ARNHEM, 11/10/03 - Bone examination to determine the age of asylum seekers is a reliable method, according to the Aliens Chamber of The Hague district court. It rejected a complaint on Friday from two asylum seekers who were unmasked as adults by this method.

The two Africans claimed to be minors in their asylum applications, which would allow them to benefit from the more flexible admission policy for children. The Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) did not believe them and subjected them to X-ray examination of the collarbone. If this is fully developed, then the person concerned is considered to be at least 20 years old. The court judged this conclusion to be reliable.

The IND has already used the method 4,500 times. In 2,400 cases, the asylum seeker proved to be adult. Unsuccessful objections to the method have been made before. The Aliens Chamber gave a general verdict on the controversial bone examination for the first time on Friday.