International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
Locking up foreigners, deterring refugees: controlling migratory flows in Malta
During the first quarter of 2003, the attention of FIDH was drawn to the situation of asylum-seekers held in detention in Malta. Subsequently this information was confirmed by a number of sources: Amnesty International reports on the return of Eritrean citizens; a report (dated July 2003) by theMaltese Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS Malta) association; information communicated by the European Migreurop network which brings together NGOs and researchers working on the camps for foreigners in Europe; telephone calls between GISTI and asylum seekers detained in a number of centers describing detention conditions, incidents in the detention camps (hunger strikes, attempted escapes, attempted arson) and their concerns about the processing of their asylum applications; and a report by the MAHR (Malta Association of Human Rights), a member organisation of the FIDH.
A mission subsequently took place by FIDH from 21 to 26 February 2004.