Switzerland has drastically reduced the number of visas granted to Libyan citizens, with only 83 issued so far this year compared to 5,902 in the same period last year.
This content was published on
1 minute
In response to a motion submitted by the Foreign Affairs Commission of the House of Representatives, the government on Thursday revealed the extent of the restrictions imposed since the detention of two Swiss businessmen by the regime in Tripoli.
The men were first detained in Tripoli in July 2008, days after the arrest of the Libyan leader’s son Hannibal Gaddafi and his wife Aline in Geneva on charges of mistreating their servants.
Swiss representatives abroad no longer have the right to issue visas to Libyans and all applications are currently being referred to the Foreign Ministry and Federal Migration Office.
Earlier this month, Libya complained about a European policy of restricting Schengen visas to Libyan citizens. Switzerland is part of the Schengen area, and under the agreement has a veto over the allocation of the visas which allow border-free travel throughout the 25 member countries in mainland Europe.
Claiming that the majority of Libyan applications were being denied, deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaïm denounced a “systematic and programmed solidarity with Switzerland”.
In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss hostages case swings in Libya’s favour
This content was published on
Hasni Abidi, director of the Study and Research Center for the Arab and Mediterranean World, says the return of two Swiss hostages to the Swiss embassy in Tripoli on Monday shows that Libya knows how to use the media. “Libya releases Swiss businessmen,” wrote the BBC. French newspapers Libération and Figaro also described the men…
This content was published on
The Swiss citizens “are as well as can be expected under the circumstances”, the ministry said in a statement. The men were returned to the embassy without an explanation. It is unclear whether they will now be allowed to leave the country. Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey welcomed their re-emergence, and said she had spoken by…
This content was published on
Libya’s “systematic refusal” to cooperate with Switzerland in the case of two Swiss businessmen who have been prevented from leaving the country for more than a year prompted the decision, a government statement said. The government said that the two men had been “abducted in violation of international law”, and it is not known where…
This content was published on
On September 1, 1969, a small group of military officers led by then 27-year-old army officer Moammar Gaddafi overthrew Libya’s King Idris’ government. The revolutionary officers abolished the monarchy, and proclaimed the new republic. Gaddafi is to this day, referred to as the “Brother Leader and Guide of the Revolution” in government statements and the…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.