Cycling to a Swedish Deportation Centre

Ali Ahmadi in the very front. He has previously walked from Malmö to Stockholm to spread awareness about what's going on in the deportation centres.

Little known to global media and some of the Swedish public is that Åstorp, a small town in the south of Sweden, is home to a government detention centre for illegal immigrants awaiting deportation. In late September, we visited the facility with some activists from Asylstafetten, an organisation that provides assistance to asylum seekers. The group of about 50 had cycled more than 80 kilometres to our destination as a display of solidarity toward the undocumented asylum seekers from various war-torn countries.

Illuminated by the bright autumn afternoon sun, the building looked pretty humane when we arrived. There was no sign of activity from the inside, even as we peered through the reflective windows, all we saw were two empty bunk beds, one metal cabinet, and nothing else. The only clue that the building was used for some sort of purpose was a little sign that displayed the logo of “Immigration Services”. According to some of the activists, there are about 20 detainees in the facility. The deportees have no clue of when they will be flown out, or how long they will be detained in utter isolation, let alone have any inkling of help they can seek.

Singer songwriter Anna Jadéus, performed at the event.

Through one of the two visitors’ phones, we managed to speak to a few detainees from Afghanistan.

“We’re on a hunger strike now, to show that we have the right to decide our own fates. Two of us have been admitted to the hospital, escorted by the police. They don’t even care how we are, really, they just don’t want us to escape,” revealed one of the detainees. Another claimed that, “the staff come once a day, open the doors, just to check if we’re still alive. They don’t ask anything. After that we don’t see anyone else for the rest of the day.” Then, a frail young woman who looked no older than 20 years old and clad in a hijab addressed the crowd with the help of an interpreter. She had come to Sweden to join her husband who she had recently married. Their bliss didn’t last long as he was arrested by immigration officers. Without proper documents, he was sent promptly to this facility, and is now awaiting deportation.

The young woman whose newly-wed husband is in the facility.

“Going back to Afghanistan is not a choice. Our chance of survival is close to zero. Please help us,” she pleaded in despair with the activists as they lowered their heads, unsure of the appropriate course of action to take, and do more than just gathering in crowds and holding speeches.

To the immigration authorities, student activists don’t amount to much of a threat. Their armored trucks can easily drive around human chains and flying banners. Groups like Action Against Deportation and Asylstafetten seldom have the means to affect policy-making on a larger scale, or provide proper legal aid for the deportees.

Abbas Ahmadi tells us about his arduous trip out of Afghanistan.

An active member of the peaceful demonstration is Abbas, a 21-year-old from Afghanistan. He told us his story of how he was smuggled through Europe inside several trucks. He's been hiding every day of his life since he was 15 years old, getting arrested and being accused of being part of the Taliban, getting beaten up to a pulp, and spat on countless times by the police.

“I thought Europe would treat me like a human. But I was wrong,” he muttered under his breath, as he fought his tears back.

Ali with a few other activists listening to some of the speeches.

Sweden, supposedly a safe haven for asylum seekers and refugees, obviously has a dark side as well. And the depressing accounts of all those we met at the event was a testament to parts of the country’s xenophobia.

As the sun began to set, the group made its way to the train station, bringing their bikes on the train, preparing to go back to safe homes and cooked food. There was a feeling of helplessness and selfishness as we left the deportees in the facility, still unaware of their fates.

Previously by Kai and Cesar:

Swedish Police Have Been Keeping a Secret Dossier On Roma People