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Tag: asylum

Jul32020 by adminNo Comments
Asylum for ‘tortured’ Hong Kong consulate worker could give hope to other activists

Asylum for ‘tortured’ Hong Kong consulate worker could give hope to other activists

World
A former worker at the UK's consulate in Hong Kong has told Sky News that Britain's decision to grant him asylum could set a precedent for others who fear Chinese persecution. Hong Kong-born Simon Cheng, 29, said the Home Office recently approved his asylum request after he was forced to flee the territory last year following more than two weeks in Chinese detention. In an interview with Sky News, the pro-democracy campaigner said he applauded a decision by Britain this week to offer millions of Hong Kong residents a path to UK citizenship if they hold the special status of British National Overseas (BNO).However, Mr Cheng said his case might mean those who do not qualify, including anyone who was born after Britain handed control of the city back to China in 1997, might be able to claim p...
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Feb262020 by adminNo Comments

Many asylum seekers arrive in Europe legally, EU agency says

World
More and more people seeking asylum in the European Union come from countries with visa-free travel arrangements with the blocBy LORNE COOK Associated PressFebruary 26, 2020, 10:16 AM3 min readBRUSSELS -- Increasing numbers of people applying for asylum in the European Union are arriving from countries with visa-free travel agreements with the bloc, notably from Latin America, rather than entering without permission, the EU’s asylum agency said Wednesday. More than 714,000 people applied for asylum or some form of international protection in Europe last year, up 13% from 2018, the European Asylum Support Office, or EASO, said in its latest report on asylum trends in 2019. “Most of the increase is accounted for by the large number of applications lodged by applicants who are exempt of visa
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Jan112019 by adminNo Comments
Rahaf al-Qunun: Saudi teen granted asylum in Canada

Rahaf al-Qunun: Saudi teen granted asylum in Canada

World
Media playback is unsupported on your device A Saudi woman who fled her family and became stranded at Bangkok's main airport is flying to Canada after being granted asylum status.Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, had been trying to reach Australia via Bangkok, but was initially told to return to Kuwait, where her family were waiting.She refused to fly back and barricaded herself into her airport hotel room, attracting international attention.She said she had renounced Islam, which is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.The UN's refugee agency has said it considers her to be a legitimate refugee.Refugee status is normally granted by governments, but the UNHCR can grant it where states are "unable or unwilling to do so", according to its website. Can...
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Nov192018 by adminNo Comments
Peru asks Uruguay to deny asylum for ex-President Alan Garcia

Peru asks Uruguay to deny asylum for ex-President Alan Garcia

World
Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra said Monday he's asked his Uruguayan counterpart, Tabare Vasquez, to honor past agreements to fight international corruption and reject asylum for Lima's former leader. "I reminded the president that here in Lima, in April, all presidents of North, South and Central America met and discussed links between governability and corruption," Vizcarra told reporters, according to Peruvian news agency Andina. All governments agreed that to fight international corruption, efforts from all presidents were necessary, he added. Peru is sending Uruguay documents related to former Peruvian President Alan Garcia's case, he added. The conversation took place Sunday and lasted less than 10 minutes. The comments came after Garcia, who led Peru from 1985 t...
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