As the Russia-Ukraine conflict intensifies, Denmark has said that it would exempt the Ukrainian refugees from the controversial ‘jewellery law’ unlike it did with Syrians and Africans who sought refuge in the country from 2016 onwards.
According to media reports, the Danish government and parliament were looking into amendments related to the residency for Ukrainians in the country. “The so-called ‘jewellery law’ was passed in 2016 by the previous government and was the subject of domestic and international criticism. The legislation allows police to confiscate cash and valuables above 10,000 (€1,340, $1,450 or more) kroner from arriving migrants and asylum seekers,” The Local, a Danish newspaper reported.
The above-mentioned law, which gives authorities the right to seize valuables and large sums of money from refugees, was enacted when Syrian and African refugees came in 2016. Denmark officials have defended their decision to exclude Ukraine from the law, with an argument that they are their “immediate neighbour” and part of Europe.
“Ukraine is in our immediate region. It is part of Europe. It’s in our backyard,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told public broadcaster DR, Anadolu Agency reported. “Denmark has a special responsibility in relation to the Ukrainians, who are on the run from Russian missiles and cluster bombs, which now also hit civilian targets.”
“Clearly, there is a difference between refugees and how we receive them,” the public broadcaster said.
It added the government was working on a special law that would allow Ukrainian refugees to benefit from social subsidies and have their children easily enrolled at schools.
According to the UN refugee agency, more than 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries.
Moreover, immigration spokesman for the Social Democratic government Rasmus Stoklund on March 3 told Ekstra Bladet – a local newspaper – that the ‘jewellery law’ should not be applied to Ukrainian refugees.
He added that the amendment in the country’s asylum laws would also help them in getting residency in Denmark and defended the decision on the basis of the country’s “close proximity.”
Such a decision has drawn a sharp response from the netizens and lamented the European country's “double standards.”
One of the users called it “hypocrisy.”
Another user reminded the people of Afghan and Syrian refugees' plight.
This user was of the view that the Danish government was trying to define Ukrainian refugees as not refugees so "they don't have to steal their belongings."
This one tried to take a jibe at the government's claim of "immediate neighbour."
And there was also one who defended the Danish government's decision.
Then there were those people who apparently called it racism.
