Not Welcome: Denmark Publishes Ads to Warn Off Prospective Asylum Seekers

Several Lebanese newspapers published Danish-sponsored social advertisements on Monday that warned prospective asylum seekers about changes to laws in Denmark on refugees, in a bid to stem the flow of migrants to the country, according to media reports.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The first asylum seekers started arriving in Denmark from Hungary over the weekend, after Austria and Germany eased restrictions to let them through.

Tens of thousands of migrants camped out in the Hungarian capital of Budapest last week after being refused passage on international trains out of the country.

Lebanon’s The Daily Star newspaper published a warning from the new Danish government, highlighting the recent welfare cuts and tighter regulations on refugees. Similar ads appeared in at least three Arab-language outlets, according to The Daily Star article.

According to the statement, all social benefits have been halved, waiting times for those seeking a permanent residence permit have been set at 5 years and refugees will not be allowed to bring their families to the country.

In addition, special centers for asylum seekers whose applications were rejected will be set up to make sure that those denied refugee status return to their countries of origin as soon as possible.

The message will be translated into 10 languages and circulated on social media and in refugee centers, The Daily Star reports.

Denmark has a right to opt out of the EU’s quota scheme for relocating migrants under its treaty with the European Union, but its Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmusen said earlier on Monday that his country was prepared to participate in the program.