Council of Europe warns Slovakia: No room for discrimination, accept Muslim migrants too

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland stated that there is no room for discrimination and xenophobia following today's statement by Slovak Interior Minister Ivan Metik that Muslims will not be accepted into the country, "because they will not feel at home, since Slovakia has no mosques," reports the Patria news agency.

- Rejecting refugees on the basis of their religion would constitute open discrimination - Jagland said in response to the Slovak ministry's announcement that the country will not accept Muslim immigrants.

Xenophobia and discrimination are particularly unacceptable in the context of the current unprecedented refugee crisis, Jagland noted, emphasizing that Europe must show solidarity with these vulnerable people.

Member states of the Council of Europe have a responsibility to respect and protect human rights and dignity, he added, as stated in the announcement.

Around 200 people from camps in Turkey, Italy and Greece are expected to arrive in Slovakia. Interior Minister Ivan Metik stated that Muslims will not be accepted because they will not feel at home. Metik added that this is not about discrimination, but an attempt to create a community.

- We want to help, but we are only a transit country. We can accept 800 Muslims, but we have no mosques, so how will they fit into society if they won't even like staying here - the minister said.