Zurich: Church occupied by asylum seekers

Zurich: Church occupied by asylum seekers

Over 100 asylum-seekers have occupied a church in the old town of Switzerland's financial capital Zurich to protest about delays in processing their papers, activists said on Sunday.





The peaceful occupation, in the days before Christmas, was intended to prompt sympathy from local people.


"It's a time when people expect a sign of humanity from each other," Tamara Rennaald of the activist group Bleiberecht (right to stay) told Reuters.



Bleiberecht said in a statement about 150 asylum-seekers and supporters had occupied the church since Friday. Rennaald said at least 100 of these were asylum-seekers.



The refugees -- men, women and children -- come from Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Ethiopia, Somalia and other countries.



(more)


Source: Reuters (English), Bleiberecht (German) + more pictures.

No comments: