Thousands of illegal Afghans allowed to stay in Sweden

KABUL (Pajhwok): Thousands of illegal Afghans with no grounds for asylum will cost Sweden $350 million over the next three years, a Russian news service reports.

A Swedish parliament’s decision recently allowed 9,000 Afghans to stay in the Scandinavian country despite lacking proper justification for asylum.

Described as unaccompanied refugee children, the Afghans have been afforded a new chance after their asylum applications were declined, according to Sputnik.

More than 99 percent of the Afghans are males, with 78 percent previously found lying about their ages.

The parliamentary bill, costing Sweden $350 million in the first three years alone, was passed after a long delay and aversion from Democrats, Conservatives, Christian Democrats and the Liberals.

However, the government proposal was supported by the Center Party, which managed to win a majority of votes in favour of the controversial move.

PAN Monitor/mud