The diverse origins of Britain’s Muslims
Source: BBC The government estimates there are 190,000 Muslim women in England who speak little or no English. Ministers are determined to tackle some of what they see as the […]
Sweden begins border ID controls to halt refugee influx
Sweden has begun ID controls as part of the government’s efforts to limit the number of refugees entering the country. Everyone entering Sweden from midnight on Sunday by bus, train or ferry from Denmark will be checked and those lacking valid ID documents will be turned back. Sweden, which until […]
Ai Weiwei wants to raise awareness about refugee crisis
Associated Press ATHENS, Greece: Chinese artist Ai Weiwei wants to raise consciousness about the plight of refugees through his, and his students’, art. Ai, who has made his name as much through his clashes with Chinese authorities as through his art, has set up a studio on the Greek island […]
Feature: Refugees on Greek island celebrate New Year with hope
Refugees warm themselves at the fire in the reception center of Moria on Lesvos island, Dec. 31, 2015. (Xinhua/Liu Yongqiu) MYTILENE, Greece, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) — The first snowflakes fell on New Year’s Eve at the reception center of Moria in the suburbs of capital Mytilene on Lesvos island […]
This migrant crisis is different from all others
John Simpson World affairs editor 24 December 2015 From the sectionWorld Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage captionMany migrants have headed for Germany Migrant crisis EU migration: Crisis in graphics Merkel’s demise greatly exaggerated Will Germans embrace or shun refugees? In depth report As winter has approached, the apparently ceaseless flow of migrants heading […]
As New Year dawns, refugee, migrant flows look set to continue
FOR A BETTER FUTURE: Migrants gather in Victoria Square, where migrants and refugees found temporary refuge, in central Athens on Friday. (AFP) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published — Saturday 2 January 2016 ATHENS: Bitter cold, biting winds and rough winter seas have done little to stem the seemingly endless flow of […]
EU gets 1 million migrants in 2015, smugglers seen making $1 billion
Reuters International swissinfo.ch DEC 22, 2015 – By Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) – More than 1 million refugees and migrants came to the European Union this year, while almost 3,700 died or went missing in perilous journeys which reaped huge profit for smugglers, the International Organization for Migration said […]
Letter from a Syrian Refugee …
From: Batool Alsaeed, Mafraq, Jordan To: The Country Director, Humanity First, Jordan In the name of Allah My name is Batool Alsaeed and I am from Syria. I came with my family to Jordan because of the war. We are from Homs. […]
Paris Attacks May Unsettle EU’s Debate on Migration
Chancellor Angel Merkel has been under intensifying fire for opening Germany’s doors to refugees A girl carries her doll as she and other migrants and refugees walk after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border near Gevgelija on Saturday. The attacks in Paris quickly galvanized opponents of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s open-door policy. PHOTO: […]
Dark Germany, Bright Germany: Which Side Will Prevail Under Strain of Refugees?
Hermann Bredehorst/ DER SPIEGEL Germany is experiencing an unprecedented influx of immigrants who will fundamentally change the country. They represent a burden, but also a chance to create a New […]
Non-Swiss permanent residents close to two million
FOREIGN POPULATION Non-Swiss permanent residents close to two million JUL 23, 2015 – 19:22 The immigration dispute that sparked this 2014 demonstration is far from over (Keystone) Switzerland experienced a net gain of more than 38,000 foreigners who became permanent residents in the first half of the year, a trend […]
Refugee crisis: Making sense of migration: facts and figures
REFUGEE CRISIS Making sense of migration: facts and figures By Duc-Quang Nguyen and Stefania Summermatter JUL 22, 2015 – 11:00 A growing number of asylum seekers are making their way to Europe. In several countries, Switzerland included, there have been calls to close the borders. In this summary, swissinfo.ch […]
INTEGRATION: Immigrants and naturalised Swiss trust authorities
By swissinfo.ch and agencies MAY 7, 2015 – 15:28 People with a migration background have greater trust in the Swiss police, courts and political system than people without such a […]
ECOPOP VOTE : Strict immigration curbs overwhelmingly rejected
By Urs Geiser Voters have dismissed a proposal to reduce Switzerland’s ecological footprint by introducing strict immigration rules and family planning measures. Three out of four voters rejected the Ecopop initiative. Just under 26% of voters came out in favour according to final results on Sunday. Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga […]
A Land of Money and Fear: The Swiss Vote Against ‘Mass Migration’
A Commentary by David Nauer SPIEGEL.DE REUTERS A giant light installation of the flag of Switzerland by Swiss artist Gerry Hofstetter illuminates the north face of the Jungfrau mountain. Switzerland’s economic success is enviable, yet its people fear decline. On Sunday, voters approved a plan to reintroduce immigration quotas. The […]
Switzerland: SKILLS NEEDED: Foreigners could need language passport
December 15, 2013 – 20:01 Foreigners seeking long-term residency in Switzerland could be issued with a so-called language passport as part of the approval process if new legislation on integration […]
Germany: Asylum Policy: New Coalition Cements Status Quo for Refugees – An Analysis by Maximilian Popp
German politicians claim Berlin’s new government coalition agreement will offer progress on asylum policies. In truth the policies solidify the status quo and ignore the most important issues. The migration-policy experts in Germany’s center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) put on quite a show of being pugnacious and principled. Against the […]
Switzerland : MIGRATION FIGURES : Emigration hits highest rate since 1990s
October 11, 2013 – 15:36 The number of people – Swiss and foreign nationals – departing Switzerland for pastures new or old has increased to levels not seen for 20 years, figures show. But the country still remains attractive to immigrants. In total the population of Switzerland grew by 1.1 […]
No country is an island when it comes to migration
By Peter Sutherland, Cecilia Malmstrom The Daily Star Lebanon Europe faces an immigration predicament. Mainstream politicians, held hostage by xenophobic parties, adopt anti-immigrant rhetoric to win over fearful publics, while the foreign-born are increasingly marginalized in schools, cities and at the workplace. Yet, despite high unemployment across much of the […]
Paying undesirables to leave Switzerland
by Simon Bradley, swissinfo.ch Should Switzerland give financial aid to rejected asylum seekers who refuse to leave or convicted illegal immigrants to encourage them to return home voluntarily? This issue […]