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the protection of European borders prevails over the right to asylum

The European Court of Human Right (ECHR) just took a decision in favour of the Spanish authorities, by endorsing the practice known as “push-back” of people trying to reach the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Although another body of the Court had already condemned Spain in 2017 for this illegal practice[1], its Grand Chamber decided this time that Spain had not violated the rights of the exiles who had already crossed its border by sending them back to Morocco quickly and widely. With this highly serious decision, the ECHR legitimizes the generalization of the principle of non-refoulement. Furthermore, it endorses the impossibility of applying for asylum in case of illegal border crossing and welcomes the good collaboration with Morocco in the repression of exiles.

Migrants face refoulement practices all along their way at the EU’s external borders which are increasingly extending to the South, and to the East. They also face it when they try to cross the Sahara[2], the Balkan countries[3] or when they attempt to flee the Libyan hell[4]. This reality (which can lead to death in the most dramatic cases) also affects the European territory, as illustrated by the recurrent deportations of migrants at the French borders with Italy and Spain[5]. The refoulement practices are multiplying and have become an increasingly standardised form of management of the illegalised mobility that it’s necessary to stop by any means.

For at least two decades they have suffered from the violence of the Spanish border guards while trying to enter in the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. The Spanish militaries are not to be outdone: numerous NGOs reports show that Morocco regularly conducts violent repressions and roundups to keep exiles away from the border[6].

Despite this old and well-documented reality, the ECHR in its judgement of 13 February concludes that Spain has not committed any violation, finding “(…) that the applicants [had] placed themselves in an unlawful situation” by attempting to cross the Melilla border at an unauthorised location. It adds that “They thus chose not to use the legal procedures which existed in order to enter Spanish territory lawfully (…)”. Misleading argument considering only exiles who entered through an accredited border post could be protected from refoulement or that they could apply for asylum at the consulate without hindrance. However, numerous human rights organisations – whose reports were deliberately disregarded by the Court – have established that black people are especially tracked by the Moroccan security forces who prevent them from reaching the border posts of the enclaves. Access to the asylum office in Ceuta and Melilla (established in 2015) is thus impossible for them. They have no other choice but to climb over fences and their sharp blades, or set sail, risking their lives[7].

The ECHR, by reversing Spain’s conviction, gives a strong signal to the European States for the generalization of these violent practices of refoulement and to the legitimation of the externalisation of asylum. Indeed, by figuring that a Member State can restrict the right to seek protection on its territory in some places or some circumstances, the Court endorses practices contrary to international law and that the EU has been trying to promote for a long time: preventing the arrival of those who are looking for protection, either by erecting physical or legal barriers, or by subcontracting its obligations to countries notoriously hostile to migrants.

The signatory associations strongly condemn the Court decision. We refuse to allow the principle of non-refoulement, a cornerstone of the right to asylum, to be questioned in the name of the externalisation policy and of the borders protection of the EU and its Member States. We support migrants in the exercise of their freedom of movement, and we fight against the violence and racism that they suffer along their illegalized trajectories.

Signataries :

  • Association Européenne pour la défense des Droits de l’Homme – AEDH (Europe)
  • European Democrates Lawyers (Europe)
  • Borderline Europe (Allemagne)
  • Euromed Rights (réseau Euro-Mediterranéen)
  • Group of lawyers for the Rights of Migrants and Refugees (Grèce)
  • Lawyers for Freedom – OHD (Turquie)
  • Migreurop (réseau Euro-Africain)
  • Progressive Lawyers association – CHD (Turquie)
  • Republican Lawyers Association – RAV (Allemagne)

 

 

[1] ECHR, October 3, 2017, N.D. et N.T. c. Spain, req. n° 8675/15 et 8697/15

[2] Amnesty International report, « Forced to leave – stories of injustice against migrants in Algeria », 2017 ; Alarmphone Sahara, « Octobre 2019 à Janvier 2020: Continuation des convois d’expulsions de l’Algérie au Niger », January 2020

[3] Le Monde « La Bosnie, cul-de-sac pour les migrants », December 30,2019 ; See also the website of « Welcome» which informs on violence in the Balkan countries. https://welcome.cms.hr/index.php/en/

[4] Brief n°7 « Libya: where thugs are funded by Europe to mistreat migrants », May 2018 ; Forensic Oceanography, “Mare Clausum”, May 2018

