The government of Denmark passed a law that requires all newly arrived asylum seekers to hand over their valuables to help pay for the costs of their stay in the country. Such valuables include gold and jewelry which the UN warned 'may promote xenophobia and fear'.
According to The Guardian, the move accentuates an anti-immigration backlash that has prompted numbers of European nations to find ways to discourage refugees from entering their place. The government of Denmark has secured a parliamentary majority in favor of the new law. Meanwhile, the debate about the newly passed legislation is expected to take place this Wednesday.
Under the new proposal, refugees who enter Denmark with more than 10,000 kroner in their pockets, or an estimated $1,450 in assets would have to help finance their lodging. Boston Globe reported that after an international uproar over the legislation, goods or assets that possess sentimental value like family portraits and wedding rings are exempt from seizure.
The new legislation also stipulates that refugees need to wait three years before they can apply to bring their families to the country. However, this provision was criticized by some advocates for migrants and labeled it as inhumane.
Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen warned that the 1951 United Nations treaty governing the rights of refugees need to be modified and updated. Denmark's prime minister also defended the bill saying that this is probably the most misunderstood proposal in the history of the country, as reported by The New York Times.
Like Sweden, Denmark also imposed identity checks for travelers. Danish oppositions say that this law will cause division and would hurt Denmark's reputation for generosity and tolerance, and potentially fuels xenophobia.
Dutch news also reported that the government has already collected an estimated $759,000 from refugees to help pay for their stay in the country. Meanwhile, a Danish broadcaster said that the debate over the legislation and the criticism that comes with it had unsettled Dane's perception of themselves. The journalist added that they see themselves as a fair and open fairy-tale nation and that they treasure such image.
Moreover, Per Bang Thomsen reported that there is a widespread support for the new law and that Danes don't see themselves as racist. The citizens of Denmark are just skeptical of immigration and fear of what will happen to the thousands of migrants or asylum seekers that are coming to Denmark.
