Amnesty: Withdrawal despite expensive campaign
As reported by Tagesanzeiger.ch, Amnesty International is not supporting the referendum against the asylum revision. This is despite the fact that the organization invested a considerable amount in the much-discussed «Mustafa Blocher» campaign.
However, as Tagesanzeiger.ch reports, the Amnesty board decided unanimously on Monday not to support the referendum against a tightened asylum law. This is despite the fact that the campaign is said to have cost a six-figure sum, according to Tagesanzeiger.ch. The online portal quotes Amnesty spokeswoman Alexandra Karle as saying that they did not support the referendum because they did not expect to win more than 25 percent of the votes. Already in 2006 one had been able to persuade with only one third to a refusal of a tightening - "a traumatic experience". The decision, however, does not amount to a retreat from the asylum debate. Amnesty wants to continue the campaign, continue lobbying for a change in asylum policy and continue direct cooperation in individual cases, Karle told Tagesanzeiger.ch.
