Denmark campaign against asylum seekers highlight in DR documentary

COPENHAGEN — Earlier this week, the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) aired a documentary entitled “Fleeing from Denmark” about the Danish government sending threatening letters to Syrian refugee children under the age of 15 to persuade them to voluntarily leave Denmark to avoid the risk of deportation or detention.

The documentary presents stories of Syrian children residing in Denmark who have been targeted by a government campaign against asylum seekers.

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor expressed its deep concern about the Danish government’s campaign against asylum seekers, noting that Denmark is the first European country to decide to expel Syrian refugees.

Denmark has classified Syria as a safe country for return, in contradiction to the United Nations and European Union, causing thousands of Syrian refugees to be stripped of residency permits and the right to work since 2019. However, the repatriation process has not yet begun.

The Euro-Med Monitor called on the Danish government to comply with international and European law and respect and guarantee the right to seek asylum and the principle of non-refoulement.