Somali nationals detained in Swedish detention centers facing deportation have asked the Somali government to intervene in their situation, saying they have been held for a long time and fear being forcibly returned to Somalia.
One of the nationals, Masra Mohamed, said she has been detained in Sweden for almost a year, initially in a cell reserved for people accused of crimes. She said she had applied for asylum from the Swedish government, but when her application was rejected, she demanded that if she was not allowed to stay in the country, she be allowed to return to Somalia.
“I have not committed any crime. If my asylum is denied, take me to my country or release me,” Masra said.
She said she had been in detention and deportation centers for months, and had been interviewed many times, but had yet to receive a clear decision on her situation.
Masra also said she had contacted the Somali embassy, but complained that no solution had been found for her situation. According to her, when she asked the embassy for help, she was told to pay a fee if she wanted her release from the facility to be expedited.
“They told me that if I wanted my detention to be eased, I had to pay a fee,” she said, adding that she could not afford to pay the extra money.
Other Somali women detained in Sweden also said they were in situations where they found it difficult to understand why they were being held and where their situation would end.
One of the women said that the Swedish government once said that Somalia is recognized when people are being deported, but when it comes to documents and identity of citizens, other challenges arise.
“When it comes to deportation, they say Somalia is recognized, but when it comes to identity and documents, they say Somalia is not recognized,” she said.
Meanwhile, a Somali citizen named Sakariya, who said he had lived in Sweden for 15 years, said he was currently detained in Stockholm and feared being forcibly returned to Somalia.
Sakariya said he had five children born in Sweden, and his children had Swedish passports, while his wife had a Swedish passport.
“I have been here for 15 years. I have five children born here, and they have Swedish passports, and my wife has a Swedish passport,” he said.
He said he and other Somalis held in repatriation centers could number up to 50 people, who are detained in Stockholm, other cities and areas outside the major cities.
Sakariya said travel documents were being prepared for some people, warning that forced repatriation could split families living in Sweden.
“I am also scared. They might come and pick me up this week,” he said.
He also leveled accusations at the Somali embassy in Sweden, claiming that documents were prepared for him and others who were to be returned to Somalia without them being directly met or interviewed.
Sakariya said that some of the documents did not have signatures or dates that he considered important for their verification. These allegations are based on his own words, and there has been no official response from the Somali embassy to the allegations in the interview.
He said that the Swedish government had told people that the Somali government had accepted the repatriation of Somali citizens, which led to the preparation of travel documents for them.
Sakariya insisted that the Somali government should pay special attention to those whose children and spouses live in Sweden, saying that forced repatriation could separate families.
“International law does not allow you to be separated from your children,” said Zakaria.
Finally, people in the repatriation centers called on the Somali president, prime minister and government officials to address their concerns, and to talk to the Swedish government.