1998: Refugee status granted to German ritual abuse survivor

[biaothanatoi]

I just came across this in a lecture by 1999 Thorsten Becker and Joan Coleman to the ISSD:<br><br>"In October 1998 the Australian government granted fugitive status and a protection visa to a German Ritual Abuse survivor who had fled fifteen years ago from a cult involved in child pornography and child-traffikking. The Australian Refugee Review Tribunal stated before the final hearing: "It is accepted [...] thirdly, such groups exist in Germany and the authorities have been largely ineffective in stopping their illegal activities..." (Quotation from a prelimary paper to the final hearing). The final decision, done by the Australian government, because there is no existing law for cases like this, stated that this survivor is a refugee in need of protection by the Australian government, "as the German government is either unwilling or unable to protect victims of ritual abuse." (quoted from the decision)."<br><br>Incredible. I'll have to hunt down more on this. <p></p><i></i>

[FourthBase]

Wow, please do! <p></p><i></i>

[ir]

I am always amazed at these things, and how come they are not publicized according to their huge importance. Australia seems to have gone ahead in terms of human rights, past the "luminaries" such as the USA and canada in the past. Its been the case in various issues, including indigenous people's rights etc.<br>---<br>good news for a change. can you provide a citation or reference to the legal decision.<br> <p></p><i></i>

[jenz]

is at <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.dissoc.de/becker-coleman_1.html">www.dissoc.de/becker-coleman_1.html</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> <br><br>unfortunately very little progress has been made as far as either public awareness or policing is concerned in Europe, despite the efforts of these authors and others. In fact the Association of Chief of Police Officers in the UK recently denied that they had come across any cases of ritual abuse. This pretty astonishing claim reflects the culture of denial and cover up.<br><br>Perhaps, though, this case might offer a way forward? Might not other ra survivors who find that the rights they supposedly have under European Human Rights legislation to investigation of serious crimes committed against them, apply for refugee status on the basis that the States they are fleeing are denying those rights and colluding with their abusers? Just an idea. Anyone have thoughts on it? <p></p><i></i>

[ir]

good materials. but both this and the aussi decision are almost 8 years old. we don't know how australia continues, if at all, to address the issue, and whether this immigration decision was an exception, or even retracted in a way. there has been a set back in this issue, all over the world. Since the USA is the leader, the backlash in recovered memory movement, case law, public awareness - has effected the international community. of course, if perps are now heading the white house, one cannot expect much progress on eliminating SRA.<br>Where would you apply for asylum theoretically ? its the same all over, except what we now have heard about australia, which is before the peak of Bush reign of terror.<br>There were amazing posts in the internet around 1999-2000 in Scandinavia, and it looked hopeful to me. Even in Israel, around 1999-2000 there were some buds of legal activity around SRA, I myself participated in a high level professional meeting convened by then deputy Attorny general of Israel. However, I see a huge decline with Bush (and following, in Israel, Sharon). As I said earlier, sometime, in 2000 I published an ACADEMIC paper having strong references to SRA/MC existence in Israel-USA. (since publication was admitted, I assume the editors were interested in the issue).<br>---<br>I know first hand that Canadian IRB (Brittish Columbia) are well versed in the matter, they have had victims of SRA/MC as political asylum applicants, but from what I saw, they are doing something rather unethical, instead of taking it "head on" to IRB decision, they are "selling intel" on the issue of other countries intel agencies and activists. Someone should look into that matter at some point, I believe. <br>---<br>I stlil think the key to a successful legal decision lies in the USA, perhaps post the Bush era. In Europe, Germany would be the best pick, politically, to attack on aiding and abetting SRA. Its just a hunch, they are more vulnerable politically to such accusations. You might get information from orgs in Berlin, dealing with psychiatric abuses, they have made an application to Amnesty International, and there's stuff being done there. I think the orgs website is IAAPA.DE or something like that. One of their main chief leader in Berlin, is also member of Green party or another radical party. I was briefly involved in their work, just on a side issue, and I thought it was politically brilliant to form an alliance bn German and ISraeli activists on such "nazi" issues, as they manifest in both countries. its a winning combination in terms of public relations. <br> <p></p><i></i>

[ir]

<!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.iaapa.de/">www.iaapa.de/</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br>this is the link.Rene talbot is the activist. they have material on SRA/MC from survivor, but their "take" on it is determined by their focus.i know they are working on MC, collecting eivdence and trying to provoke amnesty into doing something on it, thus far not very successful, they also have had contacts with eastern european groups on MC. <br>I have a difficulty communicating with some of the activists, but not because I don't appreciate their work, its just that there is something very dogmatic in their personal communications. but i think the groups working on SRA and these groups MUST join hands, because they are getting more survivors' testimonies, because most SRA/MC victims end up in the psychiatric slaughterhouse. its important to establish very good working relations between the two groups, even if the "theology" is different. <p></p><i></i>

[jenz]

I don't know of this group. totally agree with you that ra fight has to be inclusive, enemy too strong to start dividing the opposition on dogma. <p></p><i></i>

[ir]

if you read their website, their last "announcement" has to do with a decision to form coalition and alliances with other human rights groups, mostly from the anti torture field. This could be a formidable alliance, and SRA/MC certainly qualifies as torture, and has been recognized by the UN as a "torture by non state actors" (eh...in my case, certainly there ARE state actors involved, but never mind). <br>Practically speaking, SRA/MC victims would be present more prominently in anti psych groups AND in Torture centers as well as rape shelters. So, if seems reasonable to suggest that SRA/MC groups form strong bonds. This was the basis of my contact with this Berlin group, as they were interested in a speaker on the issue, in one of their conferences. I was willing to do that, and I provided a written brief, but was frightened shitless, so I didn't follow throu with the flight/speaking engagement. they were pissed off at me, but I was getting lots of threats in Israel not to go, and I chickened (one more mistake, i suppose.). Later, I resumed contact on MC, and helped them translate and figure out articles and emails from USA and later from Russia (not sure, maybe Slovakia ? one of these places out East). I know they are on it and have a lot of testimonies, but perhaps if they had a stronger coalition, it would be more efficient.<br>of course torture centers (treating centers) have MANY victims as well, but again, I am not sure they know what to do about it on the legal/public level. And you should look up the UN work on it, because they have recognized SRA, at least in terms of working groups and conferences, and I think might have even granted a status of UN consultative NGO to one group from Canada or USA. And there are other groups who testified before the UN on it. (as well as Regina Louf herself). <br> <p></p><i></i>

[jenz]

my computer does not like connecting to their site, managed it once, but crashed a few times. did they say if they had appraoched other groups, or was this in the nature of a statement of intent? <p></p><i></i>