Violence and abuse against migrants in Croatia, rights group reports

The Croatian police conducts “systematic, unlawful, and frequently violent pushbacks and collective expulsions” on thousands of migrants attempting to get to Western Europe, said rights group Amnesty International.

In a report published on 13 March 2019, the London-based human rights watchdog accuses European governments of prioritising border control over compliance with international law. The report, titled “Pushed To The Edge: Violence And Abuse Against Refugees And Migrants Along Balkan Route” surveyed migrants in camps in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Nearly all those interviewed told Amnesty International that they were pushed back into Bosnia by Croatian police, and almost one-third described police violence.

“Many described how they were beaten, had their documents destroyed and possessions stolen in what appears to be a systematic and deliberate policy by Croatian authorities designed to deter future attempts to enter the country,” the report said.

The route through Bosnia to Croatia is one of the most popular among migrants attempting to get to Western Europe, especially those originating from Asia and the Middle East.  Transiting through Hungary was no longer an option after Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government erected fences along its border. This means many migrants and asylum seekers, especially those from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, are stranded in Bosnia.

Responding to the report, Croatian interior minister Davor Bzinovic rejected the accusations and insisted that police respect the migrants’ fundamental rights and dignity. He said migrants were allowed to access systems of international protection, if required.

“Republic of Croatia as a member state of the European Union has the task of carrying out the protection of the state border and preventing illegal migration,” Davor Bozinovic wrote in an open letter to head of the EU office of Amnesty International.

TMP – 19/03/2019

Photo caption: Refugees passing in front of the EU entrance sign on the Balkans Route