There was an increase in calls to helplines from victims of domestic violence during the COVID-19 lockdown. Afghan nationals continued to be deported to Afghanistan. The Federal Government continued to refuse child asylum-seekers. There was a rise in online abuse against Black people, Muslims and...

Amendments to Austria’s asylum law were signed into law by the outgoing federal president and entered into force. The emergency measures that would allow people fleeing violence and conflict to be turned away at the border are yet to be enforced.

On 27 April the Austrian parliament passed amendments to Austria’s asylum law that will allow people fleeing violence and conflict to be turned away at the border. In order for the legislation to enter into force, it has now to be signed by the Federal President. He has the power to stop these...

Muhammad ‘Abd al-Rahman Bilasi-Ashri is to be extradited from Austria to Egypt. If returned he would be at serious risk of torture and other serious human rights violations

‘Umar Masa’ad Buhayri, an Austrian resident, is being held in incommunicado detention at an undisclosed location in Jordan. He was arrested on 12 January and has not been seen or heard from since. Amnesty International fears that he may be held at one of the General Intelligence Detention (GID)...

Amnesty International is concerned that Muhammad ‘Abd al-Rahman Bilasi-Ashri is at imminent risk of being forcibly returned to Egypt by the Austrian authorities, possibly as early as today. If returned he would be at serious risk of torture and other human rights violations, which he has reportedly...