- Shocked Norway – Dagbladet.no

The three Syrians who sought church asylum in Kirkenes to avoid being returned to Russia, say they are shocked by the way they have been treated in Norway.

It says Marek Linha from Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers (NOAS), who visited them in the church Thursday night.

– They are in despair over the system. They are shocked because they had heard that Norway is a constitutional state, but there is no legal protection for them here. Their case was not considered, says Linha said.

Student Visas

According Linha searched the three for a student visa in Russia after fleeing from Syria, but eventually went out of money . Linha saying they were not allowed to work with student visa in Russia, and thus not be able to finance their studies and stay longer.

– If they are sent back to Russia, they have to apply for asylum there. It is roulette. There is no guarantee that they will be granted asylum, and they fear being sent back to Syria, explains NOAS counselor.

There are a married couple and a man, all three student age, who have sought refuge in the church. The woman is pregnant for three months.

Now they live in a room in the basement of the church. Linha describing conditions as simple, but say it’s hot there. According kirkeasylantene it was so cold in the arrival center that they had trouble sleeping.

– They are tired and need to relax. Therefore, they have not wanted to talk with the media. Here they relaxed, says Linha.

impose fines

The three who were arrested for helping asylum seekers to get away from the Arrival Center Finnmark Thursday imposed fines for their activism.

Merete Nordhus, Merete Eriksson and Eirik Nilsen was arrested by police during the chaos upon arrival center before a planned return of rejected asylum seekers were canceled Thursday.

The three told VG that they put in arrest over two hours. They are charged under the Immigration Act section 108, which includes helping people who are trying to evade the obligation to leave the country or to impede dispatch.

Nordhus has adopted its fines. It has not Nilsen and Eriksson. Acquaintances of them have started fundraising to finance the fines. Nordhus said she felt that the arrest was very degrading.

– I had to undress me all the clothes, put me down on his haunches and cough. They said it was normal procedure, says Nordhus told the newspaper.

Police Chief Hans Møllebakken says he will investigate whether this actually happened, and that he in that case sorry way Nordhus were treated to.

(NTB)