Global Post: Oprah Winfrey claims to have been a victim of racism while shopping at a mall in Switzerland. Although the Swiss Tourism office was prompt in issuing an apology to Oprah, the event brings into question a trend of hostility towards foreigners in Switzerland.

The country recently voted to maintainrestrictions placed on asylum seekers last June, striking military desertion as an acceptable reason for granting asylum and eliminating the ability to seek asylum through Switzerland’s embassies (previously an anomaly in Europe). SIMPLIFY

The not-so-neutral rules add to a law first implemented in 1981, which has been periodically amended to increase limitations on foreigners seeking refuge in Switzerland.

Some towns want to segregate asylum seekers to live in designated areas—often old military barracks—and limit their ability to leave the compounds outside the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They even seek to prevent asylum seekers from entering public spaces, such as pools, soccer pitches, libraries and retirement homes.

Opponents of the legislation—which passed with an overwhelming majority—deride the restrictions as unfair.

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