The Danish parliament passed a bill Tuesday that allows law enforcement officials to confiscate cash and other assets from migrants in an effort to offset the cost of letting them live within Denmark’s borders.
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The bill has sparked worldwide outrage, especially in the United States, where the Washington Post noted that confiscating jewellery from refugees had “a particularly bitter connotation in Europe” where the Nazis seized gold and valuables from Jews and others during the Second World War.
After more than three hours of debate, the minority Liberal Party government’s bill was adopted in a 81-27 vote, with the support of the opposition Social Democrats and the anti-immigration Danish People’s Party – Denmark’s two largest parties.
Inger Stoejberg, the Danish Integration Minister has said that “no items deemed sentimental would be taken”.
Danish government spokesman Marcus Knuth says the change simply makes asylum-seekers face the same conditions as Danes who apply for unemployment benefits.
Under the bill, refugees could keep possessions amounting to 10,000 Danish crowns ($1,450), a figure raised from 3,000 crowns (around $440) after criticism from human rights organizations.
Denmark accepted 20,000 refugees a year ago, compared to Germany’s 1.1 million and Sweden’s 163,000.
Amnesty International said the three-year reunion rule could “have a devastating impact on families, including their rehabilitation from experiences of trauma and their ability to integrate and adapt to life in a new country”.
It argued that Danes who want to qualify for social benefits may also have to sell their valuables.
Denmark says the new laws are needed to stem the flow of refugees.
Danish lawmakers are defending their country’s new law on immigration, aimed at making the small Scandinavian country less attractive to migrants.
That sentiment echoed a January 15 letter to Stojberg from the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, Nils Muiznieks, who said the reunification waiting period raises “issues of compatibility” with the European Convention on Human Rights.
The law will also allow for asylum seekers’ belongings to be searched.
Denmark is not the only Nordic country trying to shut its doors to migrants.
Communist Party of Denmark chairman Jurgen Petersen condemned the “scandalous” law, saying it was part of a raft of measures created to force those fleeing war to seek refuge elsewhere.
The move is backed by the anti-immigration Danish People’s Party, which sees it as a first step towards building state-run camps where refugees would stay without integrating into Danish society. Under Swiss rules, asylum seekers must hand over assets above $1,000 (GBP700; EUR900).
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Before this month, Switzerland was criticised with a refugee group for seizing assets from some 100 individuals in 2015.
