The German government is stepping up its campaign to counter false information that human smugglers are spreading to lure refugees to Germany.
According to the German News Agency (DPA), a new internet page called “RumoursAboutGermany.info” has been launched to combat rumors with facts. The information is being posted in Arabic, French and German.
Commenting on the website’s launch, the German Foreign Ministry said: “We want to prevent people, who are already in a difficult situation, from heading out with an idealized view and false expectations. Therefore we are providing objective information to counter the rumor mill.”
The page lists the "seven biggest lies of the smugglers" promoted by the human traffickers on Germany as an asylum destination.
Among the points made according to the page DPA has examined: "Germany has reserved 800,000 places alone for Afghan refugees." This is false, the ministry warns. There are no quotas for refugees from specific countries. Each case is decided on an individual basis; "Every refugee receives a sum of 2,000 euros" and "Germany gives each refugee a house.” Both are claims far from reality; "If you didn’t like the conditions in Germany, they will simply give you a visa for Canada." The internet page says, "This is completely false. There is no agreement between Germany and Canada, or with any other country for such cases."
The ministry’s statement said that the most important aim of the campaign #RumoursAboutGermany is to ban human smugglers from spreading rumors on asylum to Germany via the internet.
In Afghanistan, Pakistan, North Africa and West Africa work has been done with large posters, ads on buses, blogs, and television and radio broadcasts to clarify Germany's position about its acceptance of refugees. The new internet page is designed to pool all these activities undertaken so far.
