Refugees. RepoRt. Life.

NeWTIMESJuNe 2013 > issue # 86

Where to find the jobs?- neW asylum agreement alloWs asylum seekers to Work Page 07

full overvieW of the neW agreement Page 08

a refugee’s story: escaPing death in kenya Page 03

unique Photo feature from an asylum center Page 14

page 2 | issue # 86 | JuNe 2013 | New times

Note:Some of the journalists use their real names, but some use pseudonyms because they do not want their whereabouts known by people in their home countries.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are those of the authors and the persons interviewed and not – unless stated clearly – the opinion of the Danish Red Cross.

Published by:The Danish Red Cross

Editorial Office:New TimesThe Red Cross School Rosenørnsallé 31, 4th floor1970 FrederiksbergEmail: newtimesdk@gmail.comwww.newtimes.dkTel. +45 23 34 58 87

Editor:Robin Ali Ahrenkiel El-Tanany

Editor in chief:Birgitte Steno

New Times Journalists:Yolanda, Rohit, Nakiganda, Makmoud, Rana, Sameer, Sonny, Agha, Millad, Ismail, Shokria, Farzaneh, Faysal, Negar, Larry and Sam.

New Times photographer:Sonny

Volunteers:Patricia Brander, Kathryn Krinsman, Matthew Walthius

Layout:Jens Burau, supergreen.dk

Printed by:OTM Avistryk

Distributed free of charge to:Asylum centres, Ministries, Members of the Danish Parliament, public libraries, asylum and human rights organizations, NGOs, media and individuals in Denmark and abroad.

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ASIG:ASIG (Asylum Seekers Information Group) answers questions about asylum and life as a refugee. Individuals, teachers, students, journal-ists and anyone interested in asylum matters is welcome to send an inquiry. To book the group for lectures, presentations and discussions con-tact newtimesdk@gmail.com

Support:We are a part of the Danish Red Cross adult education and training department and are sup-ported by the Danish Institute for Study Abroad. We cooperate with the Danish Refugee Council and Amnesty International.

“Lorte-regering” the sign said being held by two smiling Danes when I entered the Par-liament Square together with two New Times members on our way to interview one of the politicians behind the new asylum agreement.

“What does it say?” Larry asked. He is an asylum seeker from Kenya. I explained to him that it said “Shitty Government” and that people were protest-ing against the government’s controversial freedom of infor-mation act (offentlighedslov) proposal, which many say will reduce transparency and limit access to governmental infor-mation.

He laughed. “Wow. They would have been beaten badly

by the police in my country!”Negar, our other team

member from Iran, joined his surprise. “They would have been taken away never to be seen again in my country”, she said and smiled in astonish-ment.

Sometimes it is easy to forget what a privilege it is to be born in Denmark. There are so many things we take for granted, which would mean the death penalty other places.

Another law recently made by the politicians, did not attract as much noise, but is extremely important for Danish asylum seekers. It is the long anticipated new asylum agree-ment. The agreement not only allows asylum seekers to work

and live outside the centers, but also includes an investment of 15 million kroner which should cut the processing time for the asylum seekers’ case by a whop-ping 50%.

One of the big questions now among the asylum seekers is how to find a job in a country where they do not know the language and the number of jobs are limited.

Almost simultaneously with the introduction of new legis-lation the Danish Red Cross is implementing a big restructur-ing program which includes the sad closing of the Red Cross School in Copenhagen. An asylum seeker has asked the head of the Red Cross asylum department, Anne La Cour, for

the reasons behind this in an open letter. Read his letter - and Anne La Cour’s reply, in this magazine.

This magazine also boasts a great photo reportage show-ing the daily life in the asylum center in Avnstrup, interesting questions for the magazine’s lawyer and much more.

Robin Ahrenkiel El-TananyEditor

editorial

... is of 24-year-old Farzaneh. An asylum seeker from Iran who hopes to find a job now.

Photo: Kasper Nybo

the front Page Picture ...

Refugees. RepoRt. Life.

NeWTIMES

find us here:WWW.facebook.com/teamneWtimes

Photo: Sonny

New times | JuNe 2013 | issue # 86 | page 3

❚ General elections were held in Kenya on 4 March 2013. During and in the aftermath of the political party nominations held between 17 and 18 January 2013 unrest was seen in several parts of the country.

❚ Uhuru Kenyatta, a son of Kenya’s first president, won with the slim-mest margin (50.07 percent of the vote), causing accusations about the elections to have been rigged. The Supreme Court later deemed that the result was valid despite of the election not being perfect.

Source: Wikipedia, Human Rights Watch, New York Times

facts

escaPing death in kenyaOtunga Larry’s life changed dramatically the 28th of march 2013 at around 6:00 pm

❚ By: Otunga Larry

I was very confused and I almost lost my attention when I got myself in a very weird situation before and after the March 4th general elections, which had so many irregularities.

