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| Europe |
| Refugees Critical Of Tough New Danish Immigration Laws |
| 2016-01-28 |
| [Tolo News] Denmark's parliament passed measures on Tuesday aimed at deterring refugees from seeking asylum, including confiscating valuables to pay for their stay, despite protests from international human rights ...which are often intentionally defined so widely as to be meaningless... organizations. The measures, which also include extending family reunification among refugees from one year to three years, are the latest sign that the Nordic welcome for refugees is waning as large numbers flee war in Africa and Middle East for a better life in Europe. The "jewellery bill" is the latest attempt by Denmark's minority center-right government to curb immigration to a country that took in a record 20,000 refugees last year. Under the bill, refugees could keep possessions amounting to 10,000 Danish crowns ($1,450 USD), raised from 3,000 crowns after criticism from human rights organizations. Valuables of special emotional value such as wedding rings will be exempt. At the Trampoline House in central Copenhagen, which offers support to asylum seekers and refugees, people were critical of the new laws. "I think it's a wrong law and we don't accept this. We condemn it and we protested today and we are going to keep going to protest against this new law because this doesn't work. We want the Danish parliament to think again about this new law because this is dehumanizing us," said 27-year-old Hiwa from Iraq. "I'm so sorry about these new rules and it's really bad that the Danish parliament they come out with difficult and harder and harder rules. That's not a good decision," added Shagira, 29, from Afghanistan. Trampoline House's manager Marten Goll, said there was a sense of "hopelessness" among the refugees. "Many refugees they flee to Denmark and the West because they believe in human rights and democracy and they believe that they will find it here. It's kind of what the West is always telling, that the West is a beacon of democracy and human rights and respect for the singular individual and now with these laws it's obvious that our politicians do not respect this for people who do not have Danish passports," he said. The Liberals Party government has just 34 out of 179 seats in parliament and depends on support of rightist parties, including the anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DF), to pass laws. The dissenting voices came from small left-wing parties, including from Red Green Alliance. But the bill passed with an overwhelming majority, backed by the main center-left opposition party Social Democrats, highlighting a shift to the right in Denmark's political landscape thanks to DF's popularity and rising concern over refugee numbers. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 They could always go back to were they came from. |
| Posted by: chris 2016-01-28 14:56 |
| #4 Critical? Let me know when they're screaming in agony. I need the lulz. |
| Posted by: charger 2016-01-28 11:45 |
| #3 Wolves are critical of deer antlers. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2016-01-28 10:13 |
| #2 " the bill passed with an overwhelming majority," despite the wishes of oikophobic "journalists" |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2016-01-28 09:57 |
| #1 Trampoline House's manager Marten Goll, said there was a sense of "hopelessness" among the refugees. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, it would take a heart of stone not to laugh at this... |
| Posted by: Raj 2016-01-28 01:17 |