Taiwanese in Norway bring nationality case to European Court of Human Rights | Taiwan News

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TAIPEI (Taipei News) – Taiwanese living in Norway are eager to correct their nationality after filing a complaint in May against the Norwegian government for labeling them as “Chinese” on their residence permits.

the Taiwanese nationality rectification campaign in Norway tried to remedy this labeling error by taking their host government to the Nordic Supreme Court last November.

However, the court ruled that “the appeal cannot take place”, without further explanation given. He also ignored the group’s request to appear in court and its right to a fair trial.

As a result, the campaign leader, who goes by the name of Joseph (約瑟夫), decided to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and prosecute Norway for human rights violations. man.

According to ECHR procedures, the claimant can only appeal to the tribunal after exhausting all “local remedies”. Complainants must submit an application to the court within six months of a decision by the Supreme Court of the country concerned.

“By asking the Norwegian government to properly register our nationality as Taiwanese, we do not intend to call into question its diplomatic prerogative to decide whether to recognize Taiwan as a state or to hinder the prosecution of its national best interests, ”said a Taiwan Digital Diplomacy Association (TDDA) quoted from Joseph’s press release.

He added, “Our only hope is that our right to be treated and recognized as nationals of Taiwan can be respected by the receiving state like our fellow Taiwanese residing in many other European countries.

Joseph noted that many European countries accept “Taiwanese” as a nationality on residence documents without having recognized Taiwan diplomatically. In fact, Norway was doing the same before 2010.

If this trial is successful, it will be the first time that the ECHR will rule on a question of national identity, the TDDA said. Since the ECHR ruling is legally binding in the 47 member states that have signed the European Convention on Human Rights, this would mean that none of these countries can register Taiwanese citizens as “Chinese”.

“Through this trial, I hope that the international community can further discuss the issue of Taiwanese identity,” Joseph said, adding that he hopes “more Taiwanese voices can be heard by the world.”

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