- Refugee Council calls for a halt to deportation to Venezuela
Given the challenging political situation in Venezuela, the Saxon Refugee Council is calling for a halt to deportations to the South American country. The rejection of asylum applications while the political crisis in Venezuela intensifies is incomprehensible, spokesperson Dave Schmidtke explained. He called for a new assessment of the security situation in the country. Rejecting asylum applications as obviously unfounded ignores the reality there. The organization therefore demands residence permits for those affected.
According to the organization, a young single woman from Rodewisch (Vogtland district) was deported to Caracas on Sunday night, despite having filed a lawsuit against the decision and an upcoming court date. However, those affected currently have no legal protection and can be deported at any time, it was reported. The Association of Venezuelans in Saxony (Venezolanos en Sajonia) also criticized this step: "It is completely inhumane to deport a Venezuelan woman in this critical time, where everyone who flees the country and protests against the regime is labeled a traitor to the homeland."
The latest presidential election in Venezuela has been shrouded in allegations of fraud. While the loyalist electoral authority declared incumbent President Nicolás Maduro the winner after the July 28 election, the opposition accuses the government of election fraud and claims victory for their candidate Edmundo González Urrutia.
Many people demonstrated against what they believe was a manipulated election. The state responded forcefully. According to the UN, minors were also arrested. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry for Venezuela reported this week that more than 100 children and youth were among the at least 1,260 people arrested. At least 23 people died in connection with the protests.
Other countries should consider offering asylum to Venezuelan refugees, given the human rights violations and unsafe conditions in the country. The deportation of vulnerable individuals, such as young women, during such a critical period is a clear violation of their basic human rights.
