Editorial Desk :
European states have reacted in some of the most drastic ways yet to the continent’s biggest migration crisis since the Second World War, with Denmark enacting a law that allows police to seize refugees’ assets. The vote in the Danish parliament on Tuesday, which followed similar moves in Switzerland and Southern Germany, came as central European leaders amplified calls to seal the borders of the Balkans, a move that would risk trapping thousands of asylum seekers in Greece.
Switzerland has had a law enabling the authorities to confiscate assets belonging to asylum seekers for 20 years. Migrants are required to declare their assets on arrival, and anything over 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,000; €900, £700) can be taken. Objects of emotional value are never seized, the government says. In 2015, the Swiss authorities collected a total of 210,000 Swiss francs from 112 people. Most of this was cash. As the vast majority of asylum seekers are destitute, assets are confiscated from only a small number, the government says. It was forced to defend the policy last week following criticism of the Danish proposals.
In the Netherlands, asylum seekers are supposed to declare their assets,
and deductions can be made if this exceeds €5,895 for an individual or €11,790 for a family. They also have to pay levies on their income towards their stay, once they are allowed to work. A report in the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad found asylum seekers had paid nearly €500,000 towards their living costs since the start of 2013. Meanwhile in Germany, Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann has reportedly said cash and valuables worth more than €750 can legally be seized in his state – one of the main entry points for migrants arriving in the country.
Under the new Danish law, police will be allowed to search asylum seekers on arrival in the country and confiscate any non-essential items worth more than 10,000 kroner (£1,000) that have no sentimental value to their owner. The centre-right government said the procedure is intended to cover the cost of each asylum seeker’s treatment by the state, and mimics the handling of Danish citizens on welfare.
A spokesman for UN Chief Ban Ki-moon criticised the decision, saying refugees deserved compassion, but widespread condemnation from other major Western leaders was conspicuously absent.
The prospect of refugees having possessions seized has drawn comparisons to the confiscation of valuables from Jews during World War Two. Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany for five years, from 1940 to 1945, during which time Germany confiscated assets from Jewish Danes, just as it did to Jews across Europe.
Surely, the Danish policy suggestion is not intended to be selfish, but nevertheless it is unkind for a country so well-reputed. The refugees are in terrible distress and it should not be forgotten that this human tragedy has been created by others including the Western powers and they must feel guilty for unthinkable suffering and humiliation of the Syrian refugees.
We shall say that let the Western countries show collective determination for getting rid of the new Hitler and there will be no Syrian refugees. Still there is power to challenge jointly by the Western powers if there is the necessary determination. The USA is showing weakness in the face of Russian support for President Assad of Syria against the opinion of the whole world.
It is understandable that the Danish, Swiss, and German governments face a serious economic investment. But the truth remains that immigrants in the long run do not become liability. They work hard when employed and contribute appreciably to the economy and bring new dynamism in the countries they go. This fact is accepted universally. But what is special about the Syrian migrants is that they are not economic migrants. They were not thinking of migrating. The international community by supporting killer Assad to remain in power is playing power-game to suit the international power politics. Finish Assad, the refugee problem will greatly vanish. The Syrian migrants will be happy to be back in their home country.
European states have reacted in some of the most drastic ways yet to the continent’s biggest migration crisis since the Second World War, with Denmark enacting a law that allows police to seize refugees’ assets. The vote in the Danish parliament on Tuesday, which followed similar moves in Switzerland and Southern Germany, came as central European leaders amplified calls to seal the borders of the Balkans, a move that would risk trapping thousands of asylum seekers in Greece.
Switzerland has had a law enabling the authorities to confiscate assets belonging to asylum seekers for 20 years. Migrants are required to declare their assets on arrival, and anything over 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,000; €900, £700) can be taken. Objects of emotional value are never seized, the government says. In 2015, the Swiss authorities collected a total of 210,000 Swiss francs from 112 people. Most of this was cash. As the vast majority of asylum seekers are destitute, assets are confiscated from only a small number, the government says. It was forced to defend the policy last week following criticism of the Danish proposals.
In the Netherlands, asylum seekers are supposed to declare their assets,
and deductions can be made if this exceeds €5,895 for an individual or €11,790 for a family. They also have to pay levies on their income towards their stay, once they are allowed to work. A report in the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad found asylum seekers had paid nearly €500,000 towards their living costs since the start of 2013. Meanwhile in Germany, Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann has reportedly said cash and valuables worth more than €750 can legally be seized in his state – one of the main entry points for migrants arriving in the country.
Under the new Danish law, police will be allowed to search asylum seekers on arrival in the country and confiscate any non-essential items worth more than 10,000 kroner (£1,000) that have no sentimental value to their owner. The centre-right government said the procedure is intended to cover the cost of each asylum seeker’s treatment by the state, and mimics the handling of Danish citizens on welfare.
A spokesman for UN Chief Ban Ki-moon criticised the decision, saying refugees deserved compassion, but widespread condemnation from other major Western leaders was conspicuously absent.
The prospect of refugees having possessions seized has drawn comparisons to the confiscation of valuables from Jews during World War Two. Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany for five years, from 1940 to 1945, during which time Germany confiscated assets from Jewish Danes, just as it did to Jews across Europe.
Surely, the Danish policy suggestion is not intended to be selfish, but nevertheless it is unkind for a country so well-reputed. The refugees are in terrible distress and it should not be forgotten that this human tragedy has been created by others including the Western powers and they must feel guilty for unthinkable suffering and humiliation of the Syrian refugees.
We shall say that let the Western countries show collective determination for getting rid of the new Hitler and there will be no Syrian refugees. Still there is power to challenge jointly by the Western powers if there is the necessary determination. The USA is showing weakness in the face of Russian support for President Assad of Syria against the opinion of the whole world.
It is understandable that the Danish, Swiss, and German governments face a serious economic investment. But the truth remains that immigrants in the long run do not become liability. They work hard when employed and contribute appreciably to the economy and bring new dynamism in the countries they go. This fact is accepted universally. But what is special about the Syrian migrants is that they are not economic migrants. They were not thinking of migrating. The international community by supporting killer Assad to remain in power is playing power-game to suit the international power politics. Finish Assad, the refugee problem will greatly vanish. The Syrian migrants will be happy to be back in their home country.
