The perception that refugees are more prone to radicalisation than others “must change”, according to a UN counter terrorism and human rights expert.
Ben Emmerson, the UN special rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights, told the UN General Assembly in New York this week that overly restrictive migration policies – introduced because of fears over terrorism – “are not justified and may in fact be damaging to state security”.
Mr Emmerson said “while there is no evidence that migration leads to increased terrorist activity, migration policies that are restrictive or that violate human rights may in fact create conditions conducive to terrorism”.
“In the prevailing politicking around migration, we have seen a trend of anti-terror measures being linked to the management of cross-border flows. This trend is based on the perception that terrorists take advantage of refugee flows to carry out acts of terrorism, or that refugees are somehow more prone to radicalization than others. This perception is analytically and statistically unfounded, and must change.”
Mr Emmerson presented a report which found that building fences, engaging in “push-back operations”, criminalising irregular migration and abandoning international legal commitments to refugees, “contribute to the establishment of chaotic and covert movements of people, including through trafficking, which might ultimately assist those intent on committing acts of terrorism”.
Mr Emmerson said it was “clear” that policies that “respect human rights, justice, and accountability, and that manifest the values on which democracy is founded, are an essential element of effective counterterrorism policies. The further we move away from this, the more we concede to terrorist groups.”
