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Germany: Fatal asylum policy

01 January 1997

The latest up-date of deaths of refugees in Germany by the Antiracist Initiative (ARI) in Berlin shows the rather grim reality of German (and European) policy of exclusion and containment against refugees. From 1993 to 1997, 70 refugees died while they were trying to cross the border to Germany, 45 of them alone died at Germany's eastern border. However, given the freezing winter temperatures and the danger of drowning in the Oder or Neisse border rivers, the figure may well be higher. ARI is aware of at least 45 refugees who have committed suicide in protest against their deportation, 33 refugees tried to kill themselves and survived seriously injured. Since 1993, 32 refugees died and 151 were injured in racist attacks.

New immigration legislation

Immigrants have again become the focus of a general election campaign: "Foreigners threaten the internal security and the welfare of the Germans". The latest restrictive measures impose visa requirements for under-16s from Turkey and oblige under-16 year old children of immigrants to apply for residence permits. The resident requirement affects 600,000-800,000 children already resident in Germany. As work permits depend on the holding of residence permits, the introduction of visa requirements for children of immigrant origin can be seen as a racist instrument to regulate the labour market.

Off Limits, no 17, p34; Guardian, 16.1.97.