DENMARK PLACES ADS TO DETER SYRIAN REFUGEES

Syrian refugees camp in Lebanon. (Photo: Bulent Kilic/Getty)

Beirut, 24 Dzulqa’dah 1436/8 September 2015 (MINA) – Denmark placed an advert in Lebanese newspapers Monday in an apparent bid to deter refugees from travelling to the country.

The advert in English and Arabic outlined the EU member state’s policies towards migrants, including tighter regulations on social benefits and a temporary residence permit that does not allow refugees to bring their families to the country.

Placed by the Immigration Ministry, the notice said foreign nationals would only be eligible for permanent residence after five years. Those seeking permanent residence must be able to speak Danish, it warned, adding that failed asylum seekers would be quickly removed.

The adverts have led to a backlash in Denmark, with Uffe Elbaek, leader of the Alternative Party, posting on Twitter that it was “the worst timing for an ad in the history of the world” — an apparent reference to the swelling sympathy for Syrian refugees across Europe following the publication of images of Aylan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian boy found drowned on a Turkish beach last week.

Martin Lidegaard, a former foreign minister, said the ads were “distasteful and bad publicity for Denmark”, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Denmark’s ruling Liberal Party won power in June on an anti-immigration platform.

Lebanon is hosting more than 1 million Syrian refugees, according to the UN. (T/P001/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)