Denmark Will Strip Refugees of Their Valuables

The Danish state is allowed to confiscate the valuables of newly arrived refugees, Denmark’s parliament ruled today. Following a heated debate and vote Tuesday, Danish police will be empowered to strip refugees of any belongings worth over 10,000 Danish crowns ($1,450) on their arrival in the country. Luggage and strip searches will be used to enforce the new rules, to make sure that valuables are surrendered.

The law change is being ushered through despite harsh condemnation from the UN Human Right Council and widespread comparisons between the plan and the treatment of Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe. The plan to legally purloin refugee belongings is nonetheless just one part of a much larger set of new measures designed to make Denmark a harsher, tougher place to seek asylum. The new rules, as outlined by newspaper Politiken, will arguably make Denmark the least asylum-friendly country in Europe.