Afghan immigrants in Greece demand sanctuary for refugees fleeing Afghanistan

Athens, August 20 (RHC)-- In Greece, hundreds of Afghan immigrants protested outside of Athens Thursday, demanding support from the international community and the European Union.  Their protest came after Greece’s migration minister warned Greece would not be a gateway for Afghan refugees.

One organizer of the protests told reporters: “I just heard that Greek government doesn’t want any refugees more.  But why?  If your people should be at this situation, what you will do?  So, they have to stand with refugees, and they have to stand with the Afghan people, and they have to help them in this situation.”

In Geneva, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees called for Afghanistan’s neighbors to keep their borders open to allow asylum seekers to seek refuge abroad.  The UN reports Taliban fighters are conducting door-to-door visits to the homes of Afghans who worked with the U.S. and NATO forces.