Finland unable to deport repeat rapist Nahom Hagos due to Eritrean return ban
Finnish authorities say a return ban prevents the deportation of convicted rapist Nahom Hagos to Eritrea, where the human-rights situation is deemed unsafe.
Three-time rapist Nahom Hagos, an Eritrean citizen, has not been expelled from Finland despite public calls for his removal. Justice Minister Leena Meri expressed agreement that such offenders should not receive reduced sentences. The Migration Service’s oversight chief Tirsa Forssell explained that a return ban, which prohibits sending anyone to a place where they face death, torture or inhuman treatment, is likely in force because Eritrea’s human-rights record has been described as "horrific" by the UN Human Rights Council.
Consequently, no legal avenue exists to deport Hagos, and the authorities can only grant him a temporary residence permit that limits work and family reunification rights. The permit can be renewed annually but may be revoked if circumstances change. An EU return regulation under discussion could eventually allow transfer to a third-country facility, but no concrete plan is in place yet.
Why it matters
The case highlights how international human-rights concerns can limit a country's ability to remove dangerous criminals.
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