Written in English, the text reads in part: “Foreigners, you are illegal…in 2014, the Swiss voted in a referendum to stop mass immigration from the EU, but are being unconstitutionally ignored by the government because of pressure from employers and economy lobbyists!”
It also includes spiteful comments about the impact foreign nationals have had on the country which read: “You’ve turned our beautiful country into a foreigner-infested, over-populated, over-priced and culturally-estranged shit hole.”
What is striking is that the flyer is only aimed at immigrants from the EU and EFTA states (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) — evidenced by pictures of flags of Germany, France, Italy, Spain Portugal, Poland and the Czech Republic — rather than refugees or asylum seekers.
«Habt unser Land in ein Drecksloch verwandelt»: Expats werden in Flyer aufgefordert, sich aus der Schweiz zu «verpissen». https://t.co/Zs1ImIcjx6
— 20 Minuten (@20min) September 12, 2024
The leaflet also warns that if foreigners don’t leave Switzerland, riots will break out in 2025.
It was posted to people’s homes but there were also unconfirmed reports that some foreigners received one at their work address.
Who is behind the flyer?
READ ALSO: ‘Immigration tax and ban on dual national MPs’ – Switzerland’s anti-foreigner proposals mount up
The author’s identity remains unknown but the name “Eidg. Widerstand 78p” is printed in small lettering on the edge of the leaflet.
Experts say it is highly unlikely that the right-wing Swiss People Party (SVP) has anything to do with it.
That’s because the party does not act anonymously, and all its campaign literature is printed in one of the country’s three official languages — not in English.
And the virulent language in the pamphlet is too extremist even for the SVP.
Radicalisation researcher Dirk Baier has pointed a finger at another group, Junge Tat, the dominant organisation on Switzerland’s right-wing extremist scene.
“The fact that Junge Tat does not reveal its identity is part of its strategy,” he said.
The group in question has, however, denied any part in writing or circulating the flyers.
But it has not distanced itself from the pamphlet’s message.
“The demand for retroactive implementation of the mass immigration initiative is fair and democratic – not racist,” they said.
What should you do if you receive the flyer?
If you are in Switzerland legally, regardless of the country you come from, you should ignore this missive, even if its contents are disturbing.
You can, if you wish, bring it to your local police precinct, but unless there are many complaints from numerous other recipients, law enforcement may not do anything about it.
In recent months a number of anti-foreigner proposals have been put forward in Switzerland aimed at limiting immigration. From an immigration or residence tax for foreigners to a ban on dual-national lawmakers, the proposals are controversial but some have wide backing.
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