– It is a family that is in a hopeless situation, and it is completely unrealistic that they can go home again, says bishop in Nord Hålogaland diocese, Olav Øygard. At the end of August, it became clear that the Collin family had yet another refusal to stay in Norway. This was the sixth refusal for the family, who have been in church asylum since 2014. The family says they fear for their lives if they return to Sri Lanka. Both father and daughter say they worked for the Tamil Tigers during the civil war. The Norwegian Immigration Service (UNE) does not believe in church asylum seekers. They believe it is safe for the family to return to their home country. It is difficult to understand for the Collin family. – I do not have words. It’s hard to explain my pain. It hurts to constantly hear from UNE that they don’t believe in us, says Dilani Johnsen Collin. Several have complained about UNE’s decision. Now three bishops in the Norwegian and Catholic churches have joined together and sent a letter to the government with a request to grant asylum on humanitarian grounds. The family has almost lived in a church asylum for eight years. Øygard believes this is an unsustainable situation. – They have not been able to move out. It’s almost like a prison. Living so long in such conditions must be very damaging to the psyche, but going home again is even worse. – I always have a hope that reason will prevail at one point or another, says bishop of Nord Hålogaland diocese, Olav Øygard. Now he hopes the government will intervene. Photo: Eskil Mehren Asking the government for mercy The bishops believe that UNE has not taken into account serious witnesses and international bodies that support the family’s explanation. In addition, they take seriously the fact that it is the same chairman of the tribunal who has decided the case five times without the matter having been brought before the tribunal. – This has happened even though it is quite obvious that the decision is highly questionable, and that it is therefore a system error when the case is decided by the head of the tribunal alone. They believe that there is a need to review UNE’s working method. – We would argue that this family is without legal certainty in Norway. For the bishops, it is clear what must happen. – All human considerations speak in favor of giving the family residence in Norway. We are asking the government to show mercy to some people who need it so badly. UNE believes they have handled the case correctly UNE is clear that their task is to follow the regulations, which they believe they have done in this case. – If you want changes to the regulations, then it is the right way to go to the politicians, says head of unit at UNE, Ingun Marie Halle. She points out that UNE does not take it to mean that there is a particular disagreement about the situation in Sri Lanka, but disputes that the family has strong connections to the Tamil Tigers. Head of unit at UNE, Ingun Marie Halle, believes they have handled the case correctly. Photo: Jorun Vang Halle also believes that the case has received sufficient treatment, despite the fact that it has not been dealt with in a tribunal meeting. – In this case, two different tribunal chairmen have considered that there has been no doubt about the outcome of the case. Although a tribunal meeting has not been held in the case, the case has been the subject of extensive treatment, says Halle. She also points out that the case has gone through several rounds in court, where the conclusion has been that the family does not need extra protection. – If there is a legally binding judgment that a decision is invalid, then UNE as a starting point changes the chairman of the tribunal in the case, but in this case the court has held on several occasions that UNE’s decisions and decisions are valid. The Collin family, from left Dilani, Angela and Collin, have stayed in the library in Finnsnes church for almost eight years. Photo: William Jobling
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Bishops with harsh criticism of UNE in case of church asylum seekers from Sri Lanka – news Troms and Finnmark
