Zurich Airport: The delicate tension in forced returns!

Zurich Airport: The delicate tension in forced returns!

Flughafen Zürich, Schweiz - It was a cold autumn night at Zurich Airport when a large, unmistakable operation was prepared. The focus of this campaign was thirteen Iraqis, which were illegally in Switzerland and should now be deported back to their home country. The clock showed 3:30 a.m. when around fifty civil servants from the Zurich cantonal police gathered in an anonymous barrack directly on the edge of the slopes. For operations manager Josef Lisibach, this is routine, but always associated with a touch of tension. "We are dealing with strong men in the best age who in no way do not want to go home," said Lisibach tense in the NZZ In the early morning.

The plan was clear: Iraqi citizens should be brought back to Baghdad by special flight. A project that requires extreme precision and extensive preparation. Security Director Mario Fehr and Commandant Marius Weyermann did not miss the opportunity to be there personally, because these actions have far -reaching signal effects, both nationally and internationally. Each of these special flights should show that Switzerland is consistent in the enforcement of its asylum laws, emphasized Fehr.

by special flight back

of tensions was shaped by the entire use, and the deported self also knew about the seriousness of the situation. There is no deviation, because some of the Iraqi affected had previously been convicted of crimes. Now they all stood in front of a crossroads on which they started the last way - the aircraft staircase - and maybe for a short moment they hope that something would come in.

The logistical and personnel challenge of such a special flight is enormous. Zurich Airport is the hub for around 75% of all returns from all over the country. Doctors and anti-torture observers are also integrated into this meticulously planned night. A report by the NZZ illustrates that the affected men from the cantons of Aargau, Bern, Graubünden, Vaud, Tessin and Zurich were brought to the meeting.

control and dignity

A special bondage system that "Kerberos Belt" ensures the control of those who do not cooperate. However, it is controversial because the national commission regularly expresses concerns about preventive compulsory measures to prevent torture. The balancing act between security and human dignity is a constant companion for the officials involved in such operations.

When the last deportations finally take place around 7 a.m., the airport falls silent in the heartbreaking moment of farewell. The Airbus, in the background, was already waiting to bring the return travelers to the Middle East. For security director Fehr, there is only one conclusion: "The laws are uncompromising and we have to stick to that." A night ends with this strict procedure, even if no farewell tears are displaced, which puts the final line under their Swiss dreams for those affected.