A week after their arrival on French soil, around a hundred refugees taken on board the Ocean Viking will be able to leave the closed waiting area on the Giens peninsula freely, the First President of the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal, Renaud Le Breton de Vannoise, confirming information from BFMTV and Marianne. The rescue ship had rescued 234 migrants at sea.
First, a judge of freedoms and detention examined the files of 177 refugees. “Once we register a referral, we have 24 hours to decide. Five court formations have been set up to absorb the flow, ”says Renaud Le Breton de Vannoise, specifying that it was always necessary to find a lawyer and an interpreter if necessary. A race against time was then engaged, but the magistrates were quickly overwhelmed.
In most cases, a release was decided (either because of administrative irregularities, or after the judge “found that he could not do his job within the time limit”, reports Marianne). The prosecution immediately appealed in 108 cases.
26 of the 44 miners fled
These have been examined since Wednesday. The decisions taken on appeal confirm that of the judge of freedoms and detention, authorizing de facto the refugees in question to regain their freedom. “People no longer have an obligation to stay in the waiting area”, but they can do so if they wish, tells us Renaud Le Breton from Vannoise.
Even if the prosecution decides to appeal to the Court of Cassation, such an appeal would not be suspensive. For refugees who have applied for asylum, the examination continues.
Thursday afternoon, we also learned that 26 of the 44 minor migrants taken care of had run away. Most are Eritreans who would have chosen to leave illegally for Germany, Norway or Sweden, where they know family or friends.