OSLO (Reuters) - Norway's supreme
court ruled on Friday it was legal to
expel two nine-year-old asylum
seekers, even though they had spent
most or all of their lives in the country,
in a case lawyers said could set a
precedent for another 540 children.
The court rejected an appeal launched
on the children's behalf by a campaign
organization that had argued the
Bosnian girl and the Iranian boy had a
right to remain after their parents'
asylum application was turned down.
"The 540 children seeking asylum in
Norway have no chance now,
regardless how long they waited," Jan
Fougner, a defense lawyer for one of
the families said.
The ruling meant Mahdi Shabazi, who
came to Norway at the age of two,
would almost certainly be deported,
said lawyers.
Verona Delic, who was born in the
Nordic nation, had already been
deported to Bosnia with her family and
would now have to stay, they added.
Norwegian laws require courts to
review asylum cases for children
separately if their parents' application
is rejected but authorities rarely make
a different ruling in their cases.
It was the first time the issue had been
taken to Norway's top court.
Norway has welcomed workers from
the EU but it takes a tougher stance on
other immigrants, particularly asylum
seekers.
"The primary tool for helping people
in need for Norway is to provide
foreign aid where people live since it is
beyond the capability of the
Norwegian state to help all in need,"
said Judge Arnfinn Baardsen.
Opponents of wider immigration say
they are trying to stop human
trafficking and people coming to the
country to enjoy its generous welfare
system.
(Reporting by Vegard Botterli; Writing
Balazs Koranyi; Editing by Andrew
Heavens)
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