asylum seekers

• Germany

A broad alliance of more than 60 non-governmental organizations have called for the elimination of so-called anchor centers in Germany, which are used to accommodate asylum seekers and process their applications.

• Belarus
• Lithuania

The bill allows for the detention of asylum seekers and curbs migrants' right to appeal. Lithuania claims neighboring Belarus is using migrants as a "weapon."

• Italy

Gloria Bresciani, the (suspended) Uber manager in Italy who is charged with alleged illegal gangmastering practices against riders, has been ordered to stand trial. According to the charges, Bresciani and three other defendants exploited "the state of need" of "migrant asylum seekers" who lived in "reception centers" and "in conditions of extreme vulnerability".

• Afghanistan
• Austria

Austrian authorities have arrested three Afghans as suspects in the rape and killing of a 13-year-old girl. The Austrian Chancellor has vowed 'never to stop' deportations to Afghanistan.

• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Croatia

Croatian border authorities are systemically pushing back potential asylum seekers, reports from several European media outlets have confirmed. Six pushbacks to Bosnia were captured on video. Among those forced across the border were a pregnant woman, disabled persons and small children.

• Iran
• Turkey
• Pakistan

Headed to Europe, Ali Virk documented his risky and grueling journey from Pakistan to the Greek border. After losing a friend on the route, he used the footage to warn people about the dangers of irregular migration.

• Germany

The number of people seeking asylum in Germany has increased with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. Last month there were more than twice as many applicants as in the same period in 2020.

• Somalia
• Syria
• Pakistan

Greece aims to send back asylum seekers from Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria and Bangladesh who arrive from Turkey. The government says they are not in danger in Turkey and have no need of protection in Europe.

• Germany

A German court has charged a nun €500 for assisting Nigerian women threatened with deportation from Germany. The two women reportedly fled from forced prostitution in Italy. Different groups criticized the court order and called for a decriminalization of church asylum.

• France

Many asylum seekers in Europe share similar experiences of spending years on the streets and bouncing between different countries in the European Union, unable to obtain official status and to start rebuilding their lives. InfoMigrants spoke to several migrants who are currently in Paris.

• United Kingdom

The UK government acted unlawfully when it housed six asylum seekers at the Napier military barracks, a court ruled on Thursday. The facility failed to meet minimum standards, the judge found. The interior ministry said the barracks would continue to house asylum seekers.

• Greece

A large-scale COVID vaccination drive for asylum seekers has started on three Greek Aegean Islands. In Europe, some migrant populations are prone to "low vaccine uptake," according to a new study.