Asylum seekers correctly quoted - Press Council rejects complaints against 20 Minuten
The Swiss Press Council has dismissed two complaints against the commuter newspaper 20 Minuten. In October 2017, the paper had published an online report about a young Ethiopian asylum seeker, posing the question in its headline: «Did the aid organization provide tips on asylum abuse?»
At Article quoted 20 minutes The rejected asylum seeker, who was almost of age, was told that the employee of an aid organization had advised him to engage in political activities online. This would increase his chances of being allowed to stay in Switzerland.
The Aargau Asylum Network and a Swiss national who had accompanied the Ethiopian to the interview at the aid organization then lodged a complaint with the Press Council. They complained, 20 minutes exposes the asylum seeker as an asylum fraudster, imputes quotes to him and misleads the young man about the aim of the article. In its decision, the Press Council judged these accusations to be unjustified. The asylum seeker knew what the journalist was going to write about and authorized his quotes.
It is also permissible for the panel to raise the question of how the tip from the legal advisor of an aid organization is to be legally assessed. In addition 20 minutes The aid organization was consulted about the allegation - it denied that it does not make any recommendations. 20 minutes already made this clear in the lead. It was also permissible to mention the Ethiopian's name, as he had consented to a video interview and to his name being mentioned. However, the Press Council points out that using the word "asylum abuse" and mentioning his name creates a connection that is not unproblematic and whose consequences for the young man were not foreseeable. (pm)
