FRANCE: Asylum and immigration
01 January 1991
FRANCE: Asylum and immigration
artdoc August=1994
Pasqua declares against Algerian refugees
The French interior minister, Charles Pasqua, has said that
France would refuse to accept any more refugees fleeing Algeria
in the event of the fundamentalist Islamic Salvation Front (FIS)
taking power. In an interview with Le Figaro, Pasqua said that
the number of asylum-requests made to French authorities by
Algerians had climbed from 104 in 1992 to a little over 1,000
last year (Weekly Journal 21.4.94).
His comments presumably do not apply either to the thousands of
French nationals who have been urged by the government to leave
Algeria or the estimated 25,000 Algerians with dual nationality
who have automatic rights of residence in France. The authorities
are said to be discreetly preparing camps on disused military
bases in anticipation of a rush. Three Algerians have gone before
a special anti-terrorist magistrate after being caught in
possession of arms and explosives (Independent 10.4.94).
Algerians deported after student protest
Two Algerian students arrested in student protests about plans
to cut young people's wages have been deported on the
instructions of interior minister Pasqua (Guardian 5.4.94).
Immigration police on France-UK channel link
The trains linking France and England via the Channel Tunnel are
to have secret cell like compartments to transport illegal
immigrants and refugees, according to the Voice. The trains will
be serviced by British and continental immigration officials who
will work their way through all 18 carriages during the journey.
Immigrant welfare groups in the UK fear that French police will
be armed (Voice 10.4.94).
Marriage laws under scrutiny
Simone Foreman, a Paris lawyer, says that since the introduction
of France's new immigration and marriage laws in August 1993, at
least three or four people are being deported each week before
marriage ceremonies take place. He cites the case of a 24-year-
old French woman who sought to marry a 25-year-old Algerian. When
the couple reported to the police, Mr. Khelifa was held because
his residence permit had expired and was subsequently expelled.
The French consulate in Oran subsequently refused to carry out
the marriage ceremony. Following publicity, and the intervention
of the Foreign Office, the couple's case was resolved.
The new marriage laws, say campaigners, are also being applied
retrospectively. Previously, marriage to a French citizen
guaranteed the right of residence for a foreigner from the first
day. Under the new law, the foreign partner only gains such
protection after 12 months. The National Council of Secular
Family Association has documented 200 cases where they say
couples who married before the new laws came into operation are
being denied residence permits (Independent 14.4.94).
Police, prisons and urban unrest
More unrest after killing of North-African youth
North-African youths in Avignon demonstrated and attempted to set
fire to a community centre after police declared that there was
no apparent motive for the murder of 17-year-old Mohamed Tajra
on the Tramontane housing estate. Mohamed Tajra was shot in the
head by a single large calibre bullet. There were no witnesses
to the murder, but the police had received an anonymous phone
call prior to discovering MohamedØs body. Youths believe the
murder was a `racist act', but CID officers claim that `there is
nothing to shed light on this murder' (Liberation 7.3.94).
Rioting after court verdict
Youths smashed windows, burnt cars, and severely injured a
policeman in Saint Florentin after a court gave a restaurant
owner a mere 6-year prison sentence for the murder of 20-year-old
Said Mhanni, and the crippling of his 17-year-old brother, who
is now a paraplegic. In March 1990, restaurant owner, Jacky Bara,
had fired 15 shots at the two youths for no other reason than
they were `irritating him' (Li