OTHERNESS :

Danes justify harshest asylum laws in Europe : The United Nations is questioning the legality of Denmark's immigration rules to be passed on Monday (Andrew Osborn, June 29, 2002, The Guardian)

Denmark may long have been perceived as the small, friendly country which gave the world Lego, Hans Christian Andersen and the beauty of Copenhagen. And it still gives more of its wealth in aid to the developing world than any other country and has welfare benefits that are among the most generous in the industrialised world.

But on Monday Denmark will acquire a less friendly image when it introduces the toughest immigration laws in Europe.

On the same day as it takes over the EU's prestigious rotating presidency and begins to broker a common EU asylum policy, the new laws will turn Denmark, overnight, into one of the world's most hostile places for asylum seekers.

In the words of Pastor Martin Niemöller :

When Hitler attacked the Jews I was not a Jew, therefore I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists, I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned. Then Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church--and there was nobody left to be concerned.

Posted by Orrin Judd at July 1, 2002 6:08 PM