Newsletter on Immigration to Greece
Editor: Ioannis Kolovos
RABITS deployed in Evros
A Frontex special team (part of the Rapid Border Intervention Teams- RABITs) has been deployed on a part of the land border between Greece and Turkey in the Evros area, which has recently witnessed a massive increase of illegal border crossings. The decision was taken by Frontex after a formal request by the Minister for Citizen’s Protection Mr Christos Papoutsis. The Frontex team consists of 175 guards supported by 400 Greek border guards.
Minister Papoutsis’ request can be read here (in Greek only)
A relevant article (Kathimerini, 2/11/2010) can be read here (in Greek only)
Sharia law in effect in parts of Athens city center
Muslim immigrants in the area around Omonia square solve their differences in accordance with Sharia law.
The relevant article (Eleftherotypia, 1/11/2010) can be read here (in Greek only)
Greece: Europe's gateway for illegal immigration
Washington Post’s very interesting article on the latest developments in Greece’s struggle with illegal immigration.
The full text of the article can be read here (in English)
Minister: The issue of immigration can only be approached sentimentally!
Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Mr Tilemachos Chytiris argued in an interview that “The approach towards immigrants can only be sentimental, [as] one cannot discriminate when it comes to humans”.
Of course, this shallow approach can only lead to an open-door immigration policy, as the state – by being ‘sentimental’ - will not ‘discriminate’ between citizens’ and non-citizens’ interests. According to Mr Chytiris the Greeks must put up with the increased illegal immigrant influx and ‘act positively’!
The relevant part of the interview (Ta Nea, 6-7/11/2010) can be read here (in Greek only)
Greek town becomes flash point in war against Muslim immigrants
Another interesting article by the Washington Post on the situation in Evros.
The full text of the article can be read here (in English)
Importing Islamic terrorism through illegal immigration
Greek and European secret services are worried as suspects for participation in Islamic terrorist organizations are arrested entering Greece illegally through the Turkish border.
The relevant article (To Vima, 12/11/2010) can be read here (in Greek only)
Actual illegal immigrant inflow may be as high as 7 times the number of arrests for illegal entry!
According to a report by prominent daily “Ta Nea” (18/11/2010), the actual annual inflow of illegal immigrants to Greece may run up to many hundreds of thousands as it is estimated that only one out of seven immigrants who enter the country illegally is arrested (and, thus, appears in Police statistics).
The relevant article can be read in full here (in Greek only)
Minister for Citizen’s Protection unveils new Asylum Policy
Minister for Citizen’s Protection Mr Christos Papoutsis unveiled the government’s proposals for a new Asylum policy. According to article 24 of the proposed Bill, the government plans to offer temporary leave to remain and work permits to all illegal immigrants who cannot be repatriated. These permits will have a duration of 6 months and will be renewable. It is quite striking that the Preamble which accompanies this Bill does not provide an estimate on how many [tens (or hundreds) of thousands] illegal immigrants cannot be deported and thus will be eligible for these permits! Moreover, the government does not provide any clue on how they plan to handle these people in case their repatriation is not possible after 2 or 3 years (i.e. after they have renewed their ‘temporary leave to remain’ four or six times).
The draft Bill can be read in full here (in Greek only)
The Bill’s Preamble can be read in full here (in Greek only)
Muslim immigrants attack the Police
A small-scale re-run of the events of May 2009…
A relevant article (Eleftherotypia, 19/11/2010) can be read here (in Greek only)
Muslim minority in the making in Larnaka, Cyprus
Recent research reveals that current immigrant and asylum seeker influx and demographic trends may lead to the creation of a Muslim minority and ghettos in the city of Larnaka in Cyprus.
The relevant news report (Simerini, 24/11/2010) can be read here (in Greek only)
Tens of thousands of legal residence permit forms have been stolen in the last 10 years
More than 55,000 official residence permit forms and application forms for the request or renewal of residence permits have been stolen in the last decade from Municipalities and Prefectures. These documents are then sold to illegal immigrants at 3,000 to 5,000 euros a piece.
The relevant article (Ethnos, 28/11/2010) can be read here (in Greek only)
Deconstructing Greece through illegal immigration
Mr Pericles Nearchou, former Ambassador of Cyprus in Paris, makes an interesting case.
Mr Nearchou’s article (To Paron, 28/11/2010) can be read here (in Greek only)