On Oct. 25, Danish police fired tear gas on activists and made at least 43 arrests at the “Shut Down the Camp!” demonstration demanding the closure of the Sandholm asylum camp.
Under the U.N. Refugee Convention of 1951, Denmark is obliged to consider all applications for asylum. Asylum seekers who choose not to return to their country of origin if their applications are denied are confined to camps like Sandholm, a former military barracks that houses about 500 people.
About 2,000 asylum seekers are housed in camps throughout Denmark, where they are completely excluded from Danish society with access to little or no education and no employment. According to the Danish government, allowing participation in society would render moot its system of asylum.
“It is a great grief to see our country reacting with inhumanity towards people who are completely depending on our help and care, and I cannot have it so, that is why I am here today,” said Vicar Anne Vad at the protest.
