Controversial ruling by the Supreme Court

The Norwegian Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by child asylum seekers and their families, and has ruled that both Veronica Delic (10) and Mahdi Shabazi (9) and their families will have to be deported.

The Shabazi family lives in Rjukan in Norway, but is originally from Iran. The Delic family, who also lived in Rjukan, have already been sent back to Sarajevo, after 11 years in Norway.

Superior Court’s 19 judges made the verdict. Some of the judges dissented, but the majority concluded that the Immigration Appeals Board's (UNE) decision to deport the families was the right decision.

Despite the children’s' close ties to Norway, Superior Court states that although the child's interests always weigh heavily in these cases, it can't trump everything.

The families' lawyers are disappointed with the verdict. "This will have a great impact on all the other child asylum seekers," says Håkon Bodahl-Johansen. The Delic-family's lawyer says the verdict will also make it difficult to bring other, similar cases before the court.

There are more than 540 children in Norwegian asylum centers that have been in the country for more than three years. 26 of them have been in Norway for more than seven years.

The ruling has caused a massive debate in Norwegian media, and the 12 bishops of the Norwegian Lutheran Church have protested, asking politicians to take action against the deportation.

(NRK)

Julie Ryland