German courts repeal more than 5,600 Afghan asylum rejections
Administrative courts across Germany have issued repeals in 5,644 negative decisions of Afghan nationals seeking asylum in the first nine months of 2020.
international law
To deport or not to deport: Germany mulls over security situation in northern Syria
The parliamentary faction of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU/CSU party wants to use the results of an inquest into the security situation in northern Syria to examine whether the region could be deemed a safe zone for deportation. But many have criticized the plans.
ICC prosecutor tells UN Security Council to stop impunity
International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has asked the UN in Libya to adopt concrete measures to end impunity in the country, and bring to justice those who have committed serious crimes and crimes against humanity.
Germany optimistic EU will soon agree on new migration pact
The European Union looks poised to find broad political agreement on a new EU migration pact. German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said that the 27 member states might be able to adopt the new legislation before the end of the year.
Refugee pushbacks by Cyprus draw attention from EU, UN
Cyprus has engaged in offshore pushbacks as several boats carrying displaced people have approached in recent weeks. Returning people to countries where they could face persecution is prohibited by international law.
First trial in Italy over 'migrant pushback' to Libya
In an unprecedented case, the captain of an Italian commercial vessel is to be taken to court for returning migrants he rescued in the Mediterranean to civil war country Libya. The man is accused of violating international law, under which Libya is not a safe harbor.
Malta accused of illegally turning away migrant boat
According to a British and an Italian daily, Malta's coast guard pushed away and sent to Italy around 100 migrants stranded at sea in Maltese territorial waters. If true, the incident, which allegedly took place in mid-April, is a violation of international law.
Commissioner urges Malta to save lives at sea
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic urged the Maltese government to meet its human rights obligations towards migrants, including asylum seekers and refugees, who cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe.
Complaint with EU Court over pushbacks in Libya
A group of organizations in Italy has lodged a complaint with the EU's financial watchdog, the European Court of Auditors. They say European financing of a program to stop migrants from leaving Libya violates EU and international laws.
Greece ends month-long freeze on asylum applications
Greece has lifted a controversial suspension of asylum applications imposed in response to an influx of refugees crossing the border from Turkey. However, all asylum services will remain frozen for at least a week due to the coronavirus pandemic.
New York Times accuses Greece of operating an extrajudicial center for migrants
The international newspaper The New York Times published a report on March 10 in which it accused the Greek government of detaining migrants at a “secret extrajudicial location before expelling them to Turkey without due process.” The Greek government dismissed the claims.
Geneva gets ready for global summit on refugees as the number of displaced people around the world soars
A global summit in Geneva is hoping to address a series of issues relating to global migration trends reaching from forcible displacement to the energy and infrastructure needs of refugees. The event, however, might also be hijacked by politicians pursuing their own agendas.