ÖVP and FPÖ Criticize European Court of Human Rights

While the FPÖ accuses Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) of a "asylum PR show" with which he has failed, ÖVP General Secretary Nico Marchetti defends the minister. In their criticism of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the black and blue parties show unity.

FPÖ and ÖVP attack European Court of Human Rights

"The ECHR is turning into a protective power for foreign criminals, while the safety of the Austrian population is being trampled on," said Schnedlitz. For many years, they have warned "against this absurd ECHR jurisprudence, which practically negates the right to security of our own population and places the rights of criminal illegal immigrants who abuse asylum law at the top." He criticized that "a government and an interior minister simply submit to this" - this is "an act of helplessness and negligent disinterest in enforcing the interests of their own population."

Marchetti, on the other hand, called the ECHR decision "another indication that the court is now miles away from the asylum realities in the member states." And: "Deportations of criminals will happen - regardless of whether the ECHR comes to its senses or whether we have to take the path of an authentic interpretation of the ECHR." This would dictate to the court how certain articles of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) are to be interpreted - however, this requires the agreement of the individual member states. The convention is "not an instrument devised by the signatory states for the permanent care of serious criminals from around the world," Marchetti said. "The ECHR was rather created for vulnerable people who actually need help."

European Court of Human Rights seeks information from Austria

In the specific case, it concerns the deportation of a Syrian convicted of commercial theft, robbery, and suppression of documents, who has repeatedly gone into hiding and whose parents and siblings live in his home country. He himself claims to have fled Syria in 2022 solely because of the war and fears for his life there. The ECHR is demanding further information from Austria on the case - among other things because a man recently deported to Syria could no longer be reached. The temporary deportation halt is valid until at least September 25.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.