statewatch

statewatch, 2 days ago to Bulgaria

1/🧵#EU: Criteria for assessing when someone is labelled a "potential terrorist or violent extremist threat" has been finalised by member states–which may facilitate the monitoring, #surveillance and restriction of political activities and #activists.

They say the goal of the new criteria “is to promote entering such individuals into the European databases and information systems"

🖇 See more: https://buff.ly/3QNgz2z

statewatch, 11 days ago to Bulgaria

#EU: #Finland & #Italy want more military involvement in #migration control 👀

They are calling for “innovative ways” to address migration & migrant smuggling...such as increased cooperation between the EU and #NATO, and more #deportations

🖇⤵️
https://buff.ly/44wTsPe

statewatch, 12 days ago to Bulgaria

Want to know more about the #EU's policing and #migration databases?

Learn more with our interactive map, detailing what data is held, who has access, and how the information can be used. 👀

https://buff.ly/3Ikoakz

statewatch, 13 days ago to uk

#UK: Figures show a high rate of children being strip-searched by #police

"Data from 41 out of 43 police forces shows that 3,122 searches were carried out on under 18s in the year to March 2023." The data also demonstrates a clear racial bias.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/apr/21/thousands-of-children-strip-searched-by-police-in-england-and-wales-last-year

statewatch, 1 month ago to Cyprus

#Cyprus: Asylum applications for Syrians have been 'suspended'

This will see #asylum seekers confined to reception camps. According to government sources, "Those who choose to leave those facilities will automatically forfeit any kind of benefit and will not be allowed to work"

This decision is ostensibly due to increased arrivals, with Cyprus having recorded over 2,000 from Jan-Mar this year, compared to 78 in this period last year.

Read more here:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/14/cyprus-suspends-asylum-applications-for-syrians-as-arrivals-rise

statewatch, 1 month ago to Bulgaria

#EU & #UK: New "action plan" on migrant smuggling offers no insight into or intention to address causes

Instead, the aim is only to control migration flows both into and within the EU by enhancing police cooperation with more surveillance & arrests

For example, one of the 8 goals lists "harm reduction" as the intent, yet the activity under this heading only works to increase the aerial surveillance of #Frontex

See an overview of these goals & the original plan here:
https://www.statewatch.org/news/2024/april/policing-migration-when-harm-reduction-means-multipurpose-aerial-surveillance/

statewatch, 1 month ago to Bulgaria

The passing of the #MigrationPact shows a clear priority of state interests over human rights.

But as #EU member states and agencies find "solidarity" in border policing, surveillance and violence, civil society must find #solidarity in our resistance.

statewatch, 1 month ago to Netherlands

#Netherlands: NGOs open lawsuit against the Dutch state for #EU-#Turkey migration deal

The Boat Refugee Foundation says the "insecurity and inhuman conditions our organisation witnessed every day in the refugee camp on Lesvos should not have been allowed to take place"

https://bootvluchteling.nl/en/nieuws-en-verhalen/stop-migration-deals-at-the-expense-of-human-lives/

statewatch, 1 month ago to austria

#Austria: Minister pushes #EU to consider repatriations to #Syria & #Afghanistan

Despite widespread agreement that neither country can be considered safe, Gerhard Karner says that the ban on forced returns should be reexamined "in the medium term"

https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/55619/austrian-minister-pushes-eu-to-consider-repatriations-to-syria-and-afghanistan

statewatch, 1 month ago to Germany

#Germany: "We Jews are just arrested; Palestinians are beaten"

Berlin-based lawyer warns that "laws which were originally designed to combat hate speech in Germany are now fast approaching a 'very dangerous restriction of expression'"

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/1/we-jews-are-just-arrested-palestinians-are-beaten-german-protesters

statewatch, 1 month ago to Bulgaria

#EU-funded technologies are being used in the current war in #Gaza.

And long before that, they have been used in the occupation of Palestinian territory and marginalisation of the Palestinian people.

For an overview of this funding, read our article: https://buff.ly/4am1JY4

To read the in-depth analysis published with Informationsstelle Militarisierung (Information Centre on Militarisation, IMI), see here: https://buff.ly/3TLPXAC

statewatch, 1 month ago to uk

#UK: #Visa system forces migrant care workers to stay silent on rape & abuse

They "fear raising concerns... in large part because the existing visa system makes them dependent on their employer for their right to stay and work in the UK"

https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2024-03-11/visa-system-forces-care-workers-to-stay-silent-on-rape-and-abuse/

statewatch, 2 months ago to random

📢 Statewatch is seeking information on #secrecy and security exceptions in asylum and immigration cases

We have launched a questionnaire to hear from affected individuals, lawyers & support groups - available in 8 languages.

