Violent police raid against Iraq fugitives in Copenhagen last night

Posted on | August 13, 2009 | No Comments

Last night, Danish police raided Brorsonkirken (Brorson Church), which has served as shelter for a large group of Iraqis that have been denied political asylum and are awaiting being sent back to Iraq.

The case is highly controversial and has split the country into two groups; those in favor of the repatriation and those – the large majority of the population – who are outraged about the cruelty and inhumanity shown by the Danish authorities in the case.
As a result of this outrage, a large community have mobilized to support the fugitives and to put political pressure on the Danish government to not only change the verdict against the Iraqis, but also to change Danish legislation on how fugitives are handled in general. Current legislation is under heavy pressure from the EU and several international aid organizations, as the laws at many points conflict with basic human rights as set forth in ao. the Geneva Convention.

Last night, just a few hours ago, the police in full combat uniforms entered the church with brute force (using baton and pepper spray to make way through a group of over 500 peaceful laymen activists currently surrounding the church to create a human shield trying to keep the police from getting in). The police took 17 Iraqis with them while pushing aside both Iraqi women, babies and seniors to get to the subjects they wanted to take with them. What awaits these 17 people is now uncertain, but near repatriation seems a very realistic next step.

The main hub of supporters involved in the housing in the church is organizing a peaceful protest march today, Thursday, August 13, at 18.00 hours (6pm) from Brorsons Kirken to the Danish parliament at Christiansborg Castle.

They need help. Here is what we can all do to support them:

• If you have footage of the violent actions last night, please pass it along.
• Help spread the word of the friendly protest march tonight.
• Volunteer to help put up posters and pass around flyers etc.
• Write editorials to dailies and webzines – and blog!
• Participate in the peaceful protest march today

Read more about all the above at the supporter website.

Read some of the many articles in this morning’s news coverage:
Violent clash at the Brorson Church (in Danish)
Eye witness: Police with helmets and shields inside the church (in Danish)

Watch tv-clip of the police beating sitting pacifist students with batons, as they clear the road for the bus containing the detained fugitives:
http://politiken.tv/nyheder/indland/article767190.ece

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