German authorities stealing refugees’ jewelry

This video from the USA says about itself:

Swiss banks holding Jewish gold sketch

8 July 2006

During the war, the Nazis stole gold, jewelry, and other valuables from the millions of Jews they murdered. The Germans needed a way to place these commodities in the international market so that they could use the money they received in exchange for their war effort. The Swiss helped facilitate the exchange in addition to holding Nazi accounts. Many speculate that some of the gold that the Swiss accepted were the dental gold and wedding rings taken from Jews at the camps.

From The Local in Germany:

Germany takes refugees’ valuables ‘to pay for their stay’

Published: 21 Jan 2016 11:40 GMT+01:00

Germany’s southern states are confiscating cash and valuables from refugees after they arrive, authorities in Bavaria confirmed on Thursday.

“The practice in Bavaria and the federal rules set out in law correspond in substance with the process in Switzerland,” Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann told Bild on Thursday.

“Cash holdings and valuables can be secured [by the authorities] if they are over €750 and if the person has an outstanding bill, or is expected to have one.”

Authorities in Baden-Württemberg have a tougher regime, where police confiscate cash and valuables above €350.

The average amount per person confiscated by authorities in the southern states was “in the four figures,” Bild reported. …

“If you apply for asylum here, you must use up your income and wealth before receiving aid,” Aydan Özoguz, the federal government’s integration commissioner, told Bild.

“That includes, for example, family jewellery.” …

Moves to confiscate asylum seekers’ property to pay for the services they receive have stirred controversy elsewhere in Europe.

The UN refugee authority (UNHCR) said that a draft law that would legalize the practice along with other tough measures in Denmark would “fuel fear and xenophobia“.

[In Germany] only the Left party (Die Linke) criticized the confiscations, with MP Ulla Jelpke telling Der Tagesspiegel that “those who apply for asylum are exercising their basic rights [under the German Constitution].

“That must not – even if they are rejected – be tied up with costs,” she argued.

According to NOS TV today, the Dutch government takes away jewelry from immigrants only if it has been stolen.

What is behind the growing criticism of German Chancellor Angela Merkel? Here.

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