Let us imagine three men from the Middle East set out to obtain false passports from another country. The 'day of the jackal' scam of using the identity of a dead child is well known, so they claim in the name of a disabled person with cerebal palsy - unlikely to leave the country and so unlikely to have appled for a passport.
When caught, they are suspected of being state secret service agents. They intend to use these false passports to enter foreign countries under false names and nationalities - and it can be assumed not for tourism.
In these times , what would be an appropriate punishment for them and the state which sent them?
Innocent until proven guilty...
The Hague,I'd say,somewhere impartial.
Perhaps they were fleeing their homeland cos the crowned prince wanted to have them executed cos their cousin callled him an ape and half their family has since been executed, you never know. Not all Mid East Criminals are terrorists, i think.
Originally posted by Black LungThey were caught in possession of a passport with their photogragh in it -so the case of passport fraud is proven. What is unknown is what they intended to do with their false identity - which gives them visa free entry to about 70 countries or who they were working for.
Innocent until proven guilty...
The Hague,I'd say,somewhere impartial.
Perhaps they were fleeing their homeland cos the crowned prince wanted to have them executed cos their cousin callled him an ape and half their family has since been executed, you never know. Not all Mid East Criminals are terrorists, i think.
It seems unlikely they were fleeing persecution in their homeland. They were travelling freely around the world on their own pasports, including returning to their own country. They are not refugees and have not asked for asylum in any country they have visited. Indications are they are spies and secret service agents.
They have been given six month jail sentences on chages of being part of a criminal organisation to fraudulantly obtain passports. Their country has received a stern diplomatic note.
Is this excessive and evidence of bias against this Middle Eastern country?
Originally posted by steerpikeI don't know in which country they were picked up or what the country's laws are for carrying false passports. So I don't know if the punishment is too harsh or not.
They were caught in possession of a passport with their photogragh in it -so the case of passport fraud is proven. What is unknown is what they intended to do with their false identity - which gives them visa free entry to about 70 countries or who they were working for.
It seems unlikely they were fleeing persecution in their homeland. They were travel ...[text shortened]... c note.
Is this excessive and evidence of bias against this Middle Eastern country?
But, to accuse them of anything else, there needs to be proof. No proof, then all you can do is do them for a false passport and entering a country illegally.
Entering a country illegally here in Holland can lead to detention and deportation. A greater sin though is that illegals (as they are called in Holland) don't pay taxes and are not insured.
Originally posted by shavixmirTrue. The agents got six months for passport fraud which was the only thing they were charged with. I think that was about right - a country needs to protect the integrity of its passport to protect its own citizens from suspicion when travelling abroad.
I don't know in which country they were picked up or what the country's laws are for carrying false passports. So I don't know if the punishment is too harsh or not.
But, to accuse them of anything else, there needs to be proof. No proof, then all you can do is do them for a false passport and entering a country illegally.
Entering a country illeg ...[text shortened]... in though is that illegals (as they are called in Holland) don't pay taxes and are not insured.
It was unlikely they were acting alone and there is a strong suspicion a middle eastern government has sent them. Their President has been told he wil not be welcome to visit, and their diplomats are being made to apply for visas before entry. There are no embassies in either country so that is pretty much the end of it. Nevertheless, some have claimed the foreign government has not been treated fairly because of prejudice.
I think my government has been fair - just interested to see if other agree.