Six released from 'illegal' detention at Safi barracks

Three migrant children and three adults have been released from detention at Safi where they had been held illegally for 58 days, the Aditus Foundation, which instituted a court case about the matter, said on Monday.

The foundation said the Magistrates' Court, on the basis of a procedural issue, had rejected the application for the release and had not examined the legality of the detention. Yet a few minutes after the court casem, the government entities present in court ordered the release of the six, a complete volte-face from their previous position that they were not in fact detaining them.

"Although we remain baffled at this twist of events and astounded by the lack of clarity as to which authority was responsible for detaining our clients without any legal basis, we cannot hide the immense joy we felt when three children and three young men left the court free," Aditus said.

"It was a particularly rewarding experience since three of the released persons are children. They can now receive the care and support all children need and deserve, irrespectively of their immigration or other status. We just hope they are not permanently scarred by the trauma of being locked up for...