It was on 28th of March 2013 at around 6:00 pm when I was approached by a prominent pol-itician (I will not write whom because of his security) who came to the place where I was hiding. It was in the outskirts of Nairobi City at a place called Ngong. He introduced me to a man by the name Peter. “This man will spend the night in the room next to yours and you should follow his instructions”, he said. There was nothing I could do but follow the instruc-tions given to me. Within an hour, before taking supper, Peter came and knocked on my door to ask me if I was ready to leave the country. I told him yes, but I asked him if he can let me first speak to my wife and children about it. His only reply was no, so I had no alternative because I did not have a phone.

guessing the Whole nightIn this case I kept on wondering and guessing the whole night because I did not have any trav-elling documents with me and the guy was seriously talking about me leaving the country. This was the only way out since my life was in danger due to my political activities both at

the University of Nairobi and at the place where I was staying, Mathare North. It would be safer if I was taken to Uganda or Tanzania; those were the kind of countries which always came to my mind. I had never dreamt of travelling using a plane, since I have never had a Kenyan passport.

going to airPortPeter came and knocked on my door the second time at around 2:00am telling me to pack all my belongings and get ready at the main gate. The Swahili he was speaking sounded more like that one of Congo. After half an hour he came at the gate driving a white Toyota without a number plate. He ordered me to get into the car, which I did. He drove up to Jomo Kenyatta Airport and I realised that the guy was well connected with the Kenyan Authorities. He entered the Airport prem-ises without being asked any questions yet he had no reg-istration on the car, he only greeted the police officers who manned the gates.

boardingWhen we were to check in, he told me to wait outside. I waited for about one and a half hours then he came out smiling holding two passports, a dark blue and a maroon red one. He then ordered me to follow him using sign language, which I did. I ended up in a line proceeding

inside the plane not even know-ing which airline I was boarding.

I first thought I was dream-ing. I was following him at the back, he then removed the tick-ets and handed one to me but he did not give me the passport, so I was scared and shaking, not knowing what would take place because the crew were checking whether the ticket number was genuine.

kePt PrayingI kept on praying and imme-diately after getting inside the plane, he grabbed the other piece of the ticket from me and pointed to the seat where I was supposed to sit. I was seated next to him, occupying the centre seat. He then ordered me to lay my head down so that no one would notice me. I was overwhelmed with sleep since I had been unable to sleep the day before we departed.

amsterdamAfter about eight hours of the journey I noticed the plane was about to land. The crew made announcements and there were movements. Little did I know we were at Amsterdam Air-port. Here I managed to get a touch of one of the passports. Peter gave me the maroon red one. He whispered to me not to open the passport, but gave me with it a KLM plane ticket. The only word I could read on the passport was DENMARK. This time around I was in front but

always looking behind because I had a feeling that he wanted to leave me in trouble, but it was not the case.

left in coPenhagenWe reached Copenhagen some minutes past 6pm in the even-ing. Upon alighting, I was con-fused and somehow not know-ing what the next stop could be in terms of questions I might be asked by the immigration officers. I tried to ask Mr. Peter but his answer was “please, I am done with you now, and I should go ahead and follow the other passengers and do the necessary”.

After only a hundred metres walk he told me that I should just ask anyone where the police were, or go and seek asylum at the Red Cross head-quarters. I feared the police so much and felt very isolated. I pleaded with Peter to stay with me, but he decided to leave me just like that.

It took me some twenty min-utes before I decided what next.

helPI asked one of the cleaning attendants where the toilets were. He pointed me to one of the toilets and after going there I came back to where he was cleaning. Surprisingly this cleaning attendant under-stood a little bit English. I nar-rated my story to him. He paid a lot of attention. The reply that I got from this cleaner

nearly took my heart to where I wanted to be.

He said to me that if I could wait for some fifteen minutes he would be winding up and since he is proceeding to the direction of the Red Cross in Sandholm, he could drop me there. I did not hesitate. He took me to the area where he had parked his car outside the air-port. I was freezing. He opened it and asked me to wait for him. It was getting dark and since it was a holiday we were not quite sure whether the Red Cross office was open. He drove me up to the place and luckily I was welcomed at around 8:00pm. Tired, hungry and confused.

This is one of my greatest experiences which will never come out of my mind no matter what. God is great.

“I had never dreamt of travelling using a plane” Photo: Robin El-Tanany

page 4 | issue # 86 | JuNe 2013 | New times

❚ By: Yolanda and sonny (photos)

The many Afghan protest-ers were supported by asylum seekers from Iran, Somalia and other countries. Many Danes also participated in the demon-stration, shouting slogans like “Stop deportation”, “Please, do not send us to hell” and “Here is room” (Danish,”Her er plads”).

There was no aggression in their cries, it was more like the cry of the wounded.

The Afghan deportations bring images to one’s mind of hunters and the hunted. Many Afghans refuse to return vol-untarily to Afghanistan, so the police catch them in the asylum centres on “pocket money day”, or at night in the places where they are hiding, taking them by force.

“We will not pay the price,” one protester, Asif Danishyar, 24, from Afghanistan told New Times.

“The Afghan president has given the world a false image of security in the state, and we, the asylum seekers, are the victims.

Is it a safe and secure to send people back to a country where both men, women and chil-dren are killed on a daily basis? Where women are still sold as slaves? My friend Hassan, was recently deported to Afghani-stan, and has fled to Pakistan”.

