‘We are saddened by violence’ – Jesuit Refugee Service on migrant protests

The director of the Jesuit Refugee Service, Fr Joseph Cassar, has expressed sadness and regret at the protests of asylum seekers in detention at Safi barracks, but said the conditions inside the closed centre had to be given greater attention.

“We are saddened that police officers and army personnel were hurt in the violence,” Cassar said. “We cannot look at this indifferently.”

Cassar was cautious in pinpointing the reasons for the protest, which are believed to have stemmed from the failed appeals on rejected asylum claims for 271 detainees before their 12-month detention was up, automatically extending their detention now to 18 months. 15 police officers and three soldiers were slightly injured during the riot. One detainee was also slightly injured.

“It seems the asylum seekers in question have grievances they feel are not being addressed or could be addressed better,” Cassar said.

But he pointed to the ever-present conditions inside the Safi compound, as a factor that intensifies any ill-feeling that might be coursing through the migrant community.

“The physical conditions in Warehouse 1 and 2 definitely fall short of the basic,” Cassar said, saying that as many as 270 men are housed in what is essentially a warehouse. 

He cited the stressful psychological conditions that come with fleeing one’s country, due to the threat of war, long-term detention, and the uncertainty associated with seeking asylum status.

“They came here not by design, but because they had to be rescued,” Fr Cassar said, referring to how most migrants aim to reach mainland Europe but often find themselves in difficulty when crossing the Mediterranean sea.

“They come here and then what? This weighs on them a lot… Long-term detention breaks people down and wears down their morale – even when done with the best of intentions.

“I would have collapsed psychologically ages ago if I were in their place,” Cassar said.

During the protest, asylum seekers told journalists that whenever they are sick they are only administrated paracetamol tablets.

Asked about these concerns, Cassar said that medical attention definitely needs to be improved and described this as an ongoing issue.

While he said that there are drugs prescribed other than paracetamol, he said that individuals subjected to intense psychological pressure would have a tendency to think they are receiving inadequate care. “Some people might complain of health issues or feel unwell due to the psychological condition they are subjected to,” Cassar said.

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