Worrying 'climate of xenophobia' in Europe: U.N. refugee chief

The immigration has been uncontrolled and ill thought out. When millions of people enter European countries without knowing the language,customs and abuse the natives then to imagine there won't be discontent is naive in the extreme!

“Refugees… don’t bring danger to us, they flee from dangerous places,” said Grandi, who took office in January.

Very true, but many documented cases of attacks in Sweden and Germany clearly show that the accepting countries are putting themselves in danger too......

“Refugees… don’t bring danger to us, they flee from dangerous places,”

Police have been told to downplay or downright cover up reports that pretty much shows you how big of problem there is I guess Cologne was a mass dillision.

in fact contributes to the development of societies.

If they are educated yes most migrants dont have an education and expect to be carried by the wellfare state so it would cost billions to educate them into the highly educated European job market and even then they can not compete with the natives on an equal level that means affirmtive action wich is racist in it own right.

It provides a negative example to countries further away.

That would be their problem not Europes,

a missed opportunity” because “each country made decisions separately. Borders closed.

Europe is not a hive mind they are still their own countries despite what the globallst technocrats in Brussels think and the migrants leave for Germany and Sweden anyway when they get sorted in Spain or Hungary I mean they didnt pay thousands of dollars to human traffickers just so they could be send to Hungary thank you very much (that was sarcasm by the way).

The Afghan refugee crisis has been unfortunately forgotten repeatedly in its history.

Afganistan has been declared mostly safe by the UN council take it up with them.

only gets remembered when something big happens like September 11 and now the arrival of Afghans in Europe among hundred of thousands others.

It would be thousands less if they kicked out the ones that are not eligable for refugee status Canada has the right Idea on how to handle it.

“There are things that have been done here in Iran that are truly examples for other countries, like giving access for children to the school system.

Most European schools dont teach in Arabic and often migrant kids dont know how to read or write please explain how to make this possible without massive strains on refugee funding.

one of the most important gestures that any country has expressed for refugees anywhere in the world in the past few years

Irans virtue signaling is their problem the same as it was with when Germany did it and now are forcing it on everybody else because it blew up in their face when no one did the same.

“Those who do the opposite, who stir up public opinion against refugees and migrants, have a responsibility in creating a climate of xenophobia that is very worrying in today’s Europe,” UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi

And the lesson can be applied globally, not just Europe.

According to the UN, the best thing for most refugees is to return home as soon as they can safely do so.

Very much with you on that. Look to the Horn of Africa for proof of concept.

As for Sweden and Germany, they are rightly reconsidering their foolish policies

Foolish or not, they have unequivocally walked the talk, saving hundreds of thousands.

Also, the terms "migrant" and "refugee" are being thrown around rather casually without regard for accuracy

By opportunists on many levels, yes, be they economic migrants or "terror tourists." This doesn't mitigate the parlous situation facing genuine refugees.

Jimizo,

What migrants are in scope here: Commonwealth? EU? None of the above?

“Refugees… don’t bring danger to us, they flee from dangerous places,” said Grandi, who took office in January. National leaders to better explain that immigration “in fact contributes to the development of societies,” he said.

Its because of PC drivel like this that old europe is now looking at populist alternatives. Why not have a more mature and responsible approach and acknowledge that immigration has its own challenges and issues? Immigration related issues that the very same old europe has been facing " for real' for decades if not centuries.

Sense: According to the UN, the best thing for most refugees is to return home as soon as they can safely do so. And the list you provided, while charming, is irrelevant. The exceptions do not disprove the general principle.

As for Sweden and Germany, they are rightly reconsidering their foolish policies. Also, the terms "migrant" and "refugee" are being thrown around rather casually without regard for accuracy. This is a big problem when having this discussion.

"So Nigel Farage's latest poster is acceptable, then?"

No, I don't.

You're doing it again. Britain First and now UKIP. This is exactly what I meant by the kind of argument which annoys people on this issue. Labour have acknowledged they got immigration wrong and Cameron is being hauled over the coals by people pointing out that he came nowhere near reducing immigration to the levels he promised. These failures have led pissed-off voters to vote UKIP and have given Farage and his ilk all the ammunition they need to frame this argument in terms of the UK being unable to control immigration. I'd argue this failure is the key reason for UKIP's rise and this referendum. This could have been avoided if this issue had been dealt with in an honest manner rather than shut down with the type of accusations you are putting forward.

Your ideas are part of the problem here and have been for a very long time. Thankfully, some are beginning to see this.

True refugees do not "shop" for the country of their choice

Germany and Sweden invited them, Attila. It's only natural that they accept the welcome.

True refugees also return to their country of origin once the conditions there are ameliorated to the point that it is safe to do so.

Like these people...?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_refugees#Architecture

SenseNot: Actually, generally yes. Refugees by definition are generally (not always) poor. One key point in the definition of refugees is that they stop their escape movement as soon as they are safe. That means in the first safe country they enter. That does NOT mean the UK, or Germany, or France, or Sweden. True refugees do not "shop" for the country of their choice depending on the social welfare available. True refugees also return to their country of origin once the conditions there are ameliorated to the point that it is safe to do so.

It's not xenophobia if it is true

Pardon?

True refugees can't afford to pay smugglers, to carry cell phones, and so on.

Only the destitute are allowed to be refugees, then? How did so many Jews escape the Nazis... charity?

the implication of Britain First type sentiments from those who oppose immigration on this scale is unhelpful and getting tired.

So Nigel Farage's latest poster is acceptable, then?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eu-referendum-poster-nigel-farage-polls-michael-gove-a7089946.html

@Sensenotsocommon

I'm sorry but the implication of Britain First type sentiments from those who oppose immigration on this scale is unhelpful and getting tired. I'm very concerned about immigration on this scale and I'll defend myself against charges of being a bigot or a racist. The refusal of parties in the recent past to talk about this issue frankly and shut down concerns about immigration with subtle or direct accusations of racism has led to the rise of anger and popularity of headbangers like UKIP or worse.

The idea that justifiable concerns about immigration equals racism or bigotry is dangerous and counterproductive. I honestly wish people would stop doing this for everyone's sake.

It's not xenophobia if it is true. One need only look at some of the crimes committed by the illegal migrants that have arrived in Europe in the past year to see that. These are NOT refugees. They are economic opportunists who are tying to circumvent the laws of the countries they seek to live in. True refugees can't afford to pay smugglers, to carry cell phones, and so on. They are still in camps, waiting to be repatriated.

Some posters will be delighted that Britain First

threatens to target (democratically elected) London Mayor Sadiq Khan with 'direct action'

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/sadiq-khan-britain-first-london-mayor-threaten-direct-action-a7047991.html

climate of xenophobia

No, Europeans have just woken up to reality.

The scale of immigration over the past year was too much for Europe to absorb naturally. It's unfortunate, but I think we are beginning to see just how weak Europe really is beneath the surface

"Refugees...dont bring danger to us. They flee from dangerous places.". No further comment necessary.

Liberals see no problem altering long standing cultures with a culture so different the don't blend.

Yes, the women in Koln at new years would agree. This whole idea of swamping a liberal culture with people from a culture stuck in a mindset from 500 years ago is a huge mistake.

I bet if any refugees wanted to actually meet Mr. Grandi in person---a laughable request---they would have to pass through several layers of security, most of them armed. Typical elitist blowhard.