Call-out for international solidarity actions with refugees in Iceland
Wanneer: 15/10/2012 - 13:23
october 17 Þjóðminjasafn 12-14 pm PANEL DISCUSSION:
NO ONE WANTS TO BE A REFUGEE
THIS PANEL WILL ADDRESS THE CURRENT AND OVERALL SITUATION OF ASYLUM SEEKERS / REFUGEES IN ICELAND AND THE ABUSES OF HUMAN RIGHTS THAT PERSIST FROM THE MOMENT THEY STEP FOOT IN THE COUN- TRY, AND CONTINUING ON A DAILY BASIS. PARTICIPANTS ON THE PANEL WILL INCLUDE PEOPLE CURRENTLY SEEKING ASYLUM IN ICELAND,
ÖGMUNDUR JÓNASSON THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR, HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER KATRIN ODDSDOTTIR,
BIRGITTA JÓNSDOTTIR ICELANDIC MP PLUS MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED.
REFUGEE STUDENT EXCHANGE TO FURTHER THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION OF REFUGEES IN ICE- LAND WE WILL BE DOING A STUDENT - REFUGEE EXCHANGE, WHERE WE WILL OFFER 3 STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND TO LIVE FOR UN- SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF TIME IN ONE OF THE ASYLUM CAMPS, WHILE 3 REFU- GEES WILL COME TO THE UNIVERSITY AND REPLACE THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM. THE STUDENTS VOLUNTEERING SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WILL ONLY EXPERIENCE THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE ASYLUM CAMP BUT CAN NEVER UNDERSTAND THE FULL WEIGHT OF SEEKING ASYLUM, BUT HOPE- FULLY THE EXCHANGE WILL GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHY NO ONE WISHES TO BE A REFUGEE.
for more information: noborders.iceland@gmail.com.
During October 15–17, the No Borders Collective, which works with
people seeking asylum in Iceland, will have an information table
located at Háskólatorg. The collective will be handing out information
about their work and discussing with people interested in hearing
about the day-to-day struggles of people living in a hidden nightmare
as well as the concept of freedom of movement as everyone's right. No
Borders will also be taking applications for a student/refugee
exchange.
Call-out for international solidarity actions with refugees in Iceland
On the Week of October 15-18 No Borders Iceland will be organizing events
As a part of The University of Iceland’s 2 week long event called Equality Days.
The Biggest Event will be a panel discussion called No One Wants To Be a Refugee,
with refugees, no borders participants, Interior Minister, MP and wikileaks member Birgitta
Jonsdottir, a Human Rights lawyer, and Human Rights Watch. There will also be a student
Refugee exchange, and tabling during the days at the university cafeteria. At the end of the
Week we will have a demonstration with at least 35 refugees from the asylum camp here.
For decades the refugees unlucky enough to come acrosss the Icelandic
immigration authority have been imprisoned, isolated, discriminated,
silenced and deported. Recently the immigration offices have decided themselves to stop accepting anyone that has fingerprints from another EU country. That is 99% of the refugees in Iceland. There has been a sharp increase in deportations the last weeks, and threats of mass deportations soon. Iceland is not this utopia everyone is led to believe, especially with asylum cases. Outside pressure needs to be put on the Icelandic government.
On 18th of October refugees and locals alike will
rally against this policy and demand that their rights be obtained
immediately. We ask for your support and solidarity and Encourage anyone
to organize actions for the rights to free movement and human dignity for
all in their own localities. We especially encourage people to target
Icelandic embassies, consulates and companies.
All power to the people
No Borders - Iceland
Noborders.iceland@gmail.com
http://www.mfa.is/diplomatic-missions/icelandic-missions#IceEmb
Tags: No Borders