Denmark Tightens Asylum Laws Citing Syrian Influx

Denmark said on Friday it would introduce a new, temporary type of residence permit for asylum seekers fleeing civil wars such as the Syrian conflict after a huge surge in the number of applications.

It also unveiled a new plan for stemming the flow of Danish extremist fighters to Syria and Iraq.

"The majority of the refugees we see at the moment are not individually persecuted in their home country," Justice Minister Karen Haekkerup said in a statement.

Many of those applying came from "areas in Syria where there are indiscriminate attacks on civilians".

"We therefore need to look at how we can ensure these people can be sent home as soon as conditions improve in the home country," she said.

The new residence permits would be valid for a year, after which they could be extended for another two years.

The number of refugees seeking asylum in Denmark more than quadrupled from the beginning of the year to about 2,300 in August, bringing the total number in the year to date to 7,900, which is more than in all of 2013.

However, they make up a miniscule proportion of the total number of refugees from the Syrian conflict, which surpassed three million in August, according to the U.N.

Denmark's measures would have "dramatic consequences" for those fleeing the Islamic State's violence, said Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, the de facto leader in parliament for the leftist Red-Green Alliance.

"Refugee families will be living in permanent fear of the police car coming and sending them back to Syria," she said in a statement.

Denmark's Social Democratic-led government also said Danish residents planning to fight in a foreign conflict zone would be slapped with a travel ban and could face jail time after they return.

Those who were not citizens would lose their residency, it said.

Among the preventive measures presented were a national rehabilitation center for returning extremist fighters, a hotline for parents, and a team of mentors to work with those at risk of becoming radicalized.

"The best defense against extremism is an ambitious preventive strategy," Minister of Social Affairs Manu Sareen said.