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Indefinite detention

April 3, 2012

The Greek government has put forth a proposal that would enable authorities to hold illegal immigrants indefinitely if they posed 'a public health risk.'

https://p.dw.com/p/14WnL
A group of immigrants sits on the ground
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

A proposal from the Greek government announced late Monday night would make it legal for illegal immigrants to be held indefinitely if they are considered a public health risk. The human rights organization Amnesty International harshly criticized the proposal, saying it was "deeply alarming."

"The Greek authorities must withdraw such measures immediately," said Amnesty's Jezerca Tigani, saying they would "only exacerbate the stigmatization of migrants and asylum-seekers in the country."

Under the proposal, which comes days after another Greek plan that would convert 30 old military bases to immigrant detention centers with a capacity for a thousand people each, illegal immigrants could also be held for compulsory testing and treatment for HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

Parliament is scheduled to vote on the measure next week.

The draft legislation says that those immigrants who qualify for detention do so because they have contracted an infectious disease, or because they belong to groups vulnerable to such diseases, like intravenous drug users, persons involved in prostitution or people who reside in conditions that do not meet the elementary standards of hygiene."

Greece is the European Union's busiest hub for illegal immigrants.

mz/mr (dapd, AP)