Eva bikes
Why do I bike through Europe, once again?
Today it is very difficult for Afghan men to get asylum in Sweden. Despite the promise of the Swedish Migration Agency to reconsider applications since the Taliban’s return to power, refusals are more or less the rule. Many Afghans contact me. Their questions vary but the desperation is constant:
Which country is the best one to flee to? – Which route should I take? – I can’t stand it, I don’t have the force to live anymore! – Please help me! – How is it in England, Brazil, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Italy? (Besides the most common countries France and Germany…)
Many Afghans that leave Sweden flee for the second or third time since they arrived in Europe. Some have even been deported to Afghanistan, and made their way back to Europe. Some have even been sent back to Sweden from France and Germany! Because of the Dublin regulation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin_Regulation), there are today many who are fleeing back and forth within Europe. They become “dublin” in Sweden and “dublin” again in the following country : desperately seeking for a country where they can stay. A country where they can live and work, legally. The dangerous route over the canal to Great Britain does not repel them since there is no other alternative. The refugees go anywhere where there is hope, or at least where they BELIEVE there is hope, of a chance to stay.
This means that today, there are many Afghan citizens speaking fluent Swedish and living in European cities, people who have been trained and that are skilled for jobs lacking in the job market in Sweden, a country they still had to leave – a terrible waste. Even if all humanitarian aspects are put aside, Sweden should at least be able to see the the pure financial consequences of this migration policy. Many of these Swedish Afghans get asylum in France – with the same asylum narrative that led to rejection in Sweden – and can now legally contribute to the French economy.
How is it possible that the EU countries make so radically different decisions regarding Afghan citizens? France considers Afghanistan to be a country at war where it is impossible to live, whereas Sweden means that it is fully possible to return to the country, even as someone who has converted/is an atheist and/or an-LGBT-person – as long as this is not “shown openly” and as long as one doesn’t return to ones hometown.
In order to draw attention to this absurd situation, I will once again go on a bike tour, following the Swedish speaking migrants’ track… I will start in Paris where I finished last autumn’s bike trip. I will head for southern France, and then I will cross the Pyrenee mountains in direction towards Portugal. I will finish my journey in southern Spain. I wish to raise money for LAMSF (Les amis des migrants suédophones en France), the association that I collaborate with and that helps so many of our Swedish Afghans. We estimate that at least 5000 people, most of them being Afghans, have come to France after an asylum refusal in Sweden, the majority of which have obtained asylum in France.
Faludden, Gotland, September 2023
My name is Eva Hållsten, I’m an artist and that lives on the Swedish island of Gotland. I got involved with refugees in 2015, when many of them arrived in Sweden and many Swedes were openheartedly welcoming. The first years we arranged housing, organised activities and helped out with different practical issues. With time, my work has come to be more about traveling and arranging appointments with lawyers and the Migration Agency, giving advice and helping undocumented refugees. I also do consulting for other volunteers.
Support LAMSF (www.lamsf.fr) :
-By going to the web site HelloAsso (tax deduction is possible for French tax payers) : https://www.helloasso.com/associations/lamsf
-By transferring money to LAMSF’s bank account: IBAN FR76 1010 7001 3400 1190 6973 570, BIC BREDFRPPXXX
Eva bikes - Eva cyklar - Eva en vélo 