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Treverus · #1 02.12.2016, 13:40

A 42 year old woman from Eastern Africa wanted to get the Swiss citizenship. She came here 16 years ago through a marriage with a local who died five years ago. Clean criminal record, all requirements met. The local authority goes through the process and does not see any issues as she meets all criteria and is integrated ("know the local life style well").

The local SVP disagreed and started a campaign. They sent out leaflets to the village claiming that it is "commonly known" that the woman "has a lot of male visitors", drinks excessively and is a nuisance. The lady would have to present herself at the village council tonight and probably defend herself. She decided to instead stop the process and not get naturalized.

The leaflet included information that the party could only have gained through the local authority hearings, which are secret...

http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/news/sto...erung-24000895

st2lemans · #2 02.12.2016, 15:48

	Quote:	Treverus
	They sent out leaflets to the village claiming that it is "commonly known" that the woman "has a lot of male visitors", drinks excessively and is a nuisance.

So, does she?

Tom

Treverus · #3 02.12.2016, 16:10

	Quote:	st2lemans
	So, does she? Tom

I think it's pretty hard to be any form of nuisance in central Switzerland and NOT be well known to the local cops... But that's not the point. I think it's everyones right to agree or disagree to immigration. The old fashioned immigration process in the villages is set up to make sure that only people with a good track record become Swiss, so if you as a citizen of this village think the woman should not get the nationality... well, use the democratic tools at your disposal at the council meeting. A personally insulting smear campaign without any actual facts against a pretty helpless individual on the other hand is pretty low even for SVP standards. Using information you get access to as a council member and which is secret is hopefully illegal and leads to repercussions. It's an abuse of power.

Urs Max · #4 02.12.2016, 17:11

Not that her private life should be relevant to the process to begin with, but you can't disprove a rumor. Tom, prove that you yourself are not a prostitute.

The most ugly thing is that the aim has been reached:
She's withdrawn her application.

nenadbasel · #5 02.12.2016, 17:19

	Quote:	Urs Max
	Tom, prove that you yourself are not a prostitute.

Escort is not the same as prostitute.

nigelr · #6 02.12.2016, 17:20

There are a couple of things here, the first being that SVP are clearly hitting below the belt. The second is that I believe if the local decision is "no" then it doesn't matter anyway because the gemeinde or canton can overrule it if the other criteria are met.

Who is to say that the locals would vote against her anyway? If she is well integrated she might have been OK.

Lastly, who would want to live in a community that doesn't want you there and actively votes for you not to be naturalised?

MrVertigo · #7 02.12.2016, 18:05

This is how a medieval-minded @hole look like

Serk · #8 02.12.2016, 21:09

Is it legal to do this in Switzerland? No legal consequence?

st2lemans · #9 02.12.2016, 21:11

	Quote:	Serk
	Is it legal to do this in Switzerland? No legal consequence?

Depends on whether or not it's true.

Tom

Treverus · #10 02.12.2016, 22:10

	Quote:	st2lemans
	Depends on whether or not it's true. Tom

No, it's not the point. Even if I spread news on you that might be factually correct but I do so to humiliate and insult you am I doing something illegal. Anything "ehrverletzend" -hurting a persons honor- is a minor crime.

curley · #11 02.12.2016, 22:32

	Quote:	Treverus
	No, it's not the point. Even if I spread news on you that might be factually correct but I do so to humiliate and insult you am I doing something illegal. Anything "ehrverletzend" -hurting a persons honor- is a minor crime.

The truth is not an Ehrverletzung - violation of honor - (if one feels it is he/she shouldn't have done what he/she did

)
In this case I would strongly vote for slander though (and that is an offence. The woman should deifnitely press charges).
<<They sent out leaflets to the village claiming that it is "commonly known" that the woman "has a lot of male visitors", drinks excessively and is a nuisance.>>
Not to mention that the woman can have as many male visitors as she likes ..... she's single and even if not it's nobody's business and definitely not illegal ... drinking excessively is not illegal and practiced by lots of Swiss as well and being a nuisance is subjective (if we close the circle of the allegations she would obviously not be a nuisance to many male citizens?!).

This is so typical SVP and I hope they shoot their own foot with this this time.

Treverus · #12 03.12.2016, 00:15

	Quote:	curley
	The truth is not an Ehrverletzung - violation of honor - (if one feels it is he/she shouldn't have done what he/she did ) .

The truth can be, "particularly where such statements refer to a person's private or family life." You aren't even allowed to proof wether or not you are talking the truth in that case...
https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classifi...ndex.html#a173