Guards at Refugee Camps in Germany Are Accused of Abuse
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Version 0 of 1. At least six guards at refugee camps in Germany’s most populous state are under investigation and suspected of abuse at three facilities, the authorities said on Monday. Images that appeared to show guards abusing refugees have shocked many Germans, who have been taught since the end of the Nazi era to offer asylum and help to people in need. The images, which surfaced after they were sent to a local journalist in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, show a guard with his foot on the neck of a refugee lying on the floor with wrists bound, as another guard grins. They also show guards forcing an unidentified man onto a mattress soaked in vomit. Like many refugee camps across Europe, the three facilities in North Rhine-Westphalia are run by a private company. The company’s contract has now been suspended by the state. An influx of people fleeing conflict zones in Africa and the Middle East has put enormous strain on refugee facilities. In the first eight months of 2014, a total of 115,737 people applied for asylum in Germany, the government said, compared with 127,023 for all of last year. About 20,000 applications this year have come from Syrians, official figures show. |