[5] ANAFE, Persona non grata –Conséquences des politiques sécuritaires et migratoires à la frontières franco-italienne, Observation report 2017-2018

[6] See for instance: Migreurop, « War on migrants – The black book of Ceuta and Melilla » 2006, Human Rights Watch « Abused and Expelled Ill-Treatment of Sub-Saharan African Migrants in Morocco », 2014 ; Caminando Fronteras « Tras la frontera », 2017 ; GADEM « Coûts et blessures – Rapport sur les opérations des forces de l’ordre menées dans le nord du Maroc entre juillet et septembre 2018 », 2019

[7] See for instance : collective report « Ceuta et Melilla : centres de tri à ciel ouvert aux portes de l’Afrique ? », December 2015 ; Third party intervention by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights – Applications No. 8675/15 and No. 8697/15N.D. v. Spain and N.T. v. Spain: https://rm.coe.int/third-party-intervention-n-d-and-n-t-v-spain-by-nils-muiznieks-council/1680796bfc ; Third party intervention by Aire Centre, Amnesty International, ECRE and the International Commission of Jurists: https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/EUR4191102018ENGLISH.PDF

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Avocates et avocats de France en grève : on est là !

Avocates et avocats de France en grève : on est là !

Depuis plus de 6 semaines, les avocates et avocats de France sont en grève contre le projet du Gouvernement de réduire leurs droits à la retraite.

Le système de retraite des avocates et avocats en France est un exemple de solidarité entre eux, quels que soient leur mode d’exercice et leur situation économique. Ce régime bénéficiaire participe également à la solidarité avec les autres professions, sans corporatisme.

Malgré cela, le projet du Gouvernement aura pour conséquence d’augmenter considérablement le montant de leurs cotisations et de réduire leurs pensions de retraite.

Cette augmentation des cotisations pèsera principalement sur la moitié des avocates et avocats ayant les revenus les plus bas.

C’est pourtant cette partie de la profession qui assure l’accès aux droits du plus grand nombre : la défense pénale pour tous, le droit de la famille, des mineurs, des consommateurs, des locataires, des travailleurs, des étrangers,…

L’augmentation des cotisations rendra impossible économiquement l’exercice de la profession et réduira drastiquement l’accès aux droits pour toutes et tous !

Derrière la réforme des retraites, c’est un projet de société que défend le Gouvernement Français : celui de l’argent roi, de la loi du plus fort, de l’écrasement des plus faibles ; une atteinte à la solidarité.

Le combat des avocates et avocats en France est, pour nous, avocates et avocats européens, un combat emblématique pour un autre projet de société.

Aujourd’hui, les avocates et avocats européens regardent avec fierté les avocates et avocats de France défendre la place de la défense dans la société et leur apportent tout leur soutien.

Barcelone, Colmar, le 15 février 2020

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Lawyers from France on strike: we’re here!

For more than 6 weeks, lawyers in France have been on strike against the Government’s plan to reduce their pension rights.

Lawyers’ retirement system in France is an example of solidarity amongst lawyers, whatever their type of practice and their economic situation. Furthermore, this pension scheme also contributes to solidarity with other professions, without corporatism.

Despite this, the Government’s plan will result in a considerable increase in the amount of their contributions and a reduction in their retirement pensions. This increase in contributions will mainly affect lawyers with the lowest incomes, nearly half of all lawyers in France.
It is, however, this part of the profession that ensures access to the rights of the greatest number: criminal defence for all, family law, law for minors, consumers, tenants, workers, foreigners, etc. The increase in pension contribution fees will make it economically unviable to exercise the profession and will drastically reduce access to rights for all!

Behind the pension reform, the French government defends a social project: that of the reign of money, the law of the strongest, the crushing of the weakest; an attack on solidarity. The fight of lawyers in France is, for us European lawyers, an emblematic fight for another social project.

Today, European lawyers proudly watch French lawyers defend the place of defence in society and give them their full support.

