Latest news with #Deniz
Canada News.Net
4 days ago
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
Cliffs of Dover symbolize hope for desperate migrants on French coast
ECAULT BEACH, France: On clear days, the white cliffs of the United Kingdom, are visible from northern France, where men, women, and children gather in desperate determination, hoping to cross the sea and reach what they believe will be a better life. Clutching only what they can carry, they often abandon most belongings to squeeze aboard flimsy inflatable boats launched from the French coast under the cover of darkness. But these hopes are frequently dashed—sometimes quite literally. In one recent incident, captured on video near the French port of Boulogne and obtained by The Associated Press, French police waded into the surf and slashed the migrants' rubber boat with knives. The vessel collapsed rapidly, sending several people, including children, tumbling into the chilly waters. One officer was seen carrying a pepper spray canister; others lunged at the boat with blades, ignoring the cries of "No! No!" from those on board. A woman's anguished wail pierced the air. Some men tried to resist—one flung a shoe, another splashed water—but the boat was quickly deflated, along with the dreams it carried. France's northern coast has long been fortified—first against invading armies, now against waves of migrants trying to leave. Under pressure from the U.K., French authorities are increasingly using aggressive tactics to stop boats before they ever set off. While French officials insist there is no official policy to destroy vessels, recent incidents suggest otherwise. Just four days after the Boulogne episode, the BBC filmed another strikingly similar scene on Écault beach. Again, officers waded into the water and punctured a migrant boat, forcing people out as it deflated. An AP journalist arriving moments later saw distressed individuals—some in life vests—stumbling back up dunes toward a wooded area where dozens had spent the previous night in a makeshift camp, without access to water or sanitation. Around a campfire, exhausted children cried while men sat smoking, talking, and singing songs of longing and loss. In response to questions, the French Interior Ministry said that police are not instructed to systematically slash boats. However, it acknowledged that in the incident filmed by the BBC, the vessel was overloaded and at risk of capsizing. According to the ministry, officers acted to protect the migrants, pulling the boat to shore to "neutralize" it. Yet this hardened approach has been welcomed by the British government, which co-funds France's coastal patrols and wants even more intervention, including in deeper waters. France is reportedly considering that request. But rights groups and police unions warn that such escalation could endanger both migrants and officers. For migrants like Deniz, a Kurdish man who has attempted the crossing four times, the dangers are real—but so is the sense of having no alternative. He dreams of reuniting with his six-year-old daughter, Eden, in the U.K. Denied a short-term visa, Deniz has little hope of a legal route and sees the sea crossing as his only option. He described one thwarted attempt in which a group of 40 people pleaded with a lone officer to let them pass. "He said no," Deniz recalled. "Nobody was going to stop him. We could have tried to stop him, but we didn't want to hurt him or argue. We just let him, and he cut it with a knife." With each deflated boat, hope is punctured—but still, they wait. And when the weather clears and the white cliffs come into view again, so too does the dream of reaching them.
Euronews
05-07-2025
- Euronews
How I find my queer community as a digital nomad
When Deniz* invited a friend back to his hotel room during a trip to Egypt, he expected a relaxed evening. Not a knock on the door from the hotel manager and a security guard, who hurled homophobic abuse at them and forced his guest to leave. 'They threatened to film us and tell the police,' he said. It was a hard realisation: this was not a place where he could be himself safely. These are the kind of unpleasant situations you can encounter when traveling as a queer person. For Deniz, a digital nomad who travels full-time, it hits even harder. Despite having the immense privilege of choosing where to spend their time, of meeting people and cultures from all over the world, LGBTQ+ nomads also deal with the sobering reality that much of the globe - from Malaysia to the US - still harbours varying degrees of hostility toward queer people. It's a conversation that rarely happens in the nomad world - even though queer people make up a significant chunk of the community. According to a study by 13 per cent of digital nomads identify as bisexual, gay, or lesbian. Yet their specific experiences are often left out of the conversation. 'Back in the Closet' 'There are so many simple things that straight people take for granted,' says Julian*, who has been a digital nomad for almost a decade, including three years travelling with his partner. 'Like being able to book a hotel room together, or just hold hands when you walk down the street.' Playing it safe in new countries often brings back unpleasant memories of having to hide his identity during his teenage years in Spain. 