Tough asylum laws in Switzerland

The news blog Rue89 criticises Switzerland's asylum policy, widely regarded as Europe's strictest: "The Swiss have passed the toughest legislation on asylum and immigrants in Europe. So are they racist? It's not that simple. In a country of direct democracy the people have the final say. ... This affair is symptomatic of the climate that prevails in a country where the humanitarian tradition is being eroded. Switzerland has toughened its asylum and immigrant laws and NGOs are complaining that the new regulations are in breach of human rights. Or should we say 'the Swiss'? After all, it was indeed the [Swiss] people who expressed their will in a referendum on September 24."

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Migration, » Switzerland