Through the microphone protesters said that there is enough room in Denmark to those who seek protection and are willing to integrate into society. Their voice was directed towards the citizens of Den-mark, the Immigration Service and the Ministry of Justice.

Was the microphone power-ful enough? We shall see.

During the spring 2013, 415 people risked forced deportation to Afghanistan. Among them are chil-dren, men and women. Some have lived in Denmark up to five years. Children are born and grown up in the Danish refugee camps, and all people in risk fear a dangerous future in Afghanistan.

facts:

“Please, do not send us to hell”On May 4th hundreds of people protested on the streets of Copenhagen against the forced deportation of rejected asylum seekers from Afghanistan.

See more pictures at: www.newtimes.dk

more:

New times | JuNe 2013 | issue # 86 | page 5

To the head of the asylum department in the Danish Red Cross, Anne La Cour;

oPen letter

Why is the Red Cross closing the school for asylum seek-ers in Copenhagen?

The school is the meeting place for asylum seekers who try to keep active, leave their asylum centers and come to school from many different centers. Plenty of friendships are forged by this contact and these people need the encouragement and motivation to keep their spirits and morals up and strong.

If the Red Cross is opening another school I hope it is close to Copenhagen. Copenhagen is the cultural center of Denmark, and being a part of the city gives the stu-dents at the school a chance to see and interact with the culture of this country. There are many museums, art galleries, and other places in Copenhagen like the Botanical Gardens, open air markets etc. in the city and the nearby suburbs. Many of these activities are free. I think it is a good chance for the asylum seekers to inter-act with the Danes and understand the culture.

Furthermore, Copenhagen has many churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious institutions that have services in many languages. Asylum seekers are able to attend services in languages they under-stand and can meet others there. It is unlikely that other smaller towns have so many options for religion.

Thank you.OmarAsylum seeker

dear anne la cour,Thank you very much for the “Open Letter” you have forwarded me through New Times.

I share your opinion that the school is an important meeting place for asylum seekers and that Copenhagen offers asylum seekers and everyone else lots of cultural activities.

I regret that we have to close the school in Copenha-gen, but there are several substantial reasons for the decision which is made:

Among them are financial reasons. For instance the costs connected to transport between the centers and the school.

The new asylum legislation opens up for a new regional set up in the central part of Zealand which will provide new varied opportunities for jobs, educa-tions and accommodations which hopefully will provide new possibilities like contacts with different companies, educational institutions and of course contacts with the Danish people.

There are many nice cities in Denmark, and I am convinced that some of the bigger cities in Zealand will offer asylum seekers a lot of new possibilities which they will enjoy.

I hope that there will be other possibilities of visit-ing Copenhagen and Red Cross share the opinion that asylum seekers should be able to visit friends and family members across the country.

All the bestAnne

dear omar,

page 6 | issue # 86 | JuNe 2013 | New times

hard Work PaysMeet Grace a 32-year-old former asylum seeker from Zimbabwe, a wonderful mother to her children and a very successful woman with a full time job. She is now very important to the Danish society. But to achieve this, she had to work hard and keep the coals of her dream burning.

❚ By: Nakiganda

Grace was working as a Human Rights defender in Zimbabwe with a organisation for women where she was advocating for the freedom of speech and equal opportunity rights of women.

In December 2007 it was winter time when she went to Sandholm after being perse-cuted in her country because she publicly demonstrated for human rights. She was arrested (it was not the first time she was persecuted, that was her 4th time to be in prison) and this time she was pregnant.

escaPing to denmarkIt was very hard for her to leave her country and her family for good because she loves her father so much. But her hus-band told her to not cry because if she cries, people will be sus-picious that they are running away.

But after suffering all the traumatisation, persecution and stigma, she managed to get herself and her family political asylum within only six months.

She advises that, its very impor-tant to present all your docu-ments to the immigration ser-vice in order to make the pro-cess easier. That is what she has done and it has worked for her; being honest.

most challenging Part The day she lost her newborn baby while living in an asylum center was the most challeng-ing part in her life in Sandholm. She became more stressed, depressed and traumatised; by then she was always visiting a psychologist and taking tablets for a living.

Additionally, living in a camp where she had to share a toilet with many different people in the center Avnstrup was new to her. Asylum life was more to deal with than she was expect-ing. She left all that she had in her country, especially her beloved father with whom she was so close. But in all this she cannot forget the good recep-tion she had in Avnstrup from the Red Cross and nurses who played a very big role to change her mind, even though she was

taking trauma medicine to get to sleep.

Work hard“It’s mainly about working hard, showing people you’re serious about it, stretching yourself and learning. I am not wearing a label that says “refugee” even though I was recognised as a refugee in Denmark.” It is very important to see yourself as an important person and not feel uncomfortable because of where you came from or why you left. And what you need to focus on is to work hard to become more important to your community .

educationGrace has worked and studied very hard. When you compare Grace to those born here in Denmark, they are almost the same. She speaks fluent Danish and she managed to enter a program for Social and Health Work because her dream is to become a nurse where she helps sick people. She has become an active and recognized member in her community where she

lives and cooperates with Danish people and neighbours.

