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Refugee crisis: Denmark government defends plan to strip refugees’ valuables 'to pay for their stay' Refugee crisis: Denmark government defends plan to strip refugees’ valuables 'to pay for their stay'
(1 day later)
The Danish government has defended plans to strip asylum seekers of valuables to pay for their stay in the country.The Danish government has defended plans to strip asylum seekers of valuables to pay for their stay in the country.
The idea proposed in draft legislation would allow authorities to search “the clothing and luggage of asylum-seekers and other migrants without a permit to stay in Denmark with a view to finding assets which may cover expenses”, the immigration ministry said.The idea proposed in draft legislation would allow authorities to search “the clothing and luggage of asylum-seekers and other migrants without a permit to stay in Denmark with a view to finding assets which may cover expenses”, the immigration ministry said.
The plans will be debated in January and will come into force in February, if approved.The plans will be debated in January and will come into force in February, if approved.
IBTimes reported that Soren Pind, Denmark’s immigration minister, told Danish TV the measure was necessary as it was the only way the country could afford to resettle refugees in asylum centres.IBTimes reported that Soren Pind, Denmark’s immigration minister, told Danish TV the measure was necessary as it was the only way the country could afford to resettle refugees in asylum centres.
“I’m talking about a situation in which there are personal items of significant value but not sentimental worth," he said.“I’m talking about a situation in which there are personal items of significant value but not sentimental worth," he said.
Inger Stojberg, Denmark’s Integration Minister, wrote on Facebook: “I can see that some foreign media do not agree with the fact that in future we may withdraw asylum seekers' valuables and demand that they should pay for their stay in asylum centres themselves.Inger Stojberg, Denmark’s Integration Minister, wrote on Facebook: “I can see that some foreign media do not agree with the fact that in future we may withdraw asylum seekers' valuables and demand that they should pay for their stay in asylum centres themselves.
Jeg kan se, at nogle udenlandske medier harcelerer over, at vi i fremtiden kan inddrage asylansøgeres værdigenstande og...
“There is no reason to criticise, since it is already the case that if you as a Dane have valuables of more than 10,000 kroner (£986) it may be required that this is sold before you can receive unemployment benefits.”“There is no reason to criticise, since it is already the case that if you as a Dane have valuables of more than 10,000 kroner (£986) it may be required that this is sold before you can receive unemployment benefits.”
The proposal prompted Jens Rohde, a member from the European Parliament from Denmark’s centre-right party, to defect to a left-wing party in protest.The proposal prompted Jens Rohde, a member from the European Parliament from Denmark’s centre-right party, to defect to a left-wing party in protest.
He said it showed the Liberals had lost their way and were pandering to the anti-immigrant Danish People’s Party (DF), Reuters reported.He said it showed the Liberals had lost their way and were pandering to the anti-immigrant Danish People’s Party (DF), Reuters reported.
The idea has been widely condemned and compared to Nazi Germany stripping Jewish people of their possessions.The idea has been widely condemned and compared to Nazi Germany stripping Jewish people of their possessions.
But Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen accused the media of painting “an incorrect picture of Denmark,” according to the Daily Politiken news website.But Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen accused the media of painting “an incorrect picture of Denmark,” according to the Daily Politiken news website.
Danish left-wing MP Martin Geertsen called the proposal a “severe personal abuse”, that “awakens terrifying historical images”, according to the IBTimes.Danish left-wing MP Martin Geertsen called the proposal a “severe personal abuse”, that “awakens terrifying historical images”, according to the IBTimes.
Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border
A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany
Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees
A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos
A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said
Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year
Firemen carry the body of a child after refugees arrived on the Greek island of Lesbos. Greek leaders were among those at the meeting in Brussels
The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos
Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija
Getty Images
A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija
Getty Images
Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos
Reuters
An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey
Getty Images
A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos
EPA
A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey
Getty Images
Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija
Getty Images
People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija
AP
Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day
Getty Images
An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France
Getty Images
A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea
EPA
Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey
Getty Images
If refugees enter Denmark with more than 3,000 Danish kroner (£295), it would be taken from them in order to pay for their stay in the country.If refugees enter Denmark with more than 3,000 Danish kroner (£295), it would be taken from them in order to pay for their stay in the country.
The rules would not apply to items deemed as personal or sentimental value. These include wedding rings, mobile phones and laptops.The rules would not apply to items deemed as personal or sentimental value. These include wedding rings, mobile phones and laptops.
Over the past few months, Denmark has placed adverts in several Arabic newspapers to discourage refugees aiming for Denmark. Over the past few months, Denmark has placed adverts in several Arabic newspapers to discourage refugees aiming for Denmark. 
#Denmark trying to warn away migrants/refugees with adverts in #Lebanon media. Our @AFP story: http://t.co/r6aZ3oQ22B pic.twitter.com/bN5Gm7Dyuc
A spokesperson for the UNHCR – the UN’s refugee agency – said: "Refugees have lost their homes and almost everything they possess.A spokesperson for the UNHCR – the UN’s refugee agency – said: "Refugees have lost their homes and almost everything they possess.
“It beggars belief that somebody would want to strip them away from the little they have managed to salvage from their lives.“It beggars belief that somebody would want to strip them away from the little they have managed to salvage from their lives.
“Refugees need and deserve compassion, understanding, respect and solidarity.”“Refugees need and deserve compassion, understanding, respect and solidarity.”
As a country of 5.6 million people, Denmark expects 20,000 asylum seekers this year compared to the almost 200,000 expected by Sweden. Many of the refugees passing through Denmark this year have been bound for the neighbouring country.As a country of 5.6 million people, Denmark expects 20,000 asylum seekers this year compared to the almost 200,000 expected by Sweden. Many of the refugees passing through Denmark this year have been bound for the neighbouring country.