Novinky.cz: Canada has received 570 Czech asylum claims so far in 2009

Canada has received some 570 asylum claims from Czechs so far this year, the news website Novinky.cz reported on Monday. It has granted asylum to 84 of these applicants, the website added. Novinky.cz reported that the majority of Czechs seeking asylum in Canada are from the country’s Romany minority. Last week, Canada warned against growing numbers of asylum claims being lodged by Czech citizens in Ottawa. Immigration minister Jason Kenney said that he understood the Czech Republic ‘had its shortcomings’ but that he found it hard to believe that the country was an ‘island of persecution’ in the middle of Europe. Canada lifted visa restrictions for Czechs in 2007, there is speculation that Ottawa may reintroduce visas for Czechs if the number of asylum claims does not drop.