Minister for fair, smooth handling of asylum applications

Asylum seekers’ applications must be handled individually, fairly and smoothly, said Minister of the Interior Maria Ohisalo on Thursday.

Commenting on the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights against Finland, the minister termed the matter very serious, according to an official press release.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Thursday accused Finland of violation of European Convention on Human Rights in respect of the death of a rejected Iraqi asylum seeker in his country in 2017.

"The judgment of the court is extremely weighty and significant. It is a very serious matter that our country that is governed by the rule of law has failed, in this case, to protect the most important right of all, the safeguarding of life. I immediately raised this matter at the ministry, and we will look carefully at how we can ensure that this will not happen again,” Ohisalo said.

The Ministry of the Interior is launching a comprehensive project in accordance with the Government Programme on the effects of the changes made to asylum policy in 2015–2019.

The project will propose measures to be implemented. In accordance with the Government Programme, a reasonable standard of proof and other measures to strengthen the legal certainty of the asylum system will also be examined.

“The most important task of the asylum system is to safeguard human rights and provide protection for those who need it. It is the duty of the authorities to protect and promote the implementation of fundamental and human rights. Asylum seekers’ applications must be handled individually, fairly and smoothly. All proposals for measures to correct the asylum system presented in an independent report on the asylum system are being prepared or implemented,” said Ohisalo.