The protest demonstrations in the Polish capital were in response to the decision of the parliament, which voted to legalize the expulsion of refugees at the border. Anti-migrant law. Poles protest again
After a record inflow of illegal migrants through Belarus, the Polish parliament voted in favor of a law allowing them to be expelled back. Thousands of Poles did not like the decision of the authorities: there were many thousands of protests demanding asylum for illegal immigrants. Correspondent.net tells the details.
Illegals in a borderline state
Last week, the lower house of the Polish parliament voted to legalize the expulsion of illegal migrants back to Belarus. They must be voted for by the upper house, in which, in contrast to the lower, the opposition has a majority. After that, the document will be sent for signature to the President of Poland Andrzej Duda.
The lawmakers also suggested that asylum applications filed after illegal border crossing should be left unchecked, unless the applicant came directly from an area where his life or freedom is at stake.
In addition, the Polish Sejm approved a draft law on the construction of a fence on the border with Belarus for $ 414 million. The Polish Defense Ministry is already building barbed wire fences 2.5 meters high.
Maidan in Poland. Fear of leaving the European Union
The Warsaw law on migrants violates people’s right to asylum and contradicts both international and European legislation, said Christine Goyer, a spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Poland.
“The new law contradicts, in particular, the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, which clearly states that asylum seekers should not be punished for illegal border crossing,” the UN representative said.
Since the beginning of October, the migration flow through Belarus to Poland has sharply increased – to more than 500 people a day. This is due to the adoption by Lithuania, which previously suffered more from illegal immigrants, similar to the Polish law, which allows the expulsion of arrivals from Belarus back.
No more than 1,500 people were able to cross the Polish border and stay in the country, they are detained and are in guarded camps.
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The rest were caught in the border zone and expelled by force to Belarus. This practice is called pushbacks and is illegal by global human rights and humanitarian organizations, including the Red Cross.
The situation is complicated by the decision of Alexander Lukashenko of October 14 to suspend the readmission agreement with the European Union – now Belarusians are not obliged to accept illegal immigrants expelled from the EU.
As a result, many migrants who try to get to the EU through Belarus find themselves locked in the no-man’s land between countries and live in the forest for weeks. They tell reporters that both Polish and Belarusian border guards threatened them with reprisals.
At least six migrants have died near the border in recent weeks, most likely due to hypothermia.
POLAND ????????
Poland protects the borders of Europe … which the EU should be doing but not doing.
The country has in fact adopted legislation allowing it to turn back migrants.
“We want to go to Poland but they won’t let us do it” said this gentleman. pic.twitter.com/kfChso6VX7– Mr. Everyone (@ Walkinglife007) October 15, 2021
This situation of illegal migrants has caused outrage in Polish society: thousands of people came out on Sunday to protest in Warsaw, Krakow and other cities to express a demand for asylum for illegal migrants stranded on the Polish-Belarusian border.
The protesters carried banners with the words: “Stop torture at the border!” and “Nobody is illegal!”
They accuse the police of torture, obstructing humanitarian aid, and insist that all asylum seekers have the right to be treated with dignity and must be admitted to Europe, regardless of political differences.
Among the participants of the action were well-known human rights activists and cultural figures, including film director Agnieszka Holland.
“I do not agree with the methods of our authorities, which illegally expel people, calmly observe, and sometimes contribute to the death of people at the border – adults, women, children. It’s just a shame,” Euronews quotes her.
Human rights activists are calling for residents of border areas to join the campaign of solidarity with migrants – and to turn on the green light so that it can be seen that they are ready to give shelter and food in these houses.
The campaign was started by Polish lawyer Kamil Siller, who lives five kilometers from the Belarusian border. It is not yet known how many local residents have followed Siller’s call, but the Polish press writes that many Poles expressed their readiness to help migrants.
Belarusian route: Germany is waiting for the worsening of the crisis
Elmi Abdi, head of the Somali Association in Poland, emphasizes that people stranded at the border are in desperate need of support.
“I myself was a refugee. I came to Poland in 1996. I crossed the border exactly where people are dying now. I stayed there for more than 20 days, so I know what I’m talking about. I really feel sorry for these people who are left to their own devices. destiny, deprived of any help, “he said.
On October 19, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said that nearly 6,000 soldiers are now guarding the border with Belarus amid a sharp increase in migration. The deployment of new troops means a significant increase in the military presence at the border, as he spoke on Saturday about 3,000 troops.
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