Greece
13.10.03
Urgent Interventions
Greece: arbitrary detention of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum continues
Case GRC 091003
Child concern/Arbitrary detention/Asylum seekers
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention in the following situation in Greece.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Greek
Helsinki Monitor, a member of the OMCT network, that the arbitrary
detention of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in Greece continues.
According to the information received, eleven new cases of
unaccompanied minor detained together with adults in asylum seekers'
reception centres in Mytilini and Rhodes in Greece have been
recorded.
Four Afghan children are held in Mytilini reception centre:
· KHUDADAD AHMADI, child of AHMAD ALI and QAMAR, born in 1988,
detained since 09/07/2003
· YASIN JAMALI , child of M.ABRAHIM and FATIMEH , born in 1986,
detained since 24/06/2003
· AHMAD MOSTAFA , child of SHAFIN NAJIBA , born in 1986, detained
since 05/07/2003
· HADI REZAYI, child of JAN ÌOHAM. NASUMA , born in 1987, detained
since 02/07/2003
One Palestinian child is held in Mytilini reception centre:
· HASSAN ALMASRY, child of ABDELFATAH GAMEILA , born in 1987,
detained since 16/07/2003
Four Afghan children are held in Rhodes reception centre:
· AMIRI ESMAEEL, born in 1987, detained since 19/08/2003
· RAHMANI ABDU AL., born in 1986, detained since 19/08/2003
· MAHMADI DAWOOD, born in 1986, detained since 19/08/2003
· JAFARI JAVID, born in 1985, detained since 19/08/2003
Two Palestinian children are held in Rhodes reception centre:
· AMER MOHAMAD child of DEEB born in 1987, detained since 17/9/2003
· AHMED SABRY child of MOHAMAD born in 1985, detained since 17/9/2003
Together with the three previous cases signalled by OMCT (urgent
appeals GRC 120903.CC and GRC 260803.CC), 14 children have been
deprived of their rigth to adequate protection in the last few
months. This amounts to 10% of the overall asylum seekers' population
in reception centres in the two islands. In addition, many more
minors with parents are held together with other adults.
A new police circular reminding its services of international
standards dated 4th July 2003 was distributed to NGOs by UNHCR in
September. But this circular did not refer to the special situation
and rights of unaccompanied children. Hence, the police as well as
prosecutors remain unaware of the need for a special procedure.
Greek Helsinki Monitor has alerted the police, the Minister of
Justice and the Greek Ombudsman for children. OMCT reiterates its
concern about this situation and urges the goverment of Greece to
urgently inform all concerned services of the relevant procedures to
be followed in cases of unaccompanied minors entering Greece, seeking
asylum or reunification with their families residing in another EU
country.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Greece urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to immediately guarantee the adequate
reception and protection of the unaccompanied minors seeking asylum ;
ii. engage in a proactive campaign directed at all police and justice
services dealing with asylum seekers informing them of the specific
rights of and procedures for unaccompanied minors to be implemented
in accordance with Greek law and EU regulations ;
iii. guarantee the respect of children's rights throughout the
country in accordance with national laws and international human
rights standards.
Addresses
Mr. Constantine Simitis, Prime Minister, Prime Minister's Office at
the Hellenic Parliament, Greek Parliament Blgd, Constitution Square,
Athens / Greece, Fax: +30 2107241776, Email: Mail@primeminister.gr
Mr. George Papandreou, Foreign Minister Athens, Fax: +30 2103681433,
Email: gpap@mfa.gr
Mr. Filippos Petsalnikos, Minister of Justice, Athens, Greece, fax
+30 2107489231
Mr. Giorgos Floridis, Minister of Public Order, Athens, Greece, Fax:
+ 30 2106917944
Mr. George Kaminis, Greek Ombudsman for human rights, Fax 30
2107289643
Please also write to the embassies of Greece in your respective
country.
Geneva, October 13, 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply.
Child concern/Arbitrary detention/Asylum seekers
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention in the following situation in Greece.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Greek
Helsinki Monitor, a member of the OMCT network, that the arbitrary
detention of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in Greece continues.
According to the information received, eleven new cases of
unaccompanied minor detained together with adults in asylum seekers'
reception centres in Mytilini and Rhodes in Greece have been
recorded.
Four Afghan children are held in Mytilini reception centre:
· KHUDADAD AHMADI, child of AHMAD ALI and QAMAR, born in 1988,
detained since 09/07/2003
· YASIN JAMALI , child of M.ABRAHIM and FATIMEH , born in 1986,
detained since 24/06/2003
· AHMAD MOSTAFA , child of SHAFIN NAJIBA , born in 1986, detained
since 05/07/2003
· HADI REZAYI, child of JAN ÌOHAM. NASUMA , born in 1987, detained
since 02/07/2003
One Palestinian child is held in Mytilini reception centre:
· HASSAN ALMASRY, child of ABDELFATAH GAMEILA , born in 1987,
detained since 16/07/2003
Four Afghan children are held in Rhodes reception centre:
· AMIRI ESMAEEL, born in 1987, detained since 19/08/2003
· RAHMANI ABDU AL., born in 1986, detained since 19/08/2003
· MAHMADI DAWOOD, born in 1986, detained since 19/08/2003
· JAFARI JAVID, born in 1985, detained since 19/08/2003
Two Palestinian children are held in Rhodes reception centre:
· AMER MOHAMAD child of DEEB born in 1987, detained since 17/9/2003
· AHMED SABRY child of MOHAMAD born in 1985, detained since 17/9/2003
Together with the three previous cases signalled by OMCT (urgent
appeals GRC 120903.CC and GRC 260803.CC), 14 children have been
deprived of their rigth to adequate protection in the last few
months. This amounts to 10% of the overall asylum seekers' population
in reception centres in the two islands. In addition, many more
minors with parents are held together with other adults.
A new police circular reminding its services of international
standards dated 4th July 2003 was distributed to NGOs by UNHCR in
September. But this circular did not refer to the special situation
and rights of unaccompanied children. Hence, the police as well as
prosecutors remain unaware of the need for a special procedure.
Greek Helsinki Monitor has alerted the police, the Minister of
Justice and the Greek Ombudsman for children. OMCT reiterates its
concern about this situation and urges the goverment of Greece to
urgently inform all concerned services of the relevant procedures to
be followed in cases of unaccompanied minors entering Greece, seeking
asylum or reunification with their families residing in another EU
country.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Greece urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to immediately guarantee the adequate
reception and protection of the unaccompanied minors seeking asylum ;
ii. engage in a proactive campaign directed at all police and justice
services dealing with asylum seekers informing them of the specific
rights of and procedures for unaccompanied minors to be implemented
in accordance with Greek law and EU regulations ;
iii. guarantee the respect of children's rights throughout the
country in accordance with national laws and international human
rights standards.
Addresses
Mr. Constantine Simitis, Prime Minister, Prime Minister's Office at
the Hellenic Parliament, Greek Parliament Blgd, Constitution Square,
Athens / Greece, Fax: +30 2107241776, Email: Mail@primeminister.gr
Mr. George Papandreou, Foreign Minister Athens, Fax: +30 2103681433,
Email: gpap@mfa.gr
Mr. Filippos Petsalnikos, Minister of Justice, Athens, Greece, fax
+30 2107489231
Mr. Giorgos Floridis, Minister of Public Order, Athens, Greece, Fax:
+ 30 2106917944
Mr. George Kaminis, Greek Ombudsman for human rights, Fax 30
2107289643
Please also write to the embassies of Greece in your respective
country.
Geneva, October 13, 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply.