Thursday 14 June 2012

Africa: HRW Denounces Israel's New Migrants' Law Targeting Africans



Addis Ababa — Human Rights Watch has urged Israeli's government to refrain from enforcing a controversial migration law, arguing that the new bill violates international laws on migrants.
If put to effect, the new law will allow Israeli authorities to detain migrants without charge for up to three years and African migrants most of them from South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea will be the prime victims.
In a statement it released on Sunday the New York-based rights group said that the newly revised 'Anti-Infiltration' law denies asylum seekers rights of protections in violation to global refugee convention.
According to HRW, the new Infiltration Law treats all irregular border-crossers as "infiltrators."
The group urged the Israeli parliament to immediately amend the law and refrain from enforcing it.
"Israeli officials are not only adding rhetorical fuel to the xenophobic fire, but they now have a new law that punishes refugees in violation of international law," said Bill Frelick, Refugee Program director at Human Rights Watch.
"The law should be amended immediately, and not enforced until necessary revisions are made."
The rights watch dog alleged that Israeli government officials have recently made violent statements against the African migrant population that have contributed to a racially-motivated attacks against African nationals including fire bombings and a brutal deadly Arson attack against Eritrean migrants Read more

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