Solidariteitsmars: Mikael moet blijven! / CALL for Solidarity March: Mikael must stay!
Waar: Basisschool Achtsprong, Huntum 14, Amsterdam Zuidoost, Netherlands
Wanneer: 07/08/2024 - 19:00
On August 7, the Solidarity March for Mikael will be held in Amsterdam-Zuidoost, in solidarity with the Dutch-born Mikael (11) and his mother Gohar Matosyan (56) who are to be deported to Armenia. The tour starts at 19:00 and leads from primary school Achtsprong, Huntum 14, in Amsterdam-Zuidoost to the district office on Anton de Komplein.
Mikael was born in the Netherlands and lives in Amsterdam, but did not have a residence permit. His mother Gohar Matosyan settled in the Netherlands in 2010. The judge granted Mikael a residence permit in 2021, but State Secretary Eric van der Burg (Asylum and Migration) then appealed.
On Wednesday, the Council of State ruled in its favour, and it ruled in favour of the State Secretary. Mayor Femke Halsema immediately appealed to Van der Burg's successor, Marjolein Faber, to grant Mikael a residence permit.
Faber's brand-new Ministry of Asylum and Migration responded two days later by saying that they cannot do anything because they are a "vulgar policy machine." Lawyers disagree with this and call it 'nonsense'.