Follow UNHCR's Steps, Greek Immigration Council Against Its Government's Strict Policy Against Immigrants

JAKARTA - The Greek Immigration Council questioned the legal basis for suspending the asylum application set by the government of thousands of Athens cities to stem the spike in the arrival of illegal migrants.

Citing AP, Wednesday, August 27, hundreds of immigrants who had crossed the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa entering Greece have been detained since the suspension of asylum applications was imposed last month.

Various organizations, including UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, the European Council, and 109 non-profit organizations, claim the policy violates international law.

However, the Greek government insists it has helped reduce the number of immigrants.

The Immigration Council said this policy some time ago caused at least four Sudanese asylum seekers detained in Athens to be deported. However, the Court on Monday this week decided to postpone deportation.

Previously, the European Human Rights Court also ordered Greece not to deport the four Sudanese citizens.

UNHCR recorded more than 10,000 asylum seekers arriving in Greece from North Africa since the start of the year, that number more than double the total arrivals of immigrants last year.