Syrian demonstrators gather to demand Cyprus close detention facilities for Syrians.
They sure aren’t going to endear themselves to the citizens of Cyprus or anywhere else in the European Union if they arrive by the thousands and demand “rights.”
MORE than 200 Syrian refugees marched to the Interior Ministry on Friday, protesting the treatment they receive from the state when it comes to human rights. [They look healthy and well-fed to me!—ed]
The refugees handed over a protest letter to a representative of the Interior Ministry, asking for the release of all Syrian refugees from the Menoyia detention centre and the termination of detention practice when it comes to refugees from Syria.
They also demanded a solution to the problems they are facing in Cyprus, in terms of employment, living conditions, the procedure for evaluating asylum applications and granting international protection status.
Go here for all of our posts on the ‘invasion of Europe.’
I can’t believe this was even published in The Hill. It’s an op-ed by Palestinian Osamah Khalil (entitled ‘Between the devil and the deep blue sea’) in which the author blames the deaths of illegal aliens attempting to break into Europe (having launched from Libya) on Republicans (say what?).
Osamah Khalil (assistant professor of U.S. and Middle East History at Syracuse University). https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/activism/6779-the-peace-talks-and-palestinian-representation-in-conversation-with-osamah-khalil
After many column inches of sob stories and stats, Osamah says this:
Bilal [the star of this particular sob story—ed], however, never made it to Libya. He and his family were turned back at Beirut’s airport. Unable to return to Syria or stay in Lebanon, they plan to try again. “We have no other choice,” he explains. [Just a reminder it is the Obama administration that turned Libya into a major lawless hellhole instead of a minor hellhole thus making it the go-to place for launching the invasion of Europe!—ed]
I hope the Republicans arequestioning the security issues involved with US State Department (Obama!) plans to admit 2,000 Syrians this fiscal year, but frankly Congress can’t stop it, if Obama wants 2,000 now, Obama can take 2,000 now!
Thankfully, somewhere in the Obama Administration there are people who have not allowed the flow of Syrians to the US to begin in any significant way. Why?
Osamah should be complaining about Obama!
In February, the Obama administration announced it was loosening asylum rules but acknowledged that less than 2,000 Syrians would be accepted. Republican lawmakers criticized the decision due to national security concerns. Only a few countries have agreed to resettle the refugees — and even then it is just a trickle. Instead, the richest nations in the world, including the U.S., are placing downward pressure on the countries least able to deal with the massive refugee crisis. The main beneficiaries of the status quo are the traffickers and corrupt officials who prey on desperate refugees. While these criminal networks are often described as national security threats, they have been empowered and rewarded by ineffectual American and European policies.
The boats will continue to sail. Some will make it and some won’t. This reality will not change as long as the Syrian conflict continues and the U.S. and EU are unwilling or unable to adopt more humane immigration and asylum policies or even provide the necessary funds to assist the refugees.
*Khalil is assistant professor of U.S. and Middle East History at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He is also a co-founder of Al-Shabaka, The Palestinian Policy Network.
Again, I can’t believe The Hillpublished this screed—-the US doesn’t have enough “humane immigration!”
Don’t get me wrong, we should all be grateful that Obama hasn’t flung America’s doors open to Syrians yet, but I sure would like to be a fly on the wall and know why!
See our complete ‘invasion of Europe series’ by clicking here.
The mystery remains about why the US hasn’t opened America’s door to Syrians in any large numbers yet, especially in light of the enormous pressure from the UN and the US resettlement contractors.
IRELAND HAS RECEIVED 94 applications from Syrians living in Ireland, asking for vulnerable members of their family still caught up in the conflict to be allowed to travel and reside here.
[….]
People currently still in Syria or those who have fled to neighbouring countries were eligible to apply through their relatives in Ireland.
At the time, then-Minister for Justice, Shatter, said the situation in Syria had reached “catastrophic proportions” and Ireland needed to do more to “allay the concerns of family members who are present here about their most vulnerable family members”.
He said it was also important to show solidarity to Syria’s neighbours, including the Lebanon and Turkey, which have been shouldering the burden of the refugee crisis since 2011. [Nuts!—ed]
[….]
“A sponsor may be a single person or the head of a family unit. Persons admitted under the programme will be entitled to work, establish a business, or invest in the State.”
There are strict obligations for the applicants in that the person “should not become a burden on the State”.
If these family members cannot find employment the onus will be on the sponsors to support them during their time in Ireland.
So, what happens if they fall into poverty and become a burden on the State, is Ireland going to kick them out? I doubt it!
See this very informative graphic we posted in February with the promises made by Western countries.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu: Maybe in a couple of years Hillary could be persuaded to take a hundred thousand or so! http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/pix/2009a/06/124413.htm
The UN has been falling all over itself praising Turkey for months for its acceptance of an estimated 1 million Syrians who have streamed across the border to escape the Syrian civil war. Most of those leaving Syria are Muslims.
Now, we learn that Muslim Turkey will not accept any Syrian asylum claims and says the Syrians must be resettled in a third country. Third country: France? UK? Germany? Canada? US? Which?
Senior authorities in Ankara have ruled out refugee status for Syrian nationals who are seeking shelter in Turkey.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Thursday that his country has limited the right only to asylum seekers from Europe. [So what does this mean? If you are seeking asylum from say France, Sweden or the UK, Turkey will take you? I bet there is a long waiting list for that! Not!—ed]
Non-European refugees are now granted a temporary stay in Turkey, pending their resettlement to a third country.
Thus, it is not possible for Syrians who have taken shelter in Turkey to obtain refugee status, the foreign minister noted.
[….]
In late April, Ankara put the number of Syrian refugees in the country at almost one million. Turkey is viewed as one of the regional supporters of foreign-backed militants operating inside Syria.
Just a couple of months ago, David Miliband, the CEO of resettlement contractor the International Refugee Committee, was kissing up to Turkey too.
In an interview with Sky News, the American actress condemned what she called the failure of the international community to intervene effectively in recent crises in the Middle East and Nigeria.
[…..]
Asked by Sky News presenter Anna Jones if Britain and other countries should take in more refugees, Jolie replied: “Yes.”
But she added that the international community’s current approach to such a crisis is “broken”.
[…..]
Her call for action has been welcomed by The Refugee Council – a UK charity that works with refugees.
[…..]
Jolie lamented what she called the increasing inability of the international community to solve crises like the recent kidnapping of 200 Nigerian schoolgirls by extremist group Boko Haram.
However, she admitted she could offer no immediate solution herself.
“I do lie awake at night like most people wondering… I cannot get my head around all of the horrors in the world today,” she said.
Are you laying awake at night troubled by the world? It seems clear to me…..
…. for the Syrian civil war—let them fight it out themselves and then the Syrians who ran for cover should return. Then there is only one solution for Islamic terrorist groups like Boko Haram, wipe them out swiftly and completely, but no African or Western country has the testicular fortitude to do it.