She advised that keeping yourself closed off doesn’t take you anywhere. You have to be active, work hard, and take pride in your education. It is your life. Act like someone who is important to the nation and you will show your neighbors that you were and still are an important person. that where you came from, you were a very important person.

future dream She dreams that one day she will go back home to Zimba-bwe. She had intended to do this: to go to the Immigration service, give them back all her paperwork, and to go back to her native country forever. Once she actually packed her suitcase in order to go back home and took it with her to the psycholo-gist for counseling. She could not imagine that the rest of her life would be in Denmark. How-ever she was advised to unpack her suitcase, to accept that here is her country and she has to live a life that moves forward.

She will be finishing her edu-cation with Social and Health Work very soon. Already she is working a full time job with social work and is very happy because she is very respected and feels very important in her community.

Grace had a dream of becom-ing a nurse and finally her dream has become true. She will be finishing her nursing course any time. Nursing is a profession within the health-care sector focused on the care of individuals, families and communities so they may attain, maintain, recover opti-mal health and quality of life.

“Act like someone who is important ,” says Grace Photo: Robin El-Tanany

New times | JuNe 2013 | issue # 86 | page 7

marked an imPortant day in the danish asylum system: a

A map of the voting on the new asylum agreement in Parliament the 25th of April 2013

25t

h o

f A

pril

the

new Asylum Agreementasylum seekers in denmark.

Was Passed in the danish Parliament, changing the conditions for

in this issue We have dedicated our theme to this agreement and Will give an overvieW of the content of the neW agreement.

What is good? What could have been better? We have talked With the Politicians behind the neW legislation. We have intervieWed activists, interest grouPs and asylum seekers about the neW laW.

whAt does it meAn?

page 8 | issue # 86 | JuNe 2013 | New times

With the new asylum agreement several things have been changed. We have listed the most important here. ❚ By: makmoud, Yolanda,Sonny and Robin

shorter Waiting timeaccommodate the extra staff.

restructuring of systemThere has also been a restruc-turing of the processing system which should fasten the pro-cessing time even more. The agreement minimize the role of the police so they will now just be taking care of fingerprints, photos and the issuing of the white ID card. A job that is done in one day. Before the police

was also responsible of identi-fying the asylum seekers and their travel routes, which can be a lengthy process. Now that job is in the hands of the Immi-gration Service, who is also in charge of the rest of the case processing.

According to head of depart-ment in the Immigration Ser-vice, Pernille Brinch, the ambi-tion is to settle 25 cases per day in average.

With the new agreement asylum seekers are now being given the possibility of taking an educa-tion that involves paid praktik, like carpenter, smith and these types of manual jobs which have paid apprenticeship with a company as part of its education.

Paid praktik (internship)

You need to cooperate to benefit from most of the new possibilities in the new agreement. In other words you need to sign a document stat-ing that you will cooperate with the authorities about your case and - if rejected - cooperate with your return to your home country.

demand of cooperation

Rejected asylum seekers (who have received their final rejection by the court) will now be send to new departure centers instead of living together with other asylum seekers whose cases are still in process. Dis-pensation from this transfer is pos-sible for certain groups. For instance families with children.

It is the politicians’ hope that dif-ferent activities in the departure centers will make more rejected asylum seekers leave Denmark vol-untarily. For instance the departure centers can offer the asylum seekers information about the possibilities of repatriation and about possible financial support schemes.

At the moment there are about 1.500 rejected asylum seekers in Denmark (21st of January 2013) out of a total of around 6.400.

The whereabouts of the new departure centers were not known by the time of the deadline of this magazine.

departure centers

Day1On the first day of arrival (weekends not included) Fingerprints, photo and white ID card at the police. You will also be given the time for your first interview with the Immigration Service which will take place 3-5 days after arrival at Sandholm.

Day 3-5First interview. Your identity and travel route will be determined to find out whether your application is to be processed in Denmark or another country.

Normal ProcedureIf your application has been acknowledged as an asylum case under the normal procedure. Most cases are.

DublinIf you have travelled through one of the signatory states of the Dublin Regulation (EU, Norway and Iceland) you will need to go back to this country

OtherIf your case needs to follow the manifestly unfounded procedure, the expedited version of the manifestly unfounded procedure or if you are a minor.

The new asylum agreement will cut down the average wait-ing time for the asylum seek-ers by 50% in 2013 compared with the numbers from the end of 2012. That is the ambi-tion of the legislators who have put an extra 15 million DKR into the bureaucracy handling the asylum cases, hiring more staff. A physical evidence of the expansion is the extra building being put up in Sandholm to

quick overvieW of the neW asylum agreement

New times | JuNe 2013 | issue # 86 | page 9

move out of the asylum centerUnder certain circumstances it is now possible to live out-side the asylum center. You are allowed to apply for hous-ing outside the asylum center six months after you have handed over your application for asylum. You need to be in phase 2 or 3 and cooperate with the authorities. Only exception from the need to cooperate is for families with small children. If the asylum center and Immi-gration Service approve they can move out after 12 months from their final rejection even though they do not cooperate.

