French rights group shines light on violence against asylum seekers

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – A major French human rights group on Sunday put violence against asylum seekers in the spotlight.

Telling how asylum seekers generally try to survive under harsh conditions in streets and camps, Utopia 56 argued that they are often subjected to insults, intimidation, collective humiliation, and physical violence, which leads to life-long traumas.

A statement added that most victims of the violence keep silent as they are afraid of the “vengeance” of the state institutions which are meant to protect them.

The group also accused law enforcement agencies of using systematic violence to intimidate victims as well as rights groups, including itself, and activists.

“We call on all citizens and state agents, witnesses or victims, to document, oppose and denounce these practices. This violence that the government refuses to recognize must stop immediately,” it said.