logo
Seeking asylum: Is Tunisia a 'safe country of origin?'

Seeking asylum: Is Tunisia a 'safe country of origin?'

Time of India24-04-2025

Over the weekend,
Chaima Issa
, a Tunisian writer and human rights activist, was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
The daughter of a former political prisoner, Issa has been imprisoned in Tunisia since 2023 and is accused of "conspiracy against state security."
She was not alone. Her sentencing came as part of a mass trial of prominent opposition figures in Tunisia last Friday, including politicians, diplomats, lawyers and civil society activists. All had spoken out against Tunisian President Kais Saied and were sentenced to between 13 and 66 years in prison. Some, like Issa, are in jail in Tunisia, while others have fled the country.
"The Tunisian government has been using arbitrary detention and politically motivated prosecutions to intimidate, punish, and silence critics," the international advocacy group Human Rights Watch explained.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Invest $200 in Amazon without buying stocks to earn a second salary
Marketsall
Undo
"The verdict is a travesty of justice and illustrates the authorities' complete disregard for Tunisia's international human rights obligations and the rule of law," the global human rights organization Amnesty International added.
European Union: Tunisia is 'safe'
Just three days earlier, the European Union's (EU) executive body, the European Commission, seemed to come to a totally different conclusion about the state of law in Tunisia.
The EU's new Pact on Migration and Asylum is meant to go into effect June 2026, but the European Commission wanted to move forward with some elements of it earlier, in order to help member states process asylum claims faster. One of those elements is an EU-wide list of "safe countries of origin," which includes Kosovo, Bangladesh, Colombia, India, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.
A "
safe country of origin
" is a country where people are generally considered safe and therefore should not require asylum in the European Union.
According to the European Commission's explanation, part of the reason it considers Tunisia safe is because, "the [Tunisian] constitution provides that the judiciary is an independent function, exercised by judges over whom there is no authority other than the law."
"If it wasn't so tragic, you might think the timing was ironic," Rasmus Alenius Boserup, director of Copenhagen-based advocacy organization EuroMed Rights, told DW, referring to how the heavily-criticized mass trial and the EU designation both happened last week.
There are many human rights violations in Tunisia, Alenius Boserup added. "The judiciary, the political opposition, journalists, human rights defenders and activists of all kinds have been being targeted there for three to four years now," he said. "And Egypt is even worse."
Egypt has around 60,000 political prisoners, and neither the political nor judicial system can be considered free and fair, he explained.
"So, if we're just designating countries like that as 'safe' for the sake of more expedient ways of handling asylum requests, it just doesn't make sense," Alenius Boserup argued.
Potential solution?
The EU itself says a mandatory EU-wide list of "safe countries of origin," or SCOs for short, should speed up the processing of asylum applications. That's because its assumed most applications from SCOs will be unsuccessful.
"Under the new regulation, applications [from SCOs] must be examined in an accelerated examination procedure and completed within a maximum of three months," the EU has stated.
EU countries could also choose to use so-called "border procedures" on irregular migrants from SCOs — that's basically when a person is simply refused entry at the border.
Faster processing times mean EU authorities could then concentrate on asylum applications with a better chance of asylum being granted.
Additionally, many member countries already have their own SCO lists. This can encourage "asylum-seekers to apply for asylum in host countries where the chances of success are higher," a May 2024 EU briefing on the topic explained. A unified EU list would prevent that.
The European Commission's proposal to fast-track an SCO list is yet to be voted on. But if agreed, rights organizations say it could have problematic consequences.
An SCO designation doesn't mean that everyone in the country is safe, or even that all parts of the country are. "Member states [still] need to conduct an individual assessment of each asylum application, … whether a person comes from a safe country of origin or not," the European Commission said this month.
"But this will likely make it more difficult for some asylum seekers to prove they are actually in danger," Alenius Boserup told DW.
Risk of mistakes
"The EU has been trying to be more expedient in its asylum application processing and objectively, that's not a bad ambition. We do need some reform," he conceded. "The problem is if you do it in a way that jeopardizes basic rights. By trying to be faster, the EU might well be undermining the principle it claims to want to defend."
Could a Tunisian opposition politician still successfully claim asylum in Europe, then? Alenius Boserup remains hopeful. "Still, the SCO listing increases the risk they won't," he explained. "We know there is painstakingly detailed work that goes into deciding a credible claim. But when you prioritize expediency over diligence, the risk of a mistake increases."
Rights organizations and lawyers also have serious misgivings about how a country gets on the list of SCOs in the first place.
The European Commission says its SCO list "draws on analysis" from the EU Agency for Asylum, member states, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and EU diplomats, among other sources.
Part of the decision about countries' SCO status is also based on the percentage of rejected European-wide asylum applications a particular country has. For example, only 4% of Tunisians applying for asylum in the EU are successful in their claims.
However as Baya Amouri, a legal researcher at the European University Institute in Italy, wrote for the Refugee Law Initiative in February, because the reasoning behind SCO status is so vague, there's potential for manipulation "based on diplomatic relations or political considerations rather than on a rigorous, objective evaluation of conditions."
"If you're going to use an SCO list, then at least do it correctly," Alenius Boserup agreed. "The criteria used to declare a specific country safe or not safe seems, at best, vague and under-documented." For instance, he continued, Morocco's status as an SCO could be debated. "But it's not even a discussion when you talk about Egypt and Tunisia."
DW asked the European Commission whether, given the long sentences handed out to members of Tunisia's political opposition last Friday, it still agreed with its earlier assessment about the Tunisian justice system being "independent"?
A spokesperson from the Commission did not offer a clear answer. They repeated that not everyone in a SCO is safe, and that member states still have to carry out "individual assessments." Additionally they said, "the Commission will monitor the EU list on a regular basis. Where the Commission finds that there is a significant change for the worse … it can suspend the designation."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

