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Issue of the day: Disappointed migrants turn back
Seeking new home: Migrants arrive at a refugee reception center in Tornio, Finland, on Friday
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Seeking new home: Migrants arrive at a refugee reception center in Tornio, Finland, on Friday. Finland, whose Lapland steppe forms the EUâs northernmost border, expects 25,000 to 30,000 asylum applications this year, compared to 3,600 in 2014.(AFP/Lehtikuva/Panu Pohjola) (AFP)
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span class="inline inline-center">Seeking new home: Migrants arrive at a refugee reception center in Tornio, Finland, on Friday. Finland, whose Lapland steppe forms the EU's northernmost border, expects 25,000 to 30,000 asylum applications this year, compared to 3,600 in 2014.(AFP/Lehtikuva/Panu Pohjola)
Sept. 26, Online
Hundreds of predominantly Iraqi migrants who have traveled through Europe to reach Finland are turning back, saying they don't want to stay in the sparsely populated country on Europe's northern frontier because it's too cold and boring.
Migrants have in recent weeks been crossing back into Sweden at the Haparanda-Tornio border just an hour's drive south of the Arctic Circle, and Finnish authorities have seen a rise in the number of canceled asylum applications.
'You can tell the world I hate Finland. It's too cold, there's no tea, no restaurants, no bars, nobody on the streets, only cars,' Muhammed, 22, told AFP in Tornio, as the mercury struggled to inch above 10°C on a recent blustery grey day.
Your comments:
Actually I do have some sympathy with the migrants' point of view, having once spent a long weekend from Friday to Monday in Helsinki. One thing there was plenty of was (expensive) alcohol. But that was about it!
But why would migrants go all the way through Sweden aiming for Finland, which is a stunningly cold place? Once in Sweden, why not just stop there and join all the other Middle Eastern immigrants already in residence?
Terry McAsee
I guess at that stage some of them thought that beggars couldn't be choosers? The whole story is a little on the bizarre side and as someone who thinks nations like Turkey and Saudi Arabia should be forced to deal with this human wave that they've played an exceptionally large part in creating, it kind of smacks a little of anti refugee propaganda.
Slopdash
Under EU law, the migrants must register in the first EU country they enter. Hungary does not want them, other countries refuse to accept them and other countries only want Christian immigrants.
The migrants have no options; either take what is offered or get the boot. In other words, go back to where you came from. Europe is not a holiday camp for migrants to pick and choose where they want to live rent free, with housing, food, education and so forth provided for them. They should be grateful that any country in Europe accepts them.
Paul
We may have inadvertently have found a new means to stop the blood lust. Put hot heads in a very cold climate. I believe Antarctica has lots of open space, which may smooth mental thinking.
Joko
Most importantly, I think this shows just how truly one-dimensional some of these people are. Surrounded by some of nature's most spectacular scenery and all the excitement of a new culture and life, all they seem to aspire to is sitting in dingy cafes.
What possible contribution could such people make toward their new adopted society?
Devanagari
I saw one Syrian refugee on television stating that if he can't get asylum in Germany he wants to go back to Syria, which proves that these are not people fleeing for their safety, just shopping for a softer life.
KH
Because they see a better life, due to the kind of movies they watch. They don't realize that it can be a very tough life in the West if you don't have money, skills, family, etc.
Talking with third world people in America once, none of them liked living there. They were only there to get enough money from their menial jobs to go home and buy a taxi or open a food stall in Egypt, Indonesia, Peru or wherever they came from.
Arabs can't get fake citizenship due to the various dialects spoken in the Middle East. European immigration authorities could easily identify them by hiring qualified interpreters. Well at least that's what my Arab friend told me once.
PH
The EU has made a big mistake by allowing family reunions, allowing immigrants to stay after their contracts are fulfilled, etc.
One thing most non-EU countries do well is only allowing those who can contribute into a nation. In other words: no contract, no entry to the country, contract over, back home.
Not talking about real refugees here, just those looking for a fortune.
K. Pusaka
I just wonder why Saudi Arabia and any other super-rich Gulf countries don't want to open their doors to help those fellow brothers and sisters who are now in desperate need of coming in.
Why do those super-rich countries, whose populations share similar sect of religion and ethnicity with the refugees, stubbornly seal their own borders and strictly forbid those unlucky brothers or sisters to sneak in?
These super-rich countries have everything to share with those refugees; they have money, they have vast land that no one wants to live in, they have the same religion, the same God, the same culture and even the same style of cooking and eating. It's perfect. Why doesn't it happen?
Are these wealthy people scared by their own brothers and sisters? They are afraid of what? Same blood, same religion, same pot to cook a meal in, so why be afraid?
Tito
