Asylum debate continues: no free pass for Afghan women

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The fate of Afghan women in Switzerland remains controversial. During the winter session, the National Council referred a motion by SVP councilor Gregor Rutz (51) to the Political State Commission (SPK) for preliminary consultation. The initiative demands that the new practice regarding asylum applications from Afghan women be reversed.

SP federal councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (60) caused a lot of commotion. Last summer, the federal government changed its asylum practices for women and girls from Afghanistan. So far, they have largely been accepted only provisionally. As a rule, they are now recognized as refugees, receive asylum and therefore a residence permit. That’s how it is done in the EU.

Don’t fundamentally change the practice

As a result of the change in practice, a significant increase in the number of applications from Afghan nationals who have been living in Switzerland for a long time (about 700) was recorded in September. The number of such requests decreased in October (approximately 300) and increased again in November (approximately 500). If the SVP has his way, this should be over as quickly as possible.

The provisional advisory committee of the National Council does not want to go that far. She does not deny the dire situation of women in Afghanistan as victims of discriminatory legislation and religiously motivated persecution. That is why she does not demand that the new practice be fundamentally reversed, writes SPK chairman Greta Gysin (49, Greens) in her report published on Friday. However, the committee narrowly rejected the motion by 13 votes in favor and 12 against.

Applications must be examined individually

But the SPK also wants to tighten the screws. She wants to ensure that applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis and that spouses joining her are subject to security checks. There should be no automaticity. At the same time, Afghan women who have remained in third countries should be assessed based on the persecution situation in this country. The SPK unanimously submitted a corresponding committee proposal.

The Federal Administrative Court ruled on Afghan women in the autumn. The court has upheld a complaint by two Afghan women against their deportation. Switzerland must grant them asylum. The court thus supported the SEM’s new asylum practice with regard to Afghan women. According to the SVP, the court did not make a fundamental decision, but ruled on an individual case.

Source:Blick