Debate on forced repatriations of refugees intensifies

The Finnish immigration authority, Migri has defended its decision to continue to deport denied asylum seekers back to Afghanistan in the wake of wide publicity of a controversial repatriation flight early Tuesday.

Hanna Helinko, head of the country data unit at Migri, told a Finnish language newspaper Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday that Afghanistan is safe to return except some areas.

In May, parts of Uruzghan and the whole of Nangarhar were added as dangerous areas where Finland does not return people to. Helmand had been listed as no-go area already earlier.

The flight on Tuesday morning made news in Finland following a revelation that a 19-year old man on board was given a court suspension of deportation later on Tuesday, but after he had been flown out.

Three people including a government party Member of Parliament appealed on Sunday, but the court only reacted when a lawyer written document reached it on Monday.

Outi Popp, media representative of the action group Stop Deportations, told Xinhua on Wednesday that the impartiality of the police force has been questioned in Finland, particularly following the revelation of a police Facebook group where allegedly racist entries had been reported.

She said the police detained and locked up refugees awaiting transportation and thus hindered contact with lawyers.

She also said legal advice to asylum seekers deteriorated following a reduction of the rates lawyers got paid by the authorities. "Lawyers may not pay enough attention to the cases", Popp said.

The police said they couldn't comment on specific cases, but stated that they only return people that have been authorized to be repatriated.

The tightening of immigration is related to the cohesion of the current coalition government. The policy for immigration in the current government program largely reflects the demands of the populist Finns Party. In the political give-and-take during the formation of the government in 2015, the Finns Party, in return, accepted centrist and conservative policy lines on other issues in return.

Popp noted the other two ruling parties started facing voters' pressure following harsh actions by the authorities. The participation by a centrist MP in appealing in favor of an asylum seeker on Sunday was, to her knowledge the first from the government parties.

In 2017, Migri has given negative decisions concerning 502 asylum seekers from Afghanistan. Asylum or secondary protection was given to 302 persons from Afghanistan. Additionally, 126 were allowed to remain on other grounds, and they were mainly juniors.

Liisa Lintuluoto, a senior inspector at the Helsinki police, told Helsingin Sanomat that 50 persons have been returned to Afghanistan this year. Finland and Afghanistan signed an agreement in October 2016 on the arrangements of enforced repatriations.

Approaches on repatriation differ in European countries. Helsingin Sanomat reporters asked Migri to comment on a recent decision by Germany to cease taking decisions on asylum seekers from Afghanistan until a fresh country assessment is completed.

Hanna Helinko of Migri said European countries exchange information. "In principle Finland should have the same information for legal appraisals", she said.