DISINFO: European Court of Justice forbids deporting of illegal refugees

Intentionally misleading reporting. The European Court of Justice has ruled that EU Member States cannot automatically repatriate refugees and asylum seekers who have a well-founded fear of persecution in their country of origin, even if they are convicted of crimes. The ruling is based on the Geneva Convention and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. "The Charter prohibits, in absolute terms, torture and inhuman or degrading punishment or treatment, irrespective of the conduct of the person concerned, as well as removal to a State where there is a serious risk of a person being subjected to such treatment," the court said. This rule prevents EU nations from deporting criminal refugees in such cases, although it can enable them to revoke their refugee status and take other punitive steps.