🔎 See more & share here:
https://www.statewatch.org/news/2024/march/statewatch-is-seeking-information-on-secrecy-and-security-exceptions-in-asylum-and-immigration-cases/

statewatch, 2 months ago to random

Lithuania notified of case concerning CIA secret detainee programme

"In his case before the European Court Mr Al-Nashiri raises multiple complaints of torture, ill-treatment and unacknowledged detention ...at a secret facility in Lithuania run by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)"

Read the full press release here:
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre-press?i=003-7889889-10974920

statewatch, 2 months ago to random

UK: Secret court hears claims of police surveillance against journalists

"Journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey argue that the use of covert powers by the police to identify their confidential sources represents an attack on press freedom"

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366571333/Secret-court-hears-claims-of-police-surveillance-against-journalists

statewatch, 2 months ago to random

Ireland: Over 1,000 asylum seekers now without accommodation

“It is hard not to conclude that this policy is an attempt to deter people from seeking international protection and that this situation is by choice and not inevitable"

https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/over-1000-asylum-seekers-now-without-accommodation

statewatch, 2 months ago to random

Environmental activism under the EU counter-terror microscope

Official paper lists peaceful but disruptive activists groups under the title “violent left-wing and anarchist extremism”, which could legitimise police surveillance and more

🖇 Read it here:
https://www.statewatch.org/analyses/2024/environmental-activism-under-the-eu-counter-terror-microscope/

statewatch, 2 months ago to random

UK: Law changes will make it harder to hold police to account for illegal data access

The conviction of a police officer for illegal data access underscores problems that will be introduced by changes to UK data protection law

@openrightsgroup
https://www.statewatch.org/news/2024/february/uk-law-changes-will-make-it-harder-to-hold-police-to-account-for-illegal-data-access/

statewatch, 2 months ago to random

Nigerian students who fled war in Ukraine are being told to leave Europe

"Overseas students in Ukraine were granted a two-year stay in the EU when Russia invaded. Now their time is running out"

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/nigeria-students-russia-ukraine-war-netherlands-eu-temporary-protection-directive/

statewatch, 2 months ago to random

UK: Jury convicts Ibrahima Bah:
Statement from Captain Support UK

"Ibrahima’s prosecution and conviction is a violent escalation in the persecution of migrants to ‘Stop the Boats’. Observing the trial has also made it clear to us how anti-black racism pervades the criminal ‘justice’ system in this country."

Read the full statement here:
https://captainsupport.net/jury-convicts-ibrahima-bah-statement-from-captain-support-uk/

statewatch, 2 months ago to random

Poland: Police violate fundamental rights of detained people

Council of Europe anti-torture Committee (CPT) reports on a visit to Poland that "...the delegation received several complaints regarding excessive use of force during apprehension"

Read the full account here:
https://www.coe.int/en/web/cpt/-/council-of-europe-anti-torture-committee-cpt-publishes-report-on-poland

statewatch, 2 months ago to random

UK: Academics call for 'debordering higher education'

The call "highlights the importance of not viewing migration as a policy arena in isolation, making it clear that every change to the visa regime affects us all"

Read more here:
https://migration.bristol.ac.uk/2024/02/20/debordering-higher-education/

statewatch, 2 months ago to random

Erik Prince Calls for U.S. to Colonize Africa and Latin America

The American mercenary says "the U.S. should 'put the imperial hat back on' and take over and directly run huge swaths of the globe"

Read the article by @Schwarz for @TheIntercept
https://theintercept.com/2024/02/10/erik-prince-off-leash-imperialism-colonialism/

statewatch, 2 months ago to random

Deployment of two EU-funded & AI-driven surveillance projects in Italian city found to have violated data protection rules

Violations included an inadequate legal framework & possible repercussions for people's rights

🖇 Full details & documents here:
https://www.statewatch.org/news/https://www.statewatch.org/news/2024/february/italy-trento-council-fined-for-illegal-ai-video-and-audio-surveillance-projects/

statewatch, 3 months ago to random

Greece condemned by European Court of Human Rights for "yet another human rights violation in border management"

The Court also acknowledged how this is part of an EU-wide accountability issue, citing the role of #Frontex

via @verfassungsblog
https://buff.ly/48iK5mz