Denmark: Govt gets backing for bill on taking migrants’ cash / Denmark passes controversial bill to take migrants’ valuables

The Local.dk, and other news sources, reported that a controversial Danish bill to seize migrants' valuables to pay for their stay when applying for asylum, and postpone the right to family reunification for refugees under temporary protection, looked set to pass in parliament in January 2016 after the government secured a parliamentary majority in favour of the bill on the 12 January 2016.

The Civil Liberties Committee of the European Parliament debated the issue in Brussels on the 25 January 2016 with the Danish Minister for Immigration, Integration and Housing Inger Støjberg and Danish Foreign Affairs Minister Kristian Jensen.

The UNHCR claimed the legislation violated the European Convention on Human Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the UN Refugee Convention. The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks, said the proposal on family reunifications raised 'issues of compatibility with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights'.

Despite this questioning by the international community, the reform proposals were adopted by the Danish Parliament (Folketing) on the 26 January 2016 by a large majority.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Denmark introduces border controls with Germany http://www.europeansources.info/record/denmark-introduces-border-controls-with-germany/

ESO: Background information: Denmark plans additional refugee restrictions http://www.europeansources.info/record/denmark-plans-additional-refugee-restrictions/

The Guardian, 12.01.16: Denmark to force refugees to give up valuables under proposed asylum law http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/12/denmark-to-force-refugees-to-give-up-valuables-under-proposed-asylum-law

Politico, 12.01.16: Denmark to seize refugees’ valuables http://www.politico.eu/article/denmark-to-seize-refugees-valuables/

BBC News, 13.01.16: Migrant crisis: Denmark MPs debate seizing valuables http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35300262

Euronews, 12.01.16: Denmark to seize refugees’ goods to pay for their stay http://www.euronews.com/2016/01/12/denmark-to-seize-refugees-goods-to-pay-for-their-stay/

The Wall Street Journal, 13.01.16: Denmark Considers Seizing Valuables From Migrants http://www.wsj.com/articles/denmark-debating-seizing-valuables-from-migrants-1452689275

EurActiv, 13.01.16: Danish prime minister defends controversial ‘jewellery’ law http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/danish-prime-minister-defends-controversial-jewellery-law-320926

EurActiv, 21.01.16: Under fire, Denmark stands firm on migrant bill http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/under-fire-denmark-stands-firm-migrant-bill-321179

The Local.dk, 20.01.16: EU tells Denmark to explain plans to take refugees’ cash http://www.thelocal.dk/20160120/eu-to-denmark-explain-plans-to-confiscate-refugees-cash

EUObserver, 21.01.16: Danish lawmakers back seizing migrant valuables https://euobserver.com/migration/131942

European Parliament: Press Release, 25.01.16: Civil Liberties Committee debates Danish law on asylum and refugees http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160125IPR11334/Civil-Liberties-Committee-debates-Danish-law-on-asylum-and-refugees

The Local.dk, 26.01.16: Denmark passes controversial bill to take migrants' valuables http://www.thelocal.dk/20160126/danish-parliament-to-vote-on-controversial-migrant-bill

The Local.dk, 21.01.16: Danish migrant bill blasted at UN http://www.thelocal.dk/20160121/danish-migrant-bill-blasted-at-un

Council of Europe: News, 11.01.16: Denmark: amendments to Aliens Act risk violating international legal standards http://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/denmark-amendments-to-the-aliens-act-risk-violating-international-legal-standards

EurActiv, 26.01.16: Despite condemnations, Denmark passes controversial ‘jewellery’ law http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/despite-condemnations-denmark-passes-controversial-jewellery-law

EUObserver, 25.01.16: Denmark mulls public auction to sell refugees' valuables https://euobserver.com/migration/131987

Politico, 26.01.16: Denmark’s refugee asset grab http://www.politico.eu/article/denmarks-refugee-asset-grab-migration-un-europe/

ESO: Background information: Switzerland seizes refugee assets: report http://www.europeansources.info/record/switzerland-seizes-refugee-assets-report/

Deutsche Welle, 25.01.16: Denmark's daylight robbery of refugees http://dw.com/p/1HjLL

Euro|Topics: Debates, 26.01.16: New asylum law: Denmark under attack http://www.eurotopics.net/en/152571/new-asylum-law-denmark-under-attack

Deutsche Welle, 26.01.16: Denmark passes law aimed to deter refugees http://dw.com/p/1HkNL

The Guardian, 26.01.16: Danish parliament approves plan to seize assets from refugees http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/26/danish-parliament-approves-plan-to-seize-assets-from-refugees

EurActiv, 27.01.16: Even Social Democrats vote in favour of Danish ‘jewellery’ law http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/even-social-democrats-vote-favour-danish-jewellery-law-321340

The Guardian, 28.01.16: Danish PM counts on popular support in tackling refugees http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/28/lars-lokke-rasmussen-danish-pm-popular-support-tackling-refugees

The Local.dk, 27.01.16: Denmark faces backlash over 'despicable' 'jewellery law' http://www.thelocal.dk/20160129/denmark-faces-backlash-over-despicable-migrant-bill

EUObserver, 29.01.16: Pro-refugee parties up in shock Danish poll https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/132052

The Local.dk, 05.02.16: Here’s how Denmark’s famed ‘jewellery law’ works http://www.thelocal.dk/20160205/heres-how-denmarks-controversial-jewellery-law-works

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