EU India FTA: India, EU close to finalising trade pact as talks near conclusion, Piyush Goyal hints at faster-than-expected finish​​
EU India FTA: India, EU close to finalising trade pact as talks near conclusion, Piyush Goyal hints at faster-than-expected finish​​

Time of India

time33 minutes ago

  • Time of India

EU India FTA: India, EU close to finalising trade pact as talks near conclusion, Piyush Goyal hints at faster-than-expected finish​​

India and the European Union are 'really very near' to concluding their long-pending free trade agreement (FTA), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday, adding that only a few outstanding issues remain unresolved. 'We are very close to finalising a very good, robust free trade agreement with the EU—faster than most people would imagine,' Goyal told reporters in Bern. He said both sides have agreed to respect each other's sensitivities and avoid letting minor irritants derail progress, PTI reported. EU trade pact covers goods, services, investment, and GIs Negotiations between India and the 27-nation EU bloc resumed in June 2022 after an eight-year hiatus, covering 23 policy areas, including trade in goods and services, investment protection, geographical indications (GIs), dispute resolution, IP rights, and sustainability. Talks had originally stalled in 2013 over disagreements on market access and regulatory frameworks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed earlier this year to seal the deal by the end of 2025. EU is India's largest trading partner in goods India's bilateral trade in goods with the EU stood at $137.41 billion in FY24, with exports worth $75.92 billion and imports at $61.48 billion. The EU accounts for 17% of India's total exports and 9% of the EU's exports go to India, underlining the strategic value of the trade relationship. Bilateral services trade was estimated at $51.45 billion in 2023, adding to the growing economic interdependence between the two economies. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now

India for balanced and ambitious FTA with EU, says EAM S Jaishankar
India for balanced and ambitious FTA with EU, says EAM S Jaishankar

