The case summarized Hanaa Mohamad Treesh from Syria had to flee again after Denmark withdrew her residence permit. She came to Norway, but was initially refused asylum because of the Dublin cooperation. With the help of Noas and the law firm Wiersholm, she took the case to court. The Oslo District Court gave her permission to apply for asylum in Norway, but the judgment is not legally binding yet. The Immigration Board (UNE) has not decided whether they will appeal the case. If the verdict is upheld, it may help other refugees in similar situations. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Every day, Hanaa Mohamad Treesh goes for a walk in Tingvoll, surrounded by fjords and mountains. Then she goes back to her tiny room at the asylum reception. If she had come to Norway first, she could now have a job and her own place to live. Instead, she took a long detour via Denmark. Hanaa Mohamad Treesh goes for a walk every day to clear her mind. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news Had to flee again Hanaa Mohamad Treesh did like many others from Syria in 2012, fled from war. She traveled with what are called the death boats across the Mediterranean, and even finally up to Denmark in 2014. There she learned Danish, and got a residence permit in the country. But in 2022, Denmark changed its mind. The Danes think it is safe for Treesh to travel back to the area she comes from, Rif Damascus. This practice was strongly criticized by the UN, among others. Response from Denmark’s Ministry of Immigration and Integration refers to a document from 2023 in an email to news. It states, among other things, that since 2019 they have assessed the general conditions in Damascus in Syria as improving to such an extent that there is no risk of abuse in that area. In 2020, this also applies to the province of Rif Damascus. Thus, they write that the conditions in these places do not provide grounds for a residence permit in Denmark. Source: Ministry of Immigration and Integration The announcement came as a shock to Treesh. – My thoughts were completely paralyzed, she says. Hanaa Mohamad Treesh had to flee from her fiancé in Syria. He was later killed. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news Treesh had to flee again. She traveled on to Norway, which, unlike Denmark, does not think it is safe to return to Syria. The problem is that Norway is part of the Dublin cooperation. This means that Treesh will in reality only be able to apply for asylum in one European country. As she had already done in Denmark, and been refused. – I was aware that my case was going to be difficult, she says. She says she is critical of the regime in Syria, and fears for her life if she has to go back. Got help from Noas Noas, an organization for asylum seekers in Norway, believes it is not safe to send Treesh back to Syria. – There is a real risk that Hanaa will be sent on for prosecution. Then Norway is responsible for that. That is why this case is important, says Valentina Soto in Noas. Soto says that as far as they are aware, Denmark and Hungary are the only countries in Europe that believe that certain areas in Syria are safe. – This asylum policy that Denmark pursues has forced her to flee again, she says. Hanaa Mohamad Treesh now lives in an asylum center in Tingvoll. She shares the kitchen and bathroom with seven other women. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news So Noas, in collaboration with the law firm Wiersholm, took the case to court. In court, all parties agreed on one thing. If Treesh had applied for asylum in Norway first, she would have been granted residency. The Norwegian Immigration Service (UNE), which believes that Treesh cannot have his application processed in Norway, says that they do not have the opportunity to be interviewed by news. But the judgment states that they believe that Treesh has already had his asylum application processed in Denmark. Because of the Dublin cooperation, Norway cannot do it again. The judgment also states that they believe there is no reason why she has not had her application properly processed by Denmark. Won in the first round But the district court did not agree with UNE. The judgment also states that even if Denmark formally does not return refugees to Syria, there is no guarantee that Treesh will not be returned. This allows Treesh to process his application for asylum in Norway. But the judgment is still not legally binding. Because UNE can appeal, and there may be a new round in the Court of Appeal. UNE wrote in an e-mail to news that they have not decided on the appeal question yet. Thus, Treesh has to apply even more patience. – I hope my case goes well, and that I get a positive answer. All I want is to start working and pay taxes. Become part of Norwegian society, she says. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news Valentina Soto in Noas says it is difficult to predict how many will come to Norway to seek asylum here. – But the most important thing is that we have a duty to ensure that no one is sent to a place where they risk being persecuted, she says. Published 20.08.2024, at 17.43
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The asylum policy in Denmark sends Hanaa Mohamad Treesh on the run again – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