'I spent so many years living in shame. And sometimes, travelling makes me feel like I'm back in the closet. It's a very painful feeling.' The biggest challenge for queer nomads isn't visas, time zones or even fighting with dodgy Wifi just before an important call. It's the mental toll of constantly assessing how visible they can safely be, and staying alert to the risk of homophobic violence. Back home, one of the best ways of facing these issues is to find queer community, a group of people and space where you know you can be fully yourself without fear. Creating that kind of safe space is more challenging on the road, but far from impossible. Around the world, queer nomads are finding ways to piece together long-distance, multicultural chosen families. 'Queer people are everywhere' 'Moving around so much has made me realise that queer people are everywhere,' says Sophie Bellamy, a writer who has spent the past eight years as a digital nomad. 'I've met other queers on walking tours, at digital nomad meetups, in coworking spaces, at Pride events, on dating apps… some of those matches have led to solid friendships over the years,' she says. She even met her business partner, Holly Close, while travelling. Together, they founded Good Egg, a web and copywriting studio for women and non-binary business owners. 'A proper queer digital nomad business,' Sophie says. Some encounters happen by chance: a Pride sticker on a hostel door, a conversation during a language exchange. Other times, it takes more effort like asking travel friends for introductions, or reaching out in queer nomad Facebook groups. In true digital nomad style, online spaces have become an important part of the community. Facebook groups like Queer Women Digital Nomads and LGBTQ+ Digital Nomads and Freelancers are a great place to share advice, or commiserate about unpleasant experiences. You can find travel buddies and swap stories. For those looking for romance, Nomad Soulmates is an LGBTQ+-friendly dating app that also runs real-life meetups and online events. There are also real-world destinations known for being safe and welcoming to queer people, places many LGBTQ+ nomads return to again and again. Lisbon, with its beaches, coworking hubs and vibrant nightlife, is a popular option. Another is Guadalajara, Mexico - affectionately nicknamed 'GAYdalajara' - which has a thriving queer community and growing nomad scene. For those just starting out, Sophie recommends choosing a destination like these. 'Somewhere with strong LGBTQ+ rights and an active digital nomad scene,' she adds. Before arriving, she suggests joining local Facebook groups or booking into a coliving space - accommodation designed for remote workers - which can offer 'a soft landing if you're nervous about meeting people.' 'Mostly, I'd say just go for it. It can be scary to start this journey, but it's the best thing I've ever done,' says Sophie. 'The more queers out there in the world, the better.' *Names changed
The Mainichi
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Japan court awards asylum seekers damages over prolonged detention
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A Japanese district court has ordered the state to pay a total of 1.2 million yen ($8,260) in compensation to two asylum seekers, ruling that in some cases their repeated detentions by the country's immigration agency did not take account of their physical and mental conditions. Deniz, a Kurdish man in his 40s with Turkish nationality, and Heydar Safari Diman, an Iranian national in his 50s, sought about 30 million yen in damages, after they were detained and released several times over the space of more than a decade. They filed the lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court in 2022 focusing on their treatment from 2016. The ruling handed down on Tuesday said that on some occasions, they were detained despite deteriorating health conditions, such as a diagnosis of depression. "We cannot say the necessity of detention overrode their physical and mental disadvantages," the court said, ruling that some of their detentions violated the International Covenants on Human Rights and amounted to unjust physical restraint prohibited by Japan's immigration law. The plaintiffs also questioned the immigration law itself, which allows detention without going through a review process such as trials, saying that it infringes the human rights covenants. But the court dismissed their claim on the grounds that their rights to a trial are guaranteed through a lawsuit seeking release. Masako Suzuki, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, underscored the significance of the ruling, telling a press conference that it "clearly acknowledges that there was a violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights in the detention." The Immigration Services Agency has said it will respond "appropriately" after reviewing details of the ruling, since some of its claims were not upheld. According to the complaint, Deniz, who declined to give his surname for fear of retaliation against his family in Turkey, and Safari Diman had both overstayed their visas and were subsequently repeatedly detained by the Immigration Services Agency. From 2016 to 2020, they were detained several times for a total of more than three and a half years each, the complaint said. They have been on provisional releases since the spring of 2020, according to their supporters. Seeking help from the international community, the two had notified a U.N. expert panel on arbitrary detention of their cases, leading the panel to release an opinion in 2020 that found their deprivation of liberty was "arbitrary" and contravened human rights covenants.