Barcelona, Colmar, 15th of February 2020

 

 

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CRIMINALIZATION OF JURISTS FOR THEIR PUBLIC DENUNCIATION OF TORTURE AND MISTREATMENT

The AED-EDL has been informed of the trial against Lorena Ruiz-Huerta, which has taken place on the 10th of February 2020. Lorena Ruiz-Huerta is accused of slander for statements she made on television in 2014, when she was a practicing lawyer and member of ALA, in which she stated that during her professional work as a legal aid lawyer she was aware of the usual praxis of wrongful acts against the rights of detainees by police corps. The lawyer was denounced and accused of the crime of slander by the Unified Police Union, the Union of the Guardia Civil and the Federal Union of Police, as well as by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Further, the AED-EDL has also learnt about the complaint of three prison-agents’ trade-unions in Catalonia against Iñaki Rivera, Director of the Observatory of the Criminal System and Human Rights (OSPDH), and the SIRECOVI project of the University of Barcelona, professor of law and researcher, for having stated in a television program that in the prisons of Catalonia there was torture, ill-treatment and abuse. This jurist who defends human rights has deserved the support of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) in a joint statement on the 21st of December 2018. In their statement, they warned that the misuse of criminal law against statements and messages protected by freedom of expression and information had an inhibiting effect. On the 16th of September 2019 the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) issued a new urgent appeal.

The AED-EDL supports both professionals and denounces the criminalization of lawyers and jurists in the exercise of their profession and in their action to denounce the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the practice of torture and ill-treatment by public officials. The critical disclosure of these practices is part of the commitment of the legal profession to the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms and is protected by the freedom of expression and information, thus helping to inform the public and the public debate on the functioning of State institutions, according to point 23 of the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (8th UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders – Havana, 27 August to 7 September 1990) and as proclaimed, among others, by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Morice v. France.

Barcelona, on the 15th of February 2020

 

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LA CRIMINALIZACION DE LOS JURISTAS POR SU LABOR DE DENUNCIA DE LAS TORTURAS Y MALOS TRATOS

La AED ha tenido conocimiento que el día 10/2/2020 tuvo lugar el juicio por delito de calumnias contra Lorena Ruiz- Huerta por unas declaraciones en televisión en el 2014, fecha en que era abogada en ejercicio y miembro de ALA, en las que manifestó que en el ejercicio de su profesión como letrada del Turno de Oficio había tenido conocimiento de la práctica habitual de actuaciones lesivas contra los derechos de las personas detenidas por parte de los cuerpos policiales. La abogada fue denunciada y acusada por el delito de calumnias, por parte del Sindicato Unificado de Policía, la Unión de Guardias Civiles y la Unión Federal de Policía, así como de la Fiscalía.

Por otro lado, la AED también ha tenido conocimiento de la denuncia de tres sindicatos de funcionarios de prisiones de Catalunya contra Iñaki Rivera, Director del Observatori del Sistema Penal i dels Drets Humans (OSPDH), y del proyecto SIRECOVI de la Universidad de Barcelona, profesor de Derecho e investigador, por haber manifestado en un programa televisivo que en las prisiones de Cataluña existía la práctica de la tortura, los malos tratos y las vejaciones. La criminalización de este jurista defensor de los derechos humanos, mereció el apoyo de la Federación Internacional de Derechos Humanos (FIDH) y de la Organización Mundial Contra la Tortura (OMCT) en un pronunciamiento conjunto de 21/12/2018. En él, alertaron del efecto inhibitorio del uso indebido del derecho penal contra las declaraciones y los mensajes protegidos por la libertad de expresión e información. El 16/9/2019 la Organización Mundial de la Tortura (OMCT) realizó un nuevo llamado urgente.

La AED muestra su apoyo a ambos profesionales y denuncia la criminalización de los abogados y de los juristas en el ejercicio de su profesión y de su acción de denuncia sobre la vulneración de derechos humanos y libertades fundamentales, incluida la práctica de la tortura y de los malos tratos por parte de funcionarios públicos. La divulgación crítica de estas prácticas forma parte del compromiso de la abogacía con la promoción de los derechos humanos y las libertades fundamentales y está amparada por la libertad de expresión y de información, colaborando a informar la ciudadanía y al debate público sobre el funcionamiento de las instituciones del Estado, según el punto 23 de los Principios Básicos sobre la Función de los Abogados (VIII Congreso de NNUU sobre Prevención del Delito y Tratamiento del Delincuente –La Habana, 27 de agosto a 7 de septiembre de 1990-) y como proclama, entre otras, la STEDH de la Gran Cámara en el caso Morice contra Francia.

Barcelona a 15 de febrero de 2020

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Freedom for Hamza Haddi and Mohamed Haddar

The European Union must stop the arbitrary incarceration of refugees and migrants

We express our solidarity with Hamza Haddi and Mohamed Haddar who are currently being held in pre-trial detention in Komotini, Greece. Both are facing long prison sentences because they are being wrongfully and arbitrarily accused of “smuggling”.

