Arrests at protest against Swedish deportation of Iraqi refugees

Jan 19, 2011, 8:40 GMT

Stockholm - Swedish police Wednesday briefly detained 25 activists who attempted to block the entrance to an asylum centre to prevent a pending repatriation of some 20 Iraqi refugees.

About 50 activists took part in the protest, police said. The Iraqi asylum seekers were taken to Stockholm's Arlanda Airport.

The border police unit declined to say when the plane was due to depart for Iraq, citing security procedures.

The plans have been criticized by various international agencies including the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, citing fears that the refugees would be returned to areas where Christians and other minorities have recently come under attack.

Swedish churches, human rights groups, and members of the opposition have also protested the move.

Swedish courts and the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights have however not intervened in these cases, Mikael Ribbenvik, head of the Migration Board's legal division, told broadcaster TV4.

'Some 50 per cent of Iraqi asylum seekers were allowed to stay in 2010,' Ribbenvik added.

Lise Bergh, secretary general of the Swedish section of rights group Amnesty International, said the organisation was 'very concerned' over the decision. At least 14 refugees were to be sent to five regions were there were grave security concerns, she said.

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