Moroccan students who fled the war in Ukraine are now likely to be deported from the Netherlands to Morocco as of September 4, Dutch media report.
Dutch authorities require a permanent residence permit, which is not provided for a group of 25 students of different nationalities, including Moroccans, Iranians, Egyptians and Nigerians. The same requirement that does not apply to Ukrainian students.
According to directives issued by Dutch authorities, the students concerned are required either to apply for asylum on Dutch soil, or to leave the country immediately upon expiry of the validity of their temporary residence permit, scheduled for September 4.
In protest against this decision, the group of students staged a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Justice and the Immigration and Citizenship Office, expressing their demand for fair treatment comparable to that reserved for Ukrainian students. They fear they will find themselves homeless, forced to wander the streets of the Netherlands.
It’s worth remembering that countless students from various backgrounds who had chosen Ukraine as their study destination were forced to leave the country following the outbreak of the conflict involving Russia.
