GHI. Muslim bag handlers at Geneva airport have been stopping work several times a day to pray in a common area, and it has been causing friction, reports the Geneva weekly newspaper GHI. “It’s incredible. Last January we reported that some of our colleagues were regularly praying in the common room, but it has continued […]
10 facts about Switzerland’s illegal immigrants
A recent study by the Swiss state secretariat for migrants (SEM) estimates that there were 76,000 illegal immigrants or san-papiers living in Switzerland in 2015. The 88 page document presents some interesting facts about this elusive group. 1. Most arrive undeclared or on tourist visas Across the country, 63% slipped over the border without declaring their presence […]
Big change in the number of asylum requests in Switzerland
Switzerland’s administration says migration remains volatile and unpredictable. Making reliable forecasts for 2016 is impossible given the number of hard to influence factors impacting on migration routes. The first quarter of 2016 saw 8,315 asylum requests in Switzerland, around 45% fewer than the final quarter of 2015. The 1992 requests in March were down almost […]
Migration crisis: 2,000 soldiers to cover Switzerland’s borders
Tribune de Genève. In the event of a large increase in migrants flowing to Switzerland, around 2,000 soldiers must be ready to help border control staff, said Switzerland’s federal council, or cabinet, on Wednesday. The federal council has asked the Swiss department of defense to prepare for such an event. Last Thursday, Bern, the cantons, towns and communes […]
Family involved in school handshake refusal applies for Swiss nationality
The Basler Zeitung, has learned that the family of the two brothers who refused to shake the hand of their female teacher at Therwil secondary school, in the canton of Basel-Landschaft, has applied for Swiss nationality. The brothers, 14 and 15, requested exemption from handshakes for religious reasons and the school’s administration granted it, according […]
Muslim pupil in Geneva refuses to be touched by teacher
Le Matin. The controversy continues. Last week, two muslim pupils at a secondary school in Basel refused to shake their teacher’s hand. On Sunday, the Swiss broadcaster RTS, revealed a similar case at a school in Geneva. The incident occurred at the beginning of 2015 during a gym class. The teenager, who had recently converted […]
3 cheers for Switzerland! – the prisoners of war interned in Switzerland in 1916
“It is difficult to write calmly about it for the simple reason that I have never before in my life seen such a welcome accorded to anyone, although for twenty-eight years I have been present at every kind of function in half the capitals of Europe. At Lausanne some 10,000 people, at 5am, were present […]
Geneva encourages foreigners to become Swiss before rules change
Back in June 2014, the Swiss parliament passed a law which changed the number of years of residence required to qualify for Swiss citizenship, the type of residence permit you must have before applying, and the age band within which one year of residence counts as two. The new law only allows those on permanent […]
Muslim school pupils’ exemption from handshaking causes a stir in Switzerland
24 Heures. A secondary school in Therwil, not far from Basel, recently exempted two school pupils from the customary Swiss handshake between teachers and pupils. Their teacher is a woman and the pupils requested an exemption on religious grounds. The decision has triggered a wave of indignation. Two pupils of 14 and 15 requested they […]
Swiss asylum numbers down sharply in February
On 10 March 2016, Switzerland’s administration published numbers on asylum requests in February 2016. 2,705 requests were made during the month. Most came from citizens of Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and Eritrea. February’s number is more that 25% lower than January, when 3,618 requests were filed. The same countries, Afghanistan (651 requests), Syria (244 requests), Iraq […]
