Religious leaders discuss unfair detention of refugees

Published: 2006-06-15

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- "National security" is not a good enough reason to systematically detain refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants, said Catholic, Jewish and Muslim leaders at a Vatican press conference. The leaders were gathered in Rome June 15 by Jesuit Refugee Service, a member of the steering committee of the new International Coalition on the Detention of Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants. The coalition, which includes human rights and faith-based organizations, was formed to study detention policies, assist detainees and lobby for changes in detention practices. Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the pontifical councils for Justice and Peace and for Migrants and Travelers, said, "There are real concerns about detention becoming a systematic policy to which many countries resort, more as a rule than as an exception, and justify the policy by so-called national security concerns."

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