Be aware that you cannot choose freely which municipal-ity you want to move to. Each municipality has a quota of refugees that it is housing, and some municipalities have used that quota already.

stay With friends/familyOne of the easiest ways of moving out of the center is to have family or friends who

already live in Denmark and move in with them. You will still receive pocket money, health care and education from your asylum center.

Apply using the form IN3 “Ansøgning om privat indkvar-tering hos venner eller familie”.

stay With your sPouseYou can also move in with your spouse if he or she already lives in Denmark. In this case you will not receive any pocket money or health care as your spouse needs to be able to take care of you. You will still be offered education and activa-tion programmes through your asylum center.

Apply using the form IN2 “Ansøgning om privat indkvar-tering hos ægtefælle”.

stay in your oWn housingIf you can finance your own housing and costs of living you can move out of the center. You will in this case not receive

pocket money, but will still have access to the health care, education and activation pro-grammes that are offered at your asylum center.

Apply using the form IN1 “Ansøgning om tilladelse til at flytte i egenfinansieret bolig”.

If your asylum center deems that your general situation will benefit from an individual housing programme - if you for instance are a family with chil-dren or are single with health or personal problems, you can make an application together with your asylum center asking for your own housing. If the application is approved, you will still receive pocket money and be offered health care treat-ment, education and activation programmes in your asylum center.

aPProval neededWhatever the kind of housing you find, you need to fill out an application, which the Immi-

gration Service will assess and then, hopefully, approve. The applications are called either IN1, IN2 or IN3 and can be found on www.nyidanmark.dk or you can get them from your asylum center.

WorkYou are allowed to start work-ing after six months from hand-ing over your application for asylum, but only if you are in phase 2 and 3 and cooperate with the authorities.

taxYou will pay 8% + 30% in tax of your salary, and the amount of money you make will be deducted from your pocket money. You will also pay rent for your room at the asylum center (ask your asylum center how much).

aPProval neededIf you find a job, you and your employer need to fill out an application, which the Immi-gration Service will assess and then, hopefully, approve. The application is called IN6 “Ansøgning om godkendelse af arbejde” and can be found on www.nyidanmark.dk.

no job for criminalsCriminal asylum seekers who have been convicted and given a prison sentence or expelled

by a judge are not allowed to work. Neither are people whose asylum application is processed according to the manifestly unfounded procedure (ÅGH), nor asylum seekers under 18 years (The Immigration Service can in some cases make excep-tions to the age limit).

if negative rePlyIn case the verdict of your case is negative and you are told by the authorities to leave Den-mark, you can continue work-ing if you cooperate with the authorities about going back.

Day 20-30For most asylum seekers the second interview will be between 20-30 days from their day of arrival .

Stay updated on jobs and news on www.newtimes.dk

update:

page 10 | issue # 86 | JuNe 2013 | New times

the danish red crossHead of Asylum Department, Anne La Cour“First of all we are pleased with the overall perspective of the agreement, namely that there is a focus on building up the com-petences of the asylum seekers. For instance the possibility of learning Danish which is useful regardless of a positive or nega-tive decision on their asylum application.

Further Red Cross finds it important that there is a clear focus on families with children and the importance of securing them a full and decent life while they are waiting for the result of their asylum application. Another crucial step is that asylum seekers are now allowed to work after six months stay in Denmark. We know that it will not be so easy to find a job, but it is a very important signal the government is sending by intro-ducing this new possibility.

Another important part of the new legislation is that the asylum seekers who cooperate with the authorities are allowed

to live outside the centers after six months. Even though Red Cross staff is doing their utmost to secure an active and digni-fied daily life, we know from our many years of experience that it is important not to stay too long in a center. Some asylum seekers prefer to live in centers close to the services provided by the Red Cross. Others prefer to move out. The new legisla-tion opens for this possibility, and we will support the asylum seekers in finding new kinds of accommodations. It could either be with families and friends or more private in apartments or rented rooms.

Finally we find it very impor-tant that the reception center is turned into a center which is only for the newcomers. As it is now the reception center Sandholm is a mix of new-comers, former criminals and people on so called “tolerated stay”. It makes the situation and the living conditions very dif-

ficult for many. In a reception centre focusing on newcomers Red Cross can prioritize activi-ties designed for them.

Are there any parts of the agreement that you are critical about?

Red Cross is reluctant to the

idea of a deportation centre. Asylum seekers who have been rejected are in a vulnerable sit-uation and often emotionally affected.

This may create tensions. We prefer that rejected asylum seekers can stay at ordinary

centers or in private accom-modation until they leave the country.

Further Red Cross have argued that the so called “Moti-vations measures” ( reporting to the police, reduction in financial support and detention) should be removed. All experiences and reports show that these meas-ures do not have any effect. In the new legislation these meas-ures still exists and that worries Red Cross.”

asylum seekers:Hamidullah Kawoon :From Afghanistan. 26 years. Has been in Denmark five months. “I think that the possibility to work helps me to get absorbed into society, so that I could show my abilities and be an active and useful person in society. I think that is also the aim of the Danish government for setting this law.”

Dara Makari :From Iran, Sanandaj (Kurdish). 37 years. In phase 3 (rejected).

