The Danish and Swiss governments are planning to seize assets from refugees – people who have fled from devastating conflict, losing their homes, family members, friends, most of their belongings and the life they built in their home countries. This should prompt universal moral outrage. But if that’s not enough, these decisions don’t make any sense.
Denmark is debating a bill to allow authorities to seize cash and personal items valued over 10,000 kroner (just £1,000) from asylum seekers. (Wedding rings at least are the line they’re not willing to cross.) The Danish government is justifying this as pre-payment for social assistance.
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