REPORTS
Javed Aslam: Allegations regarding the revocation of asylum status against the President of the Pakistani Community of Greece
In February and March 2026, several articles and public interventions appeared in the press regarding the revocation of asylum status for Javed Aslam, President of the Pakistani Community of Greece (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).
On the day the decision was issued, the Minister of Migration, Thanos Plevris, stated on X that the Asylum Service is required to continuously assess whether individuals still meet the criteria for protection, and to withdraw asylum when those conditions no longer apply. He stressed that people originating from countries designated as safe such as Pakistan, Egypt, and Bangladesh, should lose asylum status and be returned if they are not at risk, adding that asylum is not permanent and that decisions are not influenced by petitions or public pressure from individuals outside the process.
However, interventions by lawyers and organisations question whether the revocation of Mr Aslam’s asylum status is compatible with Greece’s national and international obligations on international protection, arguing that the decision is linked to Mr Aslam’s public activity and advocacy in Greece. At an event organised by KEERFA on 3 March 2026, lawyer Thanasis Kampagiannis, a member of the Athens Bar Association Board, argued that regardless of political views or ideological differences, defending Mr Aslam’s asylum status is an issue that should unite all those committed to democratic values.
Mr Aslam’s lawyer, Vasilis Papadopoulos, who is also President of the Greek Council for Refugee, reminded the public that Pakistan has been designated a safe country of origin in Greek law since 2019. He noted that this classification had already been considered both during the examination of Aslam’s asylum claim in 2021 and during the renewal of his status in April.
He expressed confidence that the Appeals Committees would reaffirm their previous decisions and said he hoped Mr Aslam would not be forced to seek protection again, adding that he fears Mr Aslam is being targeted not only by Pakistan but also by the Greek government.
In a public statement, KEERFA described the withdrawal of Mr Aslam’s asylum after 30 years in Greece as deeply problematic. The organisation argued that this is the third attempt to prosecute him since 2006, when he was arrested after reporting the abduction of 28 Pakistanis by intelligence services during the repression of the anti‑Iraq‑war movement. They noted that the Supreme Court acquitted him and rejected the request for his deportation, and that a later intervention by former minister Mitarakis in 2021 also failed.
KEERFA further claimed that the attempt to silence the Pakistani Community of Greece “ENOTITA” and deport its president – who was a key witness in the Golden Dawn trial – is a clear concession to far‑right forces, represented within the government by Minister Plevris. They characterised the move as an attack on democratic freedoms and the rights of all.
The 1951 Refugee Convention recognises the right to asylum and guarantees a range of rights for refugees in their country of residence, including property rights (Article 13), freedom of association (Article 15), access to courts (Article 16), the right to work (Articles 17–19), social welfare (Article 20), housing (Article 21), public education (Article 22), and freedom of movement (Article 26). It also prohibits expulsion or refoulement (Article 33).
In addition, Law 4939/2022 (ΦΕΚ Α’ 111-10/06/2022) incorporates into Greek law the rules governing reception and international protection for third‑country nationals and stateless persons, as well as temporary protection in cases of mass influx.
Under the rule of law, authorities must refrain from unlawful pushbacks of refugees and migrants. Under international law, Greece must ensure effective international protection procedures that safeguard asylum seekers from war, authoritarian regimes, and other risks in their countries of origin.
As the UNHCR has emphasised, border surveillance measures must comply fully with human rights and refugee law, including the 1951 Convention, and states must uphold their commitments and respect fundamental rights such as the right to life and the right to asylum.
In this case, concerns arise regarding whether the Greek authorities have complied with national legislation and international law (the Geneva Convention and Law 4939/2022) in revoking the asylum status of Javed Aslam, President of the Pakistani Community of Greece.
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