of those who seek asylum in Greece, fearing political persecution in their countries.