What happened
Institutet för mänskliga rättigheter directs harsh criticism at Migrationsverket's reception and return centers in a report from late August. The report shows that individuals and families live with severe overcrowding, a lack of privacy, and poor security. A resident with a family tells Sveriges Radio P4 Malmöhus that the center feels like a prison without locks. Migrationsverket states that the agency is now working to improve conditions at the accommodations.
Our analysis
Those in power readily speak of order and dignity. Yet people seeking protection are forced to live under conditions that rob them of basic security. When the state crowds families with children behind fences and removes their privacy, it is no coincidence. It is a deliberate political course where the goal seems to be to make life as difficult as possible.
Who wins from this policy? The anti-immigration forces that thrive on portraying asylum seekers and future new Swedes as a threat. By creating an institutional misery, politicians can point to the chaos and demand even harsher measures. The price is paid by the people forced to live in insecurity.
Sverige can afford a humane reception. Offering safety and a door to close behind oneself is not a luxury, but a minimum requirement in a state governed by the rule of law.
Explained
Institutet för mänskliga rättigheter is an independent government agency tasked with reviewing how Sverige complies with international rules on human rights.