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| Denmark approves controversial migrant assets bill | Denmark approves controversial migrant assets bill |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Danish parliament has backed a controversial proposal to confiscate asylum seekers' valuables to pay for their upkeep. | The Danish parliament has backed a controversial proposal to confiscate asylum seekers' valuables to pay for their upkeep. |
| Police will be able to seize valuables worth more than 10,000 kroner (1,340 euros; £1,000) from refugees to cover housing and food costs. | Police will be able to seize valuables worth more than 10,000 kroner (1,340 euros; £1,000) from refugees to cover housing and food costs. |
| MPs also approved plans to delay family reunions for asylum seekers. | MPs also approved plans to delay family reunions for asylum seekers. |
| A spokesman for UN chief Ban Ki-moon criticised the decision, saying refugees deserved compassion. | |
| "People who have suffered tremendously, who have escaped war and conflict, who've literally walked hundreds of kilometres if not more and put their lives at risk by crossing the Mediterranean should be treated with compassion and respect, and within their full rights as refugees," said Stephane Dujarric. | |
| The bill has been widely criticised by human rights groups. | |
| Why are countries seizing refugees' valuables? | Why are countries seizing refugees' valuables? |
| Migrants feel chill of tighter borders | Migrants feel chill of tighter borders |
| Europe's migrant crisis | Europe's migrant crisis |
| The prospect of refugees having possessions seized has drawn comparisons to the confiscation of valuables from Jews during World War Two. | |
| The government has said that items of sentimental value, such as wedding rings, will be exempt. It also raised the amount refugees will be allowed to keep from 3,000 kroner to 10,000 following objections. | |
| The government has said that the policy brings refugees in line with unemployed Danes, who also face having to sell assets above a certain level to claim benefits. | The government has said that the policy brings refugees in line with unemployed Danes, who also face having to sell assets above a certain level to claim benefits. |
| However, critics have said that many Danes have unemployment insurance that saves them having to sell assets, and anyway would not face the kind of searches proposed under the new law. | However, critics have said that many Danes have unemployment insurance that saves them having to sell assets, and anyway would not face the kind of searches proposed under the new law. |
| The new measures also mean the period migrants will have to wait before applying for relatives to join them will be extended from one year to three - a move aimed at discouraging new arrivals. | The new measures also mean the period migrants will have to wait before applying for relatives to join them will be extended from one year to three - a move aimed at discouraging new arrivals. |
| Temporary residence permits will be shortened and the conditions for obtaining a permanent permit will be restricted. | Temporary residence permits will be shortened and the conditions for obtaining a permanent permit will be restricted. |
| Denmark expects to receive around 20,000 asylum seekers in 2016, compared with 15,000 last year, the integration ministry told BBC News. | Denmark expects to receive around 20,000 asylum seekers in 2016, compared with 15,000 last year, the integration ministry told BBC News. |
| MPs approved the measures by 81 votes to 27 following a lengthy, and at times angry, debate. One MP abstained and 70 others were absent. The centre-left opposition Social Democrats and the anti-immigration Danish People's Party both voted in favour. | MPs approved the measures by 81 votes to 27 following a lengthy, and at times angry, debate. One MP abstained and 70 others were absent. The centre-left opposition Social Democrats and the anti-immigration Danish People's Party both voted in favour. |
| Martin Henriksen, immigration spokesman for the Danish People's Party, described the numbers of migrants entering Europe as an "exodus". | Martin Henriksen, immigration spokesman for the Danish People's Party, described the numbers of migrants entering Europe as an "exodus". |
| "More needs to be done. We need more border controls, we need tighter immigration rules," he said. | "More needs to be done. We need more border controls, we need tighter immigration rules," he said. |
| But Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, of the opposition left Red-Green Alliance that opposed the bill, said it was "a symbolic move to scare people away". | But Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, of the opposition left Red-Green Alliance that opposed the bill, said it was "a symbolic move to scare people away". |
| Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen of the centre-right Venstre party had previously shrugged off criticism of the proposals calling them "the most misunderstood bill in Denmark's history". | Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen of the centre-right Venstre party had previously shrugged off criticism of the proposals calling them "the most misunderstood bill in Denmark's history". |
| The UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the European Commission and other groups had criticised the proposals. | The UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the European Commission and other groups had criticised the proposals. |
| Speaking before the vote, UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards told reporters in Geneva the measures would cause hardship and harm. | Speaking before the vote, UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards told reporters in Geneva the measures would cause hardship and harm. |
| "The decision to give Danish police the authority to search and confiscate valuables from asylum seekers sends damaging messages in our view," he said. | "The decision to give Danish police the authority to search and confiscate valuables from asylum seekers sends damaging messages in our view," he said. |
| Amnesty International regional director John Dalhuisen described the vote as "mean spirited". | Amnesty International regional director John Dalhuisen described the vote as "mean spirited". |
| "This is a sad reflection of how far Denmark has strayed from its historic support of international norms enshrined in the Refugee Convention," he said. | "This is a sad reflection of how far Denmark has strayed from its historic support of international norms enshrined in the Refugee Convention," he said. |
| Denmark is not the first European country to demand the assets of asylum seekers. | Denmark is not the first European country to demand the assets of asylum seekers. |
| Earlier this month, Switzerland was criticised by a refugee group for seizing assets from some 100 people in 2015. Under Swiss rules, asylum seekers have to hand over assets above $1,000 (£700; €900). | Earlier this month, Switzerland was criticised by a refugee group for seizing assets from some 100 people in 2015. Under Swiss rules, asylum seekers have to hand over assets above $1,000 (£700; €900). |
| Where Europe is failing on migrants | Where Europe is failing on migrants |