Exodus of Iraqis spilling into Europe

[Barrett808]

Exodus of Iraqis spilling into Europe
By KARL RITTER, Associated Press Writer

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have fled the unrelenting violence in their homeland since the U.S. invasion in 2003 — a mass exodus directed primarily to neighboring Arab countries.

But a growing tide of Iraqis is seeking shelter and a new start in Europe, where Sweden is emerging as the destination of choice due to relatively lax immigration laws.

The number of Iraqis applying for asylum in the 25 countries of the European Union rose by nearly 50 percent to 7,300 in the first six months of the year, bucking a downward trend in the total number of asylum-seekers, U.N. statistics show.

One-third of them came to Sweden, a country of 9 million people with an Iraqi immigrant community of more than 70,000 which has so far resisted clampdowns on immigration seen elsewhere in the EU.

The latest immigration figures in Sweden show the surge has intensified in recent months. By October, nearly 5,000 Iraqis had sought asylum in the Scandinavian country this year — more than double the total in 2005.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061024/ap_on_re_mi_ea/europe_fleeing_iraq

[Megahurtz]

1. I certainly can't blame them.

How horrible that they are forced to do this.

[rodeodance]

2. sweden even gave many of them a second chance. looky:

After Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany were the most popular destinations for Iraqi immigrants this year, but both have adopted stricter policies that make it harder to get residence permits.

Sweden has gone the other way. Last year, Parliament decided to give a second chance to asylum-seekers who were hiding in the country after their applications were rejected. Of 30,000 people who reapplied, about 60 percent were approved, including 5,300 Iraqis.

In addition, the immigration law was changed this year to widen the definition of people considered in need of protection. Now, the general turmoil in their home country is considered a reason to grant protection.

[goforit]

3. God bless them. I really feel bad for what we have done to them.

This has been a horrific couple of years.

[leftchick]

4. will the iraqi puppets quit issuing passports and visas?

that is what I envision. :(