“The new asylum agreement does not make a dif-ference. I came here for democracy and freedom - even though I’ve come to believe there is none of that here. I did not come because of work and money. I think there are more chances of getting a job in developing countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan etc, unlike a developed country like Denmark.”

EdenFrom Eritrea, 26 years.

“This law is like giving the asylum seekers a spoon for an empty plate. As an idea, the new law is very good. It allows a normal, dignified life in which we can earn money and pay our expenses rebuilding our confidence to make us feel useful and capable. But the problem is how to find a job? Without connections or family living in Denmark to help, it is very difficult.”

reactions on the neW asylum laW

New times | JuNe 2013 | issue # 86 | page 11

danish refugee councilHead of Asylum Department, Eva Singer“We believe that it is a positive step in the right direction to allow asylum-seekers to lead as normal lives as possible. This includes both the possibility to live among Danish families and also the opportunity to find a job to support yourself and thereby maintain a greater degree of human dignity. We also find it positive, that there is a general agreement that it is better to promote voluntary return of rejected asylum-seek-ers rather than using force. Two important elements of this is to extend the period in which the asylum-seeker can return vol-untarily after the final rejection and to promote more independ-ent counseling than the police can provide

Are there any parts of the

agreement that you are critical about?

In line with the above, we would have liked to see that

the period in which the asylum-seeker can decide to return vol-untarily to his/her home coun-try was extended even further to 30 days. We would also have preferred that the assistance given to rejected asylum-seek-ers to return home had been increased.“

the tramPoline house“The Trampoline House is pleased with the improved pos-sibility for asylum seekers to live, work and educate them-selves outside the asylum cent-ers. But unfortunately we see a tendency in the practical imple-mentation of the law, which will isolate asylum seekers fur-ther from society, contrary to

the original intent. This hap-pens due restrictions on where asylum seekers are allowed to live, restrictions on who will get work permits, and the con-tinuation and reinforcement of a system of remotely located Asylum Centres.”

Culture house for asylum seekers

Want to Work!

Where to find a job?Some web pages offer helpAfter being allowed to work, many asylum seekers are now asking themselves where to find a job. It is difficult when you do not know Danish and do not have any connections.

Of course the job centers in the asylum centers will be one of the best places to start, but the internet can also help. Typing “job in Denmark” in the google search bar makes a lot of hits, but not all of them are usable for non-Danish speak-ing people looking for a job. We have put together some of the best web pages we have found.

www.newtodenmark.dk seems to be the best place to

start. They have filed many different web pages listing

job opportunities and it has a lot of great information about

the Danish labour market as well.

www.seasonalwork.dk is an interesting web page for asylum seek-ers looking for jobs. The seasonal work industry already has many foreigners in it’s work force and the limited working season may fit well for many asylum seekers who will only be working as asylum seekers for a short period (until they are granted asylum or until they leave Denmark because of a rejection)

www.workindenmark.dk was listing more than 800 different jobs when we checked it. There are many different types. From maid to engineer. Most of them demand a higher education though.

page 12 | issue # 86 | JuNe 2013 | New times

red-green alliance: a steP in the right directionNew Times met with political advisor for the Red-Green Alli-ance, Niels Rohleder, for an insight in the battles lost and won in the political process up to the final asylum agreement

❚ By Robin el-tanany, makmoud and Neger (photo)

The Red-Green Alliance has for many years been one of the most outspoken parties call-ing for reform in the asylum system. Now they have made a deal with the government pull-ing, as they say, things in the right direction.

Niels Rohleder, the political advisor on asylum issues in the party, has been deeply involved in the negotiations concerning the new asylum agreement. We met him for a talk about the new agreement.

What parts of the agreement is the Red-Green Alliance most sat-isfied with?

First of all we think that the new asylum agreement con-tributes to a change in the way we officially speak about asylum seekers. Asylum seekers are with this new agreement not considered a problem to be put away on the countryside in some remote center. This agree-ment acknowledges asylum seekers as a resource to our soci-ety. As people who can take part in our life, and live with Danish neighbors and have Danish col-leagues.

We are also very happy for the extra 15 million DKR that has been allocated the Immi-gration Service, the Refugees Appeals Board and the Minis-try of Justice for shortening the processing time. The goal is to cut down the waiting time by 50% by the end of year 2013.

If your party had full majority in Parliament, how different would the agreement look like?

Well, we would like to inte-grate more asylum seekers in the Danish society. Now there is a clear separation, that makes asylum seekers isolated. They often stay way out on the coun-tryside at the end of some dust road. We would like asylum seekers to use the existing facil-ities - like school, kindergarten, nurseries - that are already in the society. That would help the feeling of isolation.

We would like to make it easier for asylum seekers to live with relatives and friends, like they do in Sweden. In this asylum agreement we are open-ing up the possibility for this, but we were not able to change

the system that puts a limit for the number of asylum seekers going to each municipality. As it is now each municipality has a quota for its yearly intake of asylum seekers.

We also think that the chil-dren of asylum seekers would benefit more by going to Danish schools instead of inter-nal schools in the centers.

The new agreement introduces exit asylum centers designed only to house rejected asylum seekers. What do you think of that?

