Once again Norwegian government attempt mass rejection and expulsion of refugees that used the Arctic route

Europe's severe situation taken into account, it is obviously even more important that those who used the Arctic-route in the days after Storskog-policy was introduced, must have their asylum applications considered in a safe country.

Refugees Welcome to the Arctic now demand that the Norwegian government must answer: what is your current practice regarding these refugees need for asylum?

The expulsions of refugees stopped after massive protests from organizations, lawyers and activists back in February. The Russian government halted the Norwegian plans, when they disagreed about who's responsibility the 5500 refugees that crossed over to Norway from Russia in the lasts months of 2015 was. For a while, Refugees Welcome to the Arctic thought the refugees entering Norway through the Arctic route, would after all have their asylum application considered, as Norway is committed to through the Refugee Convention. For a while, it seemed as if the Norwegian government would change their policy.

But that is not the case at all.

Our main concern is that the Norwegian government disagrees with the UN, with Amnesty International and Human rights watch on one very important matter: Norway consider Russia to be a safe third country.

The UN criticized Norway back in January 2016 for their treatment of the refugees. Head of the UNHCR Regional Representation for Northern Europe, Pia Prytz, visited Norway to consider and research this particular case. The government openly say that they disagree with the UN on the matter.

Once again, Syrian families and persons with student visas, face rejection and expulsion from Norway.

We get confirmation from multiple sources that refugees who entered Norway at the Russian-Norwegian border before it closed now are being denied the possibility to apply for asylum in Norway. Syrian families with young children are among those who now have been told they are expelled from Norway.

Syrians and people from other war torn countries, used Russia as transit country. They show us they have expired tourist visas to Russia, and still they have received the rejection letter from Norway. Russian practice show that they will be deported to Syria upon arrival to Russia.

Expulsion from Russia happens if your visa has expired, or if you lose your right to study (student visa), which there are recent examples of. The 24 years old Wadie Rizq from Syria, was seeking asylum in Norway before Christmas 2015. He ended up in Syria after being expelled from Norway. Upon arrival in Russia he got a deadline from the authorities to leave Russia, since his student visa was cancelled. This is one example of deported refugees’ destiny after rejection from Norway.

PHOTO: A child in Vestleiren, on the Norwegian-Russian border

Other examples is a military trained family father who will be forcibly recruited to the military or paramilitary groups in Syria and elsewhere, if he’s returned. We have also talked to stateless refugees, with expired Russian visas. These are people who most likely will be expelled from Russia upon arrival.

«We encourage all responsible politicians in Norway to take this very critical situationseriously. To demand that the refugees, that chose the Arctic refugee route to safety,get their asylum application considered in a safe country: Norway», says Ask Håkon Ebeltoft in Refugees Welcome to the Arctic.

For more details, read this article from Norwegian Assosiation for Asylum Seekers. Do not hesitate on reaching out to us, either on phone or e-mail if there are any questions. We need the world's eyes on the violation on human rights that the Norwegian government is practicing.

Press contacts in Refugees Welcome to the Arctic:

Ask Håkon Ebeltoft: askebel@gmail.com phone: 0047 986 49 507

Linn Herland Landro: linnlandro@gmail.com phone: 0047 455 17 894