Hamza Haddi and Mohamed Haddar are Moroccan citizens who fled their country searching for protection and better living conditions, Hamza Haddi in particular is a known political activist who was hoping to be granted political asylum in Europe. In Morocco, he is facing political persecution for his activities during the Arab Spring as well as for his engagement with the Moroccan Human Rights Association L’Association Marocaine Des Droits Humains AMDH. He has been imprisoned three times and, together with his family, been constantly targeted and intimidated by Moroccan authorities. Hamza is a political refugee.

With Europe’s ever-increasing closure of borders and the impossibility for refugees to legally enter Europe and claim asylum, they were forced to embark and risk their lives on a makeshift boat. Hamza, who had fled from Morocco together with his brother Yassine went on to meet two companions on the way; Reda and Mohamed in Turkey. There, they spent only a few days before attempting to cross the Evros river that marks the border between Turkey and Greece in July 2019.

In Greece, the four arrived, only to be immediately arrested by Greek border police. But not enough. Hamza Haddi and Mohamed Haddar are now accused of and are facing trial for the “smuggling” of two persons – one of them being Hamza’s own brother Yassine!

The accusations against Hamza and Mohamed are clearly unfounded. They are refugees, not smugglers.

Their companion Reda was coerced into signing a testimony that is now being used to wrongly accuse Hamza and Mohamed as being the smugglers. Reda can neither speak nor read Greek and later confirmed that the written document does not match his statement.

Consequently since July 2019, Hamza and Mohamed have been held in pre-trial detention in Greece and are facing more than ten years of imprisonment each. The basis of their trail is placed upon a testimony signed under pressure and without an interpreter.

We are calling for their immediate release!

The case of Hamza and Mohamed is unfortunately not an isolated case but paradigmatic for yet another facet of Europe’s policy of closing borders and deterrence. While European supporters or so-called “human rights defenders” such as Carola Rackete or the iuventa10 have recently received a lot of attention and support after having become the target of increasing criminalisation, there is hardly any information nor support for those without a European passport facing the very same accusations. However, it is them who constitute the majority of those being arrested and imprisoned in Italy and Greece on grounds of alleged “smuggling” and “aiding illegal immigration”. Arrested immediately upon arrival, a lot of them disappear unknown and unheard of and with no access to support from outside.

The basis for this is Greek legislation that considers any person found to have driven a vehicle across Greek borders, entering Greece without required documentation, as a smuggler.

The arrests as well as trials that follow these often-unfounded accusations of smuggling are arbitrary. Police officers might accuse the person holding the tiller to steer the boat, or the one who communicated with the coast guard to call for help or simply someone who speaks English, to be a smuggler. In Greece, the average trial lasts only around 30 minutes, leading to an average sentence of 44 years and fines over 370.000 Euro. Suspects, or what we would deem ‘victims’ of this unjust legislation, usually have limited access to legal assistance, most of them relying on public defenders. Observers voice concerns about a “shocking lack of deep processing”, reporting that judgements are pronounced despite lack of evidence and poor quality of translation.

This statement is to express our solidarity with Hamza Haddi and Mohamed Haddar and all those criminalized and deprived of their basic rights in the European Union’s proclaimed fight against “smugglers”. We call on everyone to condemn the arbitrary application of anti-smuggling laws against people on the move, who are often already in fear of their lives. We denounce the exploitation of the vulnerable situation of asylum seekers by the EU member states, leaving them without the means to properly defend themselves.

Together with the Hamza Haddi and Mohamed Haddar support committee we demand:

• The immediate release of Hamza Haddi and Mohamed Haddar.
• All charges against them to be dropped, and their innocence to be recognized.
• Hamza’s asylum application to be accepted and his asylum granted.
• Regularisation of the situation of Hamza and Mohamed, and freedom of movement for all.

We further demand:

    • Freedom for all those that are suffering the same fate, being imprisoned in Greek and Italian prisons because they were looking for a better life.
• A change in the Greek and Italian law in order to remove the legal grounds for these arbitrary arrests and convictions.

    –>  Attend the trial of Hamza and Mohamed on February 4th 2020 in Komotini, Greece!
–>  Donate for their legal defence: https://www.lepotsolidaire.fr/pot/94duqw1k

Download press statement:

ENGLISH

FRENCH

GREEK

ARABIC