Syrian seeking to immigrate to Bulgaria dies in detention

Hasun Albaadzh, who hailed from Syria, had come to Bulgaria seeking to immigrate in 2006. He was kept in Bulgaria's most well-known detention center, Busmantsi Detention Center, located near the capital of Sofia, after his application was rejected in November 2006. Albaadzh died on October 6 after asking for medical assistance say his cell-mates. Bulgarian human rights groups are now demanding an investigation. Civil 21, one of those human rights groups, said Albaadzhs' three-year detention was a violation of Bulgaria's laws. Bulgarian officials say Albaadzh was being detained prior to deportation. The estimated 200 migrants who are currently being detained by Bulgaria staged a strike last week, asking for their human rights to be upheld. Migrant detainees have reported they do not get fed properly and they have no support, allowed only brief visits once a week. Bulgaria is a member of NATO and the European Union, although it is a relatively new member. Bulgarian officials claim that all long-held detainees, except two, had been released this past summer. Last year the US Department of State said

"... detention in Bulgaria serves to circumvent proper asylum procedure by allowing for the treatment of asylum seekers as ‘illegal immigrants facing deportation’ while their applications are considered. This practice should raise some flags of alarm."

Amnesty International issued a report this past summer that highlights these concerns. However, the world's attention on Bulgaria's detention of asylum seekers, said Themba Lewis, serves to

"... dramatically overshadow[ing] topics such as police brutality and discrimination against the minority Roma population."

Lewis is the Project Manager at the Legal Clinic for Refugees and Immigrants in Sofia. At least 200 Bulgarian Romas have asked Finland for asylum, although EU membership means that they will likely not have their request granted. One town in Bulgaria undertook measures earlier this summer to restrict the movement of Roma people who travel around with horses and carts. The town's mayor said that the Roma were stealing "everything metal," hence the need to restrict their movement. The mayor also accused the Roma of destroying crops, devastating agricultural land and disturbing the town residents. Last month, authorities attempted to bulldoze an "illegal" Roma settlement. The Roma protested the destruction of their homes, claiming they had lived there for 50 years. A news report states that there were violent exchanges between the police and the Roma during the protest. The Roma were reportedly given alternative housing with low rents. According to a United Nations report, the majority of Bulgarian Roma are unemployed, with figures ranging from 80% to 90% unemployment levels. The Roma have been the subject of persecution for centuries. When Bulgaria was seeking admission into the European Union, the country went to great lengths to comply with EU human rights criteria, which gained them acceptance into the EU, in spite of Bulgaria's continuing segregation and mistreatement of Romas. To address EU concerns about the Roma, Bulgaria established an 'integration program.' There are over 300,000 Roma in Bulgaria. Bulgaria has long had a diplomatic relationship with China. This past week, China and Bulgaria signed contracts worth $1.26 billion for Bulgaria, making China a premier trade partner. Metal-hungry China just made a deal with Guinea worth $7 billion for a joint venutre in a Bauxite mine last week. The deal was forged between the two countries when Guineans were protesting the deaths and rapes of protesters in late September at the hands of the Guinean army. Guinea is facing world scrutiny over the violent events of September 28.