Prague, Jan 19 (CTK) – The Czech Republic lacks court interpreters into Oriental languages who may be required in connection with the migrant crisis, but other than certified language experts may be employed in crisis situations, daily Pravo writes yesterday.
It writes that even though the influx of migrants to Europe has been slowed down by the winter weather, hundreds of thousands of them not only from Syria can again set out on their journey to Europe and they may cross the Czech Republic, too, this time.
Pravo writes that the Czech Republic has enough interpreters from Arabic that is spoken in Syria, but there are only a few interpreters from Afghan languages and Pakistani Urdu.
There are 64 registered court interpreters into Arabic, Kristina Laboha, from the Justice Ministry, told Pravo.
Problems can arise if police detain migrants in connection with a crime, or “merely” if they cross the border. The police can detain them for 48 hours and they would have to release them if they were unable to talk to them in their own language by the deadline, Pravo writes.
South Moravian police spokeswoman Petra Ledabylova told Pravo that a problem is posed by Africans.
The lack of interpreters is also felt by state attorneys. “There is a long-time problem with Oriental languages. We know of only two from Persian, for instance,” a state attorney told Pravo.
Laboha said, however, the Interior Ministry does not share the fears of a lack of court interpreters, saying that the relevant law allows for other than court interpreters assisting in crisis situations.
“It is true that at the time of the culminating migrant crisis, people who are not interpreters offer us help in communication with foreigners,” Ledabylova said.
