National Council sends SVP motion on Afghan women back to committee
Published: Tuesday, Dec 19th 2023, 09:50
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On Tuesday, the National Council did not discuss a motion by Zurich SVP National Councillor Gregor Rutz on Switzerland's treatment of Afghan women seeking asylum. It followed a motion of order by Gerhard Pfister, a member of the National Council from Zug, and sent the motion back to the preliminary committee for preliminary examination.
Pfister argued that it had been clear for a few days that the responsible Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) would have a new head from next year, namely Beat Jans. Elisabeth Baume-Schneider is currently still in charge.
Pfister also said that the Federal Administrative Court had recently issued a ruling on Afghan women. The court upheld an appeal by two Afghan women against their deportation. Switzerland must grant them asylum. The court thus supported a new asylum practice of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) with regard to Afghan women.
The president of the Center Party went on to say that the newly composed preliminary committee should first consider Rutz's motion before discussing it in the National Council - also with a view to the new head of the FDJP and the new court ruling. The National Council adopted Pfister's motion by 98 votes to 86 with 5 abstentions.
This meant that the extraordinary session forced by the SVP parliamentary group entitled "Asylum practice in relation to Afghan women" was over after just a few minutes.
Federal Council should call off SEM
With his motion, Rutz is seeking to have the Federal Council reverse the new asylum practice introduced by the SEM this summer when dealing with Afghan women. The Zurich National Councillor told the Council on Tuesday that it was unlawful for an administrative body to make such a decision.
The Federal Administrative Court did not make a fundamental decision, but decided in an individual case, Rutz continued.
Following a recommendation by the European Asylum Agency (EUAA), the SEM had decided to grant asylum to women from Afghanistan as a rule. The situation for women and girls in Afghanistan has deteriorated continuously since the Taliban came to power. The basic rights of women are severely restricted.
On Wednesday in the Council of States
On Wednesday, the Council of States will hold an extraordinary session on the topic of Afghan women seeking asylum. A motion has also been tabled in the Council of States to send the motion by former Neuchâtel FDP member of the Council of States Philippe Bauer back to the preliminary committee with almost identical wording to that of Gregor Rutz.
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