Sweden suspects refugees exploiting repatriation support system

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

STOCKHOLM (AFP) — Swedish immigration authorities said Tuesday they suspect Iraqi refugees have taken advantage of the country's generous financial support for rejected asylum seekers.

"We believe the system is being exploited and we are very concerned," Filippa Nordfeldt, an asylum specialist at the Swedish Migration Board, told AFP.

Sweden has since early 2007 tightened its asylum policy, ruling it can legally send rejected asylum seekers back to conflict-ridden areas like Iraq, Somalia and parts of Afghanistan.

To ease the repatriation process, Stockholm has since August 1, 2007, offered financial support to people who return willingly to any of these three countries.

Each adult can receive 20,000 kronor (2,135 euros, 3,132 dollars), each child...