Asylum seekers are human traffickers, claim

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General News

By Rob Hyde Following widespread protest at the deportation of the “abbey asylum seekers”, Vienna state prosecution has announced that 3 are human traffickers. The prosecution says that Azhar I., Ali S. and Sabtain S., whose surnames have been withheld for legal reasons, managed to smuggle around 1,000 people from Pakistan to Austria, France and […]

Demonstration to remain in front of Votiv Kirche

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General News

Following lack of progress made by talks between representatives of the Church, the charity Caritas and refugee activists at the Votiv Kirche in Vienna, protesters are set to stay camped outside the building. On Tuesday evening Caritas spokesman Klaus Schwertner said: “The church is a place of refuge.” Previously, however, pastor of the Votive Church […]

More North Africans seek asylum in Austria

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Politics

The number of requests for political asylum in Austria by people from North Africa has increased in the wake of the unrest in the region, new figures show. Official statistics presented today (Tues) reveal that 23 Libyans asked for asylum in Austria between January and June of this year. Only two refugees from the civil […]

Asylum seekers found on Austrian ship

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General News

An Austrian-flagged sailing boat has been seized in southern Italy when coastal guards discovered more than two dozen refugees on board. Twenty-five asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq were found on the vessel which sailed under Austrian flag. The refugees were taken to a local centre for asylum seekers, officials in the city of […]

Fake Gaddafi shocks refugees

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General News

An Austrian artist has terrified asylum seekers by posing as Muammar al-Gaddafi.Bernhard D., an award-winning theatre actor, donned a fake sand-coloured uniform, a black wig and large sunglasses to resemble the Libyan dictator when he marched through the streets of Lampedusa. Tens of thousands of people from North Africa have arrived on the Italian island […]

Deported Kosovar family may return to Austria

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General News

A Kosovar father and his twin daughters who were controversially deported earlier this month have been offered the opportunity to return to Austria.The interior ministry announced today (Mon) that Daniela, Dorentinya and Augustin Komani will be able to come back on a “humanitarian visa” permit.The eight-year-olds and their dad were put on a flight to […]

Fekter ‘alarmed’ by soaring asylum seeker figures

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Politics

People’s Party (ÖVP) Interior Minister Maria Fekter said she was “alarmed” by rising asylum application figures.The minister said today (Mon) around 800 foreigners have asked for asylum in Austria every month between January and July, adding that the number of monthly applications could reach 1,300 at the end of August.Fekter claimed this development was an […]