Japan Today
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Court awards 2 asylum seekers damages over prolonged detention
A Japanese district court has ordered the state to pay a total of 1.2 million yen in compensation to two asylum seekers, ruling that in some cases their repeated detentions by the country's immigration agency did not take account of their physical and mental conditions. Deniz, a Kurdish man in his 40s with Turkish nationality, and Heydar Safari Diman, an Iranian national in his 50s, sought about 30 million yen in damages, after they were detained and released several times over the space of more than a decade. They filed the lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court in 2022 focusing on their treatment from 2016. The ruling handed down on Tuesday said that on some occasions, they were detained despite deteriorating health conditions, such as a diagnosis of depression. "We cannot say the necessity of detention overrode their physical and mental disadvantages," the court said, ruling that some of their detentions violated the International Covenants on Human Rights and amounted to unjust physical restraint prohibited by Japan's immigration law. The plaintiffs also questioned the immigration law itself, which allows detention without going through a review process such as trials, saying that it infringes the human rights covenants. But the court dismissed their claim on the grounds that their rights to a trial are guaranteed through a lawsuit seeking release. Masako Suzuki, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, underscored the significance of the ruling, telling a press conference that it "clearly acknowledges that there was a violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights in the detention." The Immigration Services Agency has said it will respond "appropriately" after reviewing details of the ruling, since some of its claims were not upheld. According to the complaint, Deniz, who declined to give his surname for fear of retaliation against his family in Turkey, and Safari Diman had both overstayed their visas and were subsequently repeatedly detained by the Immigration Services Agency. From 2016 to 2020, they were detained several times for a total of more than three and a half years each, the complaint said. They have been on provisional releases since the spring of 2020, according to their supporters. Seeking help from the international community, the two had notified a U.N. expert panel on arbitrary detention of their cases, leading the panel to release an opinion in 2020 that found their deprivation of liberty was "arbitrary" and contravened human rights covenants. © KYODO
Kyodo News
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Kyodo News
Japan court awards asylum seekers damages over prolonged detention
KYODO NEWS - 7 hours ago - 20:13 | All, Japan A Japanese district court has ordered the state to pay a total of 1.2 million yen ($8,260) in compensation to two asylum seekers, ruling that in some cases their repeated detentions by the country's immigration agency did not take account of their physical and mental conditions. Deniz, a Kurdish man in his 40s with Turkish nationality, and Heydar Safari Diman, an Iranian national in his 50s, sought about 30 million yen in damages, after they were detained and released several times over the space of more than a decade. They filed the lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court in 2022 focusing on their treatment from 2016. The ruling handed down on Tuesday said that on some occasions, they were detained despite deteriorating health conditions, such as a diagnosis of depression. "We cannot say the necessity of detention overrode their physical and mental disadvantages," the court said, ruling that some of their detentions violated the International Covenants on Human Rights and amounted to unjust physical restraint prohibited by Japan's immigration law. The plaintiffs also questioned the immigration law itself, which allows detention without going through a review process such as trials, saying that it infringes the human rights covenants. But the court dismissed their claim on the grounds that their rights to a trial are guaranteed through a lawsuit seeking release. Masako Suzuki, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, underscored the significance of the ruling, telling a press conference that it "clearly acknowledges that there was a violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights in the detention." The Immigration Services Agency has said it will respond "appropriately" after reviewing details of the ruling, since some of its claims were not upheld. According to the complaint, Deniz, who declined to give his surname for fear of retaliation against his family in Turkey, and Safari Diman had both overstayed their visas and were subsequently repeatedly detained by the Immigration Services Agency. From 2016 to 2020, they were detained several times for a total of more than three and a half years each, the complaint said. They have been on provisional releases since the spring of 2020, according to their supporters. Seeking help from the international community, the two had notified a U.N. expert panel on arbitrary detention of their cases, leading the panel to release an opinion in 2020 that found their deprivation of liberty was "arbitrary" and contravened human rights covenants. Related coverage: FEATURE: Hate speech bringing unwanted focus on Japan's Kurdish community FOCUS: Female Afghan refugees facing legal limbo, deportation in Pakistan No. of foreign residents in Japan hits record high for 3rd year
