source: http://infomobile.w2eu.net/2014/04/02
Announcement of new rule on detention duration causes wave of protests
Protests in the big detention centres after declaration of an extension of the detention duration to more than 18 months
Today the authorities of the mass detention centres in Drama/ Parenesti, Komotini, Corinth and Xanthi informed the detained sans-papiers that they might stay even longer than 18 months, up to 24 months, or 36 or for an endless period if they do not co-operate with the authorities according to a new rule. In fact co-operation means here “voluntary return”. The only alternative is an asylum application.
It has to be noted though that according to the European Directive 18 months are the maximum period for administrative detention and this only if the deportation is feasible. Nevertheless, the greek authorities detain many people belonging to nationalities that can not be deported, such as Afghans, Eritreans, Somalis and even people from Syria.
The detainees in the so called pre-removal centres that opened with the initiation of Xenios Dias police raid in beginning of August 2012 have been already psychology broken by getting every three months the information of their prolongued detention for another 3 or 6 months. The limit of 18 months seemed already so far but at least gave a hope to an end of their imprisonment. Today the shocking information of even more time behind the bars led to uprisings, self-injuries and hunger strikes.Yet it will become clear in the next days if the threat of another extension of the detention duration will get real or not when the next detainees complete 18 months. Reportedly a few of them have already received detention decisions that with an extension of the maximum detention period of 18 months for another 6 months – even before they have completed 18 months.
source: http://infomobile.w2eu.net/2014/04/16
Inside pre-removal centres and other police detention facilities, where foreign nationals are detained with a view to be deported, there are also asylum seekers, some of whom are eventually recognized as refugees. There are also foreign nationals that, according to the authorities, cannot be forcibly returned, such as Somalis and Eritreans. The detention of these persons, pending removal, is unfounded when the return is not possible.
Specifically for asylum seekers, detention should be resorted to only exceptionally and alternatives to detention need to be thoroughly considered. UNHCR believes that any decision to extend this measure (prolonged detention beyond 18 months) also to asylum seekers is inconsistent with Greek law governing the specific prerequisites and the duration of detention for asylum seekers, and should not be applied.
UNHCR asks the Greek Government to review the decision resulting in the prolongation of detention beyond 18 months for all foreign nationals who are subject to return and whose removal has not been carried out yet. Instead, UNHCR recommends applying the relevant procedures provided by the Greek law, i.e. the issuance of decisions for the “postponement of removal” in this case. Moreover, as per obligation by European and national law, detention for the purposes of return should be imposed only as a last resort.