Asylum bill faces criticism by human rights organizations

As migrant flows from Turkey to the Greek islands continue unabated, the Ministry of Citizens' Protection was expected to submit a bill to Parliament early Tuesday introducing drastic changes to the country's asylum system.
The government hopes that the new measures, which are to go into effect next year, will accelerate procedures and help decongest severely overcrowded island facilities.

The phase of public consultation on the bill was completed at 4 p.m. on Monday amid complaints from parties and nongovernmental groups over the tight five-day deadline.
Six organizations (Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International, the Hellenic League for Human Rights, the Greek Council for Refugees, the Greek Forum of Migrants and HumanRights360) have criticized the legislation, particularly Article 46, which enables authorities to detain asylum seekers.

In a...