Business Standard

time40 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

India for balanced and ambitious FTA with EU, says EAM S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said India supports the goal of concluding an "ambitious and balanced" India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of this year. He also said the India-Pakistan conflict should not be seen from the prism of one between two nation states but as one between 'India and Terroristan'. Currently on a visit to Belgium and Luxembourg, Jaishankar addressed a joint press briefing in Brussels with High Representative of the EU Kaja Kallas. He said that stabilising and de-risking the world economy is a strategic priority for India, which includes building more resilient, and reliable supply chains, building trust and transparency in digital interactions. The external affairs minister said creating stronger technological and economic partnerships between major players has acquired even greater value. 'It is with that perspective that we support the goal of concluding an ambitious and balanced India-EU FTA by the end of the year,' Jaishankar said. He also called for an early meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council. To a question on the recent India-Pakistan conflict, the external affairs minister said the conflict is not between two states per se, 'but actually a response to the threat and to the practise of terrorism'. 'I would urge you to not think of it as India-Pakistan (conflict), but think of it as India-Terroristan.' Jaishankar said that there must be zero tolerance to terrorism in all its forms, and in that context it is also essential that we never yield to nuclear blackmail. He said it is imperative that there is strong international cooperation and understanding on the matter. Jaishankar also met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels and praised her 'strong condemnation' of the Pahalgam attack and solidarity in combating terrorism. During the meeting, Jaishankar and von der Leyen discussed efforts to deepen the India-EU partnership. '(We) Agreed on the potential benefits of stronger cooperation in trade, technology, connectivity and security for both our regions,' Jaishankar posted on X. In her post on X, Von der Leyen said, 'The EU-India strategic partnership is getting stronger.' 'We're working on a Strategic Agenda based on growth with an ambitious FTA, tech & innovation and security & defence. I look forward to adopting it with (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi at our next Summit.' In June 2022, India and the 27-nation bloc resumed negotiations for a comprehensive FTA, an investment protection agreement and a pact on Geographical Indications after a gap of over eight years. The negotiations stalled in 2013 due to differences over the level of opening up of the markets. On February 28, the Indian Prime Minister and European Commission chief agreed to seal the much-awaited free trade deal by the end of this year. Jaishankar also called on Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever and King Philippe of Belgium. In another post on X, the external affairs minister said it was 'good to meet' David McAllister, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, Sandro Gozi, Chair of the Delegation to EU-UK Parliamentary Assembly, and Greek parliamentarian Nikos Papandreou. During his week-long tour of Europe, Jaishankar will also hold talks with leaders of the European Union and France to boost bilateral ties and reaffirm India's policy of zero-tolerance against terrorism. In an interview to Politico on Monday, Jaishankar said that India's fighter aircraft and missiles had inflicted far more extensive damage on the Pakistani Air Force than vice versa, forcing Pakistan to sue for peace. 'As far I'm concerned, how effective the Rafale was or frankly, how effective other systems were -- to me the proof of the pudding are the destroyed and disabled airfields on the Pakistani side,' he said. 'The fighting stopped on the 10th for one reason and one reason only, which was that on the 10th morning, we hit these eight Pakistani, the main eight Pakistani airfields and disabled them,' he said, adding that images are available in Google showing runways and those hangars which have taken the hit.

FTA negotiations: European Union relents on raw material supply clause
FTA negotiations: European Union relents on raw material supply clause

Business Standard

time43 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

FTA negotiations: European Union relents on raw material supply clause

Bloc earlier wanted India to commit to uninterrupted supply Major geopolitical events like the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have heightened global interest in securing energy and raw material supplies Asit Ranjan Mishra New Delhi Listen to This Article India has prevailed upon the European Union (EU) to set aside negotiations on the chapter on 'energy and raw material' under the proposed free-trade agreement (FTA) being discussed by the two sides. The EU had unilaterally included the chapter, which would have required India to commit to an uninterrupted supply of raw materials — such as petroleum products, chemicals, cotton, iron and steel, copper, and other critical metals — without imposing export restrictions. 'It had been agreed ahead of the round that discussions would be put aside for the time being (on the energy and raw material chapter),' said the

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store