Norway limits the practice concerning asylum seekers from Iraq

As part of the Government’s measures to limit the amount of asylum seekers to Norway, the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion instructs the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration to change the practice concerning asylum applications from Iraqi citizens. The new practice will be put in effect immediately.

- The practice concerning asylum seekers from certain areas in Iraq, have been more liberal in Norway than in Sweden and Denmark. The Norwegian practice will now change and will be more in line with the practice in Sweden and Denmark, says the Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion, Dag Terje Andersen.

Norway’s refugee and asylum practice is determined by Norwegian authorities. To limit the arrivals of asylum seekers that do not qualify for protection, Norway’s parctice will for all practical reasons be the same as in other comparable countries.

- This instruction is an important follow-up of the Government’s limiting measures towards the increasing amount of asylum seekers, says Minister Andersen.

This will end the practice of granting an asylum seeker protection because he or she originates from a certain area in Iraq. All asylum cases concerning Iraqis will from 1 November 2008 be considered on individual grounds/merits.