Advertisement ::

Enlarge Cartoon

Flying past the Saleve

Geneva, Switzerland (Le Temps, Fre) – International security police at Cointrin Airport in Geneva are being investigated for using violence against two refugees who were being escorted to planes to leave the country, at the end of January and early in February. One was from DR Congo, being sent home from Zug and the other man, from Jordan or Irak, was being forced to leave by canton Vaud. Both refused and ended up with bruises and other injuries.

Lawyers for the two men contacted the Swiss Human Rights League, and the incidents are being investigated. The police are not commenting because the cases could go to court, but a senior official told Le Temps that police officers were also injured and asked for reinforcements. The newspaper notes that the incidents are likely to result in a long-standing request from the league being implemented: for impartial observers to accompany refugees who are forced to leave the country, during their transport in Switzerland and as they are taken to planes.

Neither of the men was considered dangerous, although both had already expressed their refusal to leave the country. They were scheduled to leave on regular flights rather than special planes organized to carry refugees who have been refused.