Copenhagen: Police remove rejected asylum-seekers from church

Copenhagen: Police remove rejected asylum-seekers from church

The police raid sparked violent protests from protesters who had gathered outside the church in order to prevent the operation.  Five protesters were arrested, and will be released soon.  There are conflicting reports regarding the Iraqis in the church.  The police arrested 17 young men.  Though allowed to stay, the women and children left the church and are staying by family and friends.


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Copenhagen Police in riot gear entered the Brorson Church in Copenhagen overnight to remove rejected Iraqi asylum-seekers who have been seeking sanctuary in the church since May this year. Seventeen men were removed from the church.


Women, children and the elderly were allowed to remain.


Demonstrators attempted to prevent a police bus containing the 17 men from leaving the area, resulting in violent scenes during which police used batons and pepper spray to clear the way for the bus to leave.


Some 60 Iraqis, whose applications for asylum have been rejected, have been seeking sanctuary in Brorson's Church since May of this year after Denmark and Iraq signed an agreement under which Iraqi nationals, whose asylum requests had been denied, could be repatriated.


(more)


Source: Politiken, Copenhagen Post (English), Berlingske 1, 2 (Danish)

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