You can discuss the concept, which does not originate from us. The idea is that you divide the function of the centers: A reception center for the newly arrived, where people will stay for two-four weeks. An accom-modation center or specialized centers for vulnerable groups for people to stay while their case is in progress. And then exit centers for rejected asylum seekers, where people will be helped with their preparation for returning. This will obvi-ously not be a very pleasant place to stay, and we are con-cerned about the concentration of problems and frustration that there will be in such a place. We will evaluate these exit centers in the time to come and will be able to adjust.

There is a demand for total cooperation in the new agree-ment for asylum seekers to be able to live outside the centers and to be able to work. Right now people from especially Iran and Afghanistan are being returned against their will. What do you think of that?

We are looking very critically on the forced deportations. Also on the voluntary returns. They are often not voluntary, but the result of big pressure. Of course you have some people coming with no well founded reason for being granted asylum. Like the Romas from Serbia. Then it is right to say no and deport

people. But we are worried when people from Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq are having their appli-cations turned down, because we open our TV-sets every even-ing and see the slaughter, the war and the torture going on in these countries. It is diffi-cult for us to understand why so many asylum seekers from those countries are having their applications turned down.

What is the final verdict of the agreement?

This agreement could have been better. But after ten years of right wing rule in this coun-try, where the policy towards asylum seekers was very much dictated by the Danish Peo-ple’s Party, we had a chance to make some progress and take some steps in the right direc-tion. This agreement is such a step. We would have liked to go further on many issues, but we hope this will turn out to be an agreement that will give asylum seekers a better life in Denmark. Regardless if they are allowed refuge in Denmark or will have to leave the country again. But we will follow it very critically in the years to come and ask questions about the consequences.

Listen to the full interview on our webpage.

“we hope this will turn out to be an agreement that will give asylum seekers a better life in Den-mark”

they made the laW

New times | JuNe 2013 | issue # 86 | page 13

socialist PeoPle’s Party (sf)Member of Parliament, Karina Lorentzen

❚ By Nakiganda, Robin el-tanany and sonny (photo)

“This agreement brings new possibilities and rights for the asylum seekers. It brings more activities and better conditions for the children. The former government did not have an interest in this at all.

I am especially happy that we have cut down the waiting time for moving out of the cent-ers for rejected families with children. It is not good for a child to stay for years in an asylum center.

It is important that most asylum seekers now are allowed to work. It is very important for every human being to be engaged in something mean-ingful. And a job is that for a lot of people. Even though the job situation is not the best these times, the change will hopefully

the social democratic PartyMember of Parliament, Trine Bramsen

❚ By Robin el-tanany

“The old system was break-ing people down - especially the children. This agreement is building people up. It is improv-ing the living conditions for the asylum seekers, and most importantly for the families with children.

We know that it is of huge importance for people to get a decision about their case as soon as possible, which is why we have allocated a big amount of money to speed up the asylum process.

This agreement is also focus-ing on the importance of educa-tion and we have increased the amount of money going to edu-cation in the asylum system. We have made it easier for people to complete an education.

I think the demand for coop-eration is a good improvement, because the asylum seekers now have an incentive to coop-erate with the authorities. If they do not cooperate most of them will not be able to live

and work outside the centers. Before, there was no real dif-ference between cooperating or not cooperating. There is now.

The creation of the departure centers is also good logic. You should not mix rejected asylum seekers with asylum seekers who have their case in process. If the authorities find out that you do not live up to the crite-rias for asylum, you need to go back. If you do not, you take up space in the system that another asylum seeker - who might live up to those criterias - could have used.”

Chairman of: ❚ The Legal Affairs Committee

Member of: ❚ The Immigration and Integration

Affairs Committee ❚ The Social Affairs Committee ❚ The Gender Equality Committee ❚ The Naturalization Committee ❚ The Committee concerning the

intelligence services

karina lorentzen

make the asylum seekers feel less marginalized in the Danish society.

We also have a focus on more activities to the asylum seekers in the asylum centers. That is also very important.

The creation of departure centers is a better solution than the old system. Here we will gather staff with expertise that will help asylum seekers to return to their home countries in a more qualified way. Asylum seekers can get courses directed towards the challenges they face and they will have access to persons who know the exact conditions in the country they are returning to. This will help people to be able to build their new lives. “

Chairman of: ❚ The Immigration and Integration

Affairs

Member of: ❚ The Business, Growth and Export

Committee ❚ The European Affairs Committee ❚ The Research, Innovation and Fur-

ther Education Committee ❚ The Defence Committee ❚ The Naturalization Committee ❚ The Gender Equality Committee

trine bramsen

page 14 | issue # 86 | JuNe 2013 | New times

a day in life in center avnstruPOur photographer Sonny brought a camera back home to his center in asylum center Avnstrup to document a day of life.

I have seen some parents lose their capabilities of taking care of their children after staying in the asylum system for a long time. Being a father myself, It’s great to see that this father hasn’t lost it.

Children are the best to overcome the stress. It seems to me they are the hap-piest in the centre. They often play and laugh here on their favourite place in the center.

New times | JuNe 2013 | issue # 86 | page 15

Normally the common kitchen is over crowded between 6 and 8 pm. So some people like this Afghan guy start cooking early. I took this picture at 4 pm.

This woman from Uganda gave birth to a small angel called Adriana on 30th April, in Roskilde hospital. Adriana’s father is from India. They are good friends and our children play together in the asylum centre. I paid them a visit when Adriana was 18 hours old.

This man didn’t run when he saw me coming with the camera (many do). He is from Syria, and he often sits here in front of the main entrance of the centre, shar-ing his experiences with others.

These guys are from Somalia. The Somali community is one of the big-gest in Avnstrup.

page 16 | issue # 86 | JuNe 2013 | New times

vox PoPby Rohit & Rana

Aykal miya, 25, Burma1. certainly, i feel isolated in the center, because it is just out of main society, located in remote areas and entirely cut off many basic things. 2. i have school in copenhagen and i try to attend all my classes, and participate in sports activities in the center. 3. i think new asylum law is really good and it will help the people living in asylum centers to cope with the feeling of isolation.

mohammad raza, 35, pakistan1. sure, i feel isolated in the center because it is away from the main society, there is a lack of transport and insufficient access to internet and other facilities. 2. there is not much to do in the asylum centers. sometimes i spend a little time play-ing volleyball. 3. yes, i think new asylum law can be helpful for keeping people busy for some reasonable things.

team neW times Went to the red cross school for asylum seekers in coPenhagen and asked:

1. do you feel isolated in your asylum center?2. What do you do, to prevent the feeling of isolation?3. according to new asylum law, people can live and work outside the center

now. do you think it can help the feeling of isolation among asylum seekers?

dara, 29, syria1. i am really a victim of isolation as i have been waiting for the decision on my case for a very long time. it is so unrea-sonably and i am sitting in my room all the time, thinking about my future. 2. there is nothing for me to do in the center except sitting down and wait like a dummy. 3. the new asylum law might be good, but it is not a permanent solution for peo-ple like me.

1I am an asylum seeker and my case is in process, but during this period of stay in

Denmark I have met the person whom I want to get married with and live with, and I got to know asylum seekers are not allowed to get married. What is the solu-tion for people like me? What rights related to people like me would help?

1Meeting the person you want to marry and live with is wonderful, but regret-

fully also a bit complicated when you are an asylum seeker in Denmark. In Denmark a person needs to have a legal stay in order to enter into marriage, so as an asylum seeker you are not allowed to get married. But in ‘very special circumstances’ per-mission to marry can be granted. ‘Very special circumstances’ can be if an asylum seeker has been here for a long time – about 3 years – and hereby have estab-lished very close links to the partner. Usually you will need to have been together as a couple for between 1 and 1½ years. ‘Very

special circumstances’ can also be that you and your partner have or are expecting a child together or if you are seriously ill. You can ask for permission in the municipality (commune) where you or your partner live.

2I am a pregnant asylum seeker, what will happen to my baby once I deliver her?

Does she have any rights here in Denmark? Or may they suggest me to do abortion (if its legal in Denmark)?

2When you deliver your baby she will have the same rights as you have. If you

get a residence permit so will she, if your asylum case is rejected and you have to leave Denmark so will she. Unless you or your baby is somehow at risk no one will suggest abortion. Abortion is legal in Denmark and is your freedom of choice until the 12th week of pregnancy. You can have abortion at a later time if there are special circumstances and a special permission will then be

required. If you are considering abortion I hope that you have people close to you to talk to, maybe staff at the asylum center can be of assistance to you.

3 There is a strange formu-lation in the law about asylum given on humani-

tarian grounds. It says that you can apply for this if you suffer from serious mental or physical illness or are handicapped. My question is: How handicapped do you need to be, to be considered applicable for the humanitarian residence?

3 Getting a residence permit on humanitarian grounds in Denmark is very diffi-

cult. You have to suffer from a very serious physical or mental illness. Even if you suffer from a very serious physical or mental illness humanitarian residence permit will be denied if you can get treatment in your country of origin. Even if treatment is very expensive humanitarian residence permit will usually be denied. The Ministry of Justice

mentions AIDS, terminal cancer or psychoses e.g. Schizophrenia as illnesses that can lead to a humanitarian residence permit. A person who suffers from a serious handicap, which due to harsh conditions in the country of origin is expected to get worse in case of return, might also be eligible for residence permit on humanitarian grounds. Families with children can be eligible for residence permit on humanitar-ian grounds if the parents due to bad health are not able to take care of their children.

ask a laWyer do you hAve A question? write to:

New Times,Red Cross HouseRosenørnsallé 31, 4th floor1970 Frederiksberg

or email us at newtimesdk@gmail.com

Please feel free to ask your questions anonymously.

We sent your questions to the lawyers at the Danish Refugee Council. Here are their replies.

you cAn Also contAct:

Dansk FlygtningehjælpLegal Counseling UnitAsylum DepartmentBorgergade 10Postbox 531002 København K

www.drc.dkEmail: advice@drc.dk

Free Legal Counseling for asylum seekers every Wednesdayfrom 10:00 - 13:00 You need